ConAgra Foods' Manwich(R) Brand Goes Country With CMA Music Festival Sponsorship

OMAHA, Neb., June 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today, ConAgra Foods' Manwich® brand announced its sponsorship of the Country Music Association's Music Festival along with a $10,000 donation to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to benefit flood relief.

"Through consumer research, we have learned that country music is the No. 1 music format for Manwich consumers. The Country Music Association sponsorship allows us to engage with our consumers through their passion for country music," said Sandra Williams, brand director, ConAgra Foods. "At the CMA Music Festival, attendees will have several opportunities to enjoy Manwich, including a Manwich Backyard BBQ for sampling both the Original and new Thick & Chunky varieties."

The Manwich Backyard BBQ will be located in the Fun Zone and open to consumers Thursday, June 10, through Sunday, June 13. Additionally, Manwich will hold the Manwich Open Mic Contest, where aspiring country musicians will have the opportunity to compete for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to sing on the Sports Zone Stage and win an all-expenses paid trip to the CMA Music Awards in Nashville in November. Auditions will be held at the Manwich Backyard BBQ on Thursday, June 10, and Friday, June 11, from 11 a.m. – noon, 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. and on Saturday, June 12, from 10 a.m. – noon. The finale will be held Saturday, June 12, on the Sports Zone Stage from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Manwich also is partnering with country music star Jamie O'Neal at the CMA Music Festival. Jamie is best known for her country music hits Somebody's Hero and There is no Arizona. Jamie has had three #1 hits and four Grammy nominations and has toured with the likes of Reba McEntire, Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, Alan Jackson and Toby Keith. On Saturday, June 12, Jamie will be at the Manwich Backyard BBQ from 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. to sign autographs and pose for photographs with fans. She will judge the Manwich Open Mic Finale on the Sports Zone Stage from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. and will be available for media interviews directly following.  

Jamie, a Nashville resident, will also will be on hand on Saturday, June 12, to help Manwich present a $10,000 check to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, an organization dedicated to enriching the quality of life in Middle Tennessee. Manwich's donation will support those affected by the May 2010 floods and add to the CMA's donation of 50 percent of net proceeds from the music festival to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. The CMA's will also donate its annual 50 percent of net proceeds to Metro Nashville Public Schools for music education through the Keep the Music Playing program.

Manwich is a brand of ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG), one of North America's leading food companies, with brands in 96 percent of America's households. Consumers find Banquet, Chef Boyardee, Egg Beaters, Healthy Choice, Hebrew National, Hunt's, Marie Callender's, Orville Redenbacher's, PAM, Peter Pan, Reddi-wip and many ConAgra Foods brands in grocery, convenience, mass merchandise and club stores. ConAgra Foods also has a strong business-to-business presence, supplying potato, other vegetable, spice and grain products to a variety of well-known restaurants, foodservice operators and commercial customers. For more information, please visit us at www.conagrafoods.com.

SOURCE ConAgra Foods