Carando® and Hannaford® Sponsor Portland Sea Dogs Baseball Game For Local Big Brothers Big Sisters Chapter

LISLE, Ill., Aug. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the past two years, Carando^® Classic Italian Meats has focused on helping local communities in the New England area through its "Carando Cares" efforts. On August 3, Carando continued its campaign and teamed with Hannaford^® to extend its gratitude to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine. The two organizations sponsored the minor league baseball game between the Portland Sea Dogs and the Trenton Thunder where they treated 100 kids and volunteers from Big Brothers Big Sisters to a day at the baseball park.

"A picnic and a baseball game is a special outing for the kids in our program, and we are grateful to Carando for this kind of gift which we rarely receive," said Sam Beal, Executive Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine.

The day's activities started with a pre-game picnic in nearby Deering Oaks Park, where Carando and Hannaford employees enjoyed Carando Ham and Classic Italian sandwiches, potato chips, and cookies with Big Brothers Big Sisters.  When lunch was complete, the party walked to Hadlock Field for nine innings of fun. As sponsors of the ball game, Carando and Hannaford granted free admission to all Big Brothers Big Sisters attending. Jonnie Terrill, a boy from Big Brothers Big Sisters threw out the first pitch of the game.

"Hannaford has been a longtime supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters, because the organization has such as strong track record of providing positive experiences to young people in our community," said Sherri Stevens, community relations specialist for the supermarket company.  "Taking their volunteers, children and employees out to a ball game and giving them a picnic, in the summer in Maine, are activities that Hannaford is proud to support in partnership with Carando."

In addition to the baseball game outing, the "Carando Cares" campaign has included serving a Christmas lunch to the city's firefighters in Springfield, Mass., and providing an Easter dinner to the patients of the Shriners Hospital for Children-Boston.  

"Carando is proud to reward such terrific organizations that are making a difference in our communities," said Mike Sargent, Brand Manager, Carando. "There are so many unsung heroes that take an active role in helping others and we're excited that we have the opportunity to show them our appreciation. We had a blast with Big Brothers Big Sisters and are grateful for our retail partners, like Hannaford, that help make all of this possible."

About Carando

All of our classic Italian meats stay true to the traditional recipes that our founder, Peter Carando, brought to America from his boyhood home in Torino, Italy. One taste is all it takes to discover the authentic Italian difference of Carando. For more information, visit www.carando.com.

About John Morrell Food Group

With over a century and a half of experience, John Morrell Food Group brands have become respected and well known for providing premium-quality meat products to families across the United States. With products ranging from lunchmeat and franks to smoked sausage, bacon and pepperoni, the John Morrell Food Group is an important part of consumers' mealtimes. The John Morrell Food Group offers several national and regional brands including Armour®, Eckrich®, John Morrell®, Curly's®, Patrick Cudahy®, Carando®, Healthy Ones®, Margherita®, Kretschmar® and LunchMakers®. For more information, visit www.johnmorrellfoodgroup.com.

About Smithfield Foods

Smithfield Foods is a $14 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Farmland®, Armour®, Cook®, Gwaltney®, John Morrell®, Kretschmar®, Curly's®, Carando®, Margherita® and Healthy Ones®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental, and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and www.smithfieldcommitments.com.

About Hannaford Supermarkets

Hannaford Supermarkets, based in Scarborough, Maine, operates 186 stores in the Northeast. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. All Hannaford stores feature Guiding Stars, America's first storewide nutrition navigation system, and most stores have full-service pharmacies. Hannaford employs more than 27,000 associates. Additional information can be found at www.hannaford.com.

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SOURCE Carando