'A Taste of Black History' Culinary Event Salutes Success of Chicago's African-American Vendors

JEWEL-OSCO, a leading Midwest food and drug retailer, will celebrate its African-American vendors and their entrepreneurial spirit with "A Taste of Black History" - JEWEL-OSCO's annual salute to Black History Month.

This year's program will kick off with the 11th annual "A Taste of Black History" reception, from 6-9 p.m., on Thursday, Jan. 28, at Chicago's South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 South Shore Drive. WVON-AM Radio Talk Show Host Cliff Kelley will serve as master of ceremonies for the event, which will feature an interpretive performance by the cast of the award-winning play, "Black Nativity."

During the reception, JEWEL-OSCO will award a total of $15,000 to three Chicago community organizations, in recognition of their outstanding work. The recipients are Englewood Food Network, Community Christian Alternative Academy and the Center for Urban Transformation.

Through their entrepreneurship, JEWEL-OSCO's African-American vendors help create and support a supply chain that impacts many hundreds of people by providing jobs and sustaining multiple business ventures. These contributions will be acknowledged during the reception with awards for three vendors:

  --  Derryl Reed of Smokin' Joe Products, LLC will receive the Brand

      Ambassador Award for aggressively working to promote the Smokin' Joe

      brand in the market place.

  --  LaVonne Sanders of Popcorn and More, Inc. will receive the Innovator

      Award for continually recreating the MixMatch brand.

  --  Paul Fregia of Grandma Maud's will receive the Legacy Award for

      longevity in the Supplier Diversity Program.

"JEWEL-OSCO has always understood the value of developing minority vendors," said Jim Seidler, JEWEL-OSCO ethnic category manager. "We believe offering their products shows we understand our customers' needs. In turn, we hope customers recognize that, by purchasing African-American vendor products, they are also supporting these outstanding men and women."

Guests at the reception will have the opportunity to taste and experience more than 25 soul-stirring dishes prepared by students from Chicago's Washburne Culinary Institute and culinary students from the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). The dishes will be prepared using JEWEL-OSCO African-American vendor products.

"We are committed to developing and growing locally owned African-American businesses," said JEWEL-OSCO President Keith Nielsen. "Our partnership with the Washburne Culinary Institute and Chicago Public Schools is just one example of how we hope to encourage future generations to make their own mark on the food industry."

As part of "A Taste of Black History," JEWEL-OSCO will also host in-store celebrations and tastings throughout the month of February. The events will take place every Thursday and Friday, from 4 to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at select stores throughout the Chicagoland area. The times and locations are as follows:

  Thursday, February 4, 2010  1655 E. 95th St.                    4pm-8pm

                               2500 Lincoln Highway, (Olympia

  Friday, February 5, 2010     Fields)                            4pm-8pm

  Saturday, February 6, 2010  1220 S. Ashland                     11am-3pm

  Sunday, February 7, 2010     922 N. Green Bay Rd.  (Waukegan)   11am-3pm

  Thursday, February 11,

   2010                       7530 S. Stony Island                4pm-8pm

  Friday, February 12, 2010   7525 W. Lake St. (River Forest)     4pm-8pm

  Saturday, February 13,

   2010                       5516 N. Clark                       11am-3pm

  Sunday, February 14, 2010   11730 S. Marshfield                 11am-3pm

  Thursday, February 18,

   2010                       443 E. 34th St.                     4pm-8pm

  Friday, February 19, 2010   800 W. North Avenue (Melrose Park)  4pm-8pm

  Saturday, February 20,

   2010                       87 W. 87th St.                      11am-3pm

  Sunday, February 21, 2010   6057 S. Western                     11am-3pm

  Thursday, February 25,

   2010                       9400 S. Ashland                     4pm-8pm

  Friday, February 26, 2010   3153 W. 183rd St. (Homewood)        4pm-8pm

  Saturday, February 27,

   2010                       7910 S. Cicero (Burbank)            11am-3pm

  Sunday, February 28, 2010   9424 S. Pulaski (Oak Lawn)          11am-3pm

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