Chefs Look to 'Make the Cut' in Sears Chef Challenge

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Many customers have dreamed of going head-to-head in a cooking competition to be crowned king or queen of the kitchen, and the Sears Chef Challenge will give them the opportunity to reach their culinary dreams. The Sears Chef Challenge (www.searschefchallenge.com) is a nationwide contest that invites aspiring chefs to enter for a chance to win a newly-renovated kitchen from Sears and up to $20,000 donated in their name to a charity food bank in their hometown. In addition, the Web site will have tons of activity from great interactive games to sweepstakes, with new content updated daily.

"For years customers have relied on Sears for all their appliance and cooking needs. The Sears Chef Challenge will inspire our customers across the country, both in store and online, giving them the tools and resources they need to be the star of their own kitchen," said Doug Moore, president of Home Appliances for Sears. "As part of this program, we will extend our reach to help support local food banks. Sears will partner each of the selected chefs with a local food bank to provide much-needed financial support."

Starting today, Sears will be searching for 24 chefs from around the country to participate in the contest. The chefs will include a combination of professionals from top culinary schools and organizations such as Le Cordon Bleu and the United States Personal Chef Association, as well as "wild card" chefs who can enter the contest by uploading a video, bio and recipe to www.searschefchallenge.com.  

The Sears Chef Challenge, which runs from April thru November, consists of three phases of competition – quarter finals, semi-finals and championship finals. In-house chefs at Sears will help select 18 professional chefs from Le Cordon Bleu and the United States Personal Chef Association (based on personality, style and their recipe), along with six "wild card" chefs from online video submissions (based on bio, recipe, why they should win and customers votes) for a total of 24 contestants to participate in the quarter finals rounds.

On Nov. 6, the championship winner of the Sears Chef Challenge will walk away with the new title, a complete Kenmore kitchen renovation and the opportunity to be a featured chef blogger on Sears.com. More details on the contest phases and specific prize details can be found at www.searschefchallenge.com.

Additionally, customers are invited to enter for a chance to win the "at home" challenge by visiting www.searschefchallenge.com and uploading a video with their bio, recipe and explanation behind why they think they should win. Two "at home" winners, selected based on their style, personality and recipe, will receive: a suite of Kenmore appliances, a trip for two to Chicago to serve as a guest judge during the semi-finals of the Sears Chef Challenge and the opportunity to become a featured blogger on Sears.com. Their submitted recipes may also be selected as a highlighted recipe that will be demonstrated live on the Kenmore Facebook page.

Throughout the Sears Chef Challenge, customers are encouraged to regularly visit the interactive, multi-channel Web site www.searschefchallenge.com, which will be updated daily with engaging new content. Customers will be able to:

• Check out photos, bios and recipes for each of the 24 chefs
• Vote for their favorite chefs to get into the semi-finals. Every vote can be shared through social media -- post who you voted for to your Facebook page
• Find out about local, in-store cooking demonstrations at Sears stores in Washington, D.C., Chicago, New York and Los Angeles
• Order ingredients for their favorite chef's recipe and have them delivered directly to their home
• Submit their "best recipe" for a chance to have it demonstrated live at the Kenmore Live Studio
• Download recipes from Sears chefs and "at home" contestants
• Play foodie games and be entered for a chance to win daily prizes including $20 Sears gift cards
• Enter Sears Chef Challenge online sweepstakes for a chance to win new Kenmore appliances
• View the semi-finals and championship finals live online from the Kenmore Live Studio in Chicago
• Utilize social media badges for Twitter, Facebook, MySears, YouTube

For official rules on the Sears Chef Challenge, to see photos and video of the events and to vote for your favorite chef, go to www.searschefchallenge.com.

For more information about Sears' full-line of kitchen appliances and offerings, visit www.sears.com.

About Sears Holdings Corporation

Sears Holdings Corporation is the nation's fourth largest broadline retailer with approximately 3,900 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, home electronics and automotive repair and maintenance. Sears Holdings is the 2010 ENERGY STAR® Retail Partner of the Year. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and Covington brands. It also has the Country Living collection, which is offered by Sears and Kmart. We are the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 12 million service calls made annually. Sears Holdings Corporation operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation. For more information, visit Sears Holdings' Web site at www.searsholdings.com.

SOURCE Sears Holdings Corporation