Fresh & Easy Launches Summer Side Dish Recipe Contest for Customers

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., June 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has launched a contest for customers to help expand its popular side dish range. Customers can participate in the Summer Side Dish Recipe Contest by submitting their original side dish recipe at www.freshandeasy.com/bbqcontest through September 9.  The winning recipe will be announced in September, made in Fresh & Easy's Kitchen, and sold in stores next summer.

Fresh & Easy customers who are 18 years of age or older in Arizona, California and Nevada are invited to submit a recipe, made with all fresh&easy brand products, along with a photo of the prepared dish.  A panel of judges will review the submissions and select the four best sides based on originality and taste.  The customer with the winning recipe will receive a $500 Fresh & Easy gift card along with a new grill.* The three runners up will each receive a $100 Fresh & Easy gift card and new grill.**

"We're always listening to our customers to continue to bring new and unique products to our stores," said Loren Mahendra, Fresh & Easy Manager of Fresh, Prepared Food. "Our summer side dishes are some of our customers' favorites so it makes sense to enlist their creative culinary skills to help us expand this range next year!"

The winning customer's side dish will be added to Fresh & Easy's shelves next summer alongside some of this year's best sellers, which include the fresh&easy Italian Deli Pasta Salad, fresh&easy Asian Sesame Slaw, and fresh&easy Fruit & Spinach Salad.

The Summer Side Dish Recipe Contest is part of Fresh & Easy's broader summer barbeque program.  Grillmaster Neil Strawder, aka Bigmista, is grilling at various stores throughout the summer and serving Fresh & Easy's popular Grill Pack to customers free of charge – the calendar of barbeque events can be found at www.freshandeasy.com/bbq.  Bigmista is also sharing his grilling tips through the company's Facebook page every week, www.facebook.com/freshandeasy.

*Total prize valued at $900

**Total prize valued at $500

About Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market

Fresh & Easy currently operates 176 stores in California, Arizona and Nevada.  In addition to fresh, high-quality prepared meals and produce, Fresh & Easy offers everyone's favorite national brand products and household items, all at unbelievably low prices.  All fresh&easy brand products contain no artificial colors, flavors or added trans fats and use preservatives only when absolutely necessary.

On average, Fresh & Easy stores use 30% less energy than a typical supermarket, which helps customers save money – and also helps the environment.  At its distribution center in Riverside, CA, the company invested $13 million in a solar roof installation, which at 500,000 square feet is one of California's largest.  

More information regarding Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market can be found at www.freshandeasy.com.

SOURCE Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market