Ten Finalists Announced in Tenth Annual Jif® Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest™

ORRVILLE, Ohio, Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hundreds of parent and kid chef teams from across the country thought outside the lunchbox this year in the tenth annual Jif^® Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest™. These peanutty creations featured surprising ingredients from naan bread, guava paste, barbecue sauce, lime juice and yes, even chili sauce. Today, the maker of Jif Peanut Butter announced the ten finalists, whose original recipes were selected for an online vote. Five of these recipes will be selected to compete at the final judging event in New York City this March for a chance to win a $25,000 college fund, as well as an additional $10,000 for educational products.

Beginning January 4, Jif, the number one brand of choosy moms and dads, invites peanut butter fans 13 years of age and older to vote for the best sandwich creation at www.jif.com and www.jifenespanol.com. Voting will remain open through February 1, 2012. The ten online finalists and their recipes are:

• Maleah D., 8, Conley, GA - Kung "POW - Peanutty Oh Wow" BBQ Chicken Sliders
• Logan G., 9, Memphis, TN - Chomp Burger
• Sullivan J., 6, Mankato, MN - Blue Monkey Breakfast Pita
• West M., 8, Santa Clara, UT - Chicken Bahn Mi with Sweet Peanut Dippity
• Sailor M., 10, Santa Clara, UT - Sweet Chili and  Crunchy Peanut Chicken Tacos
• Mallory R., 8, Hilton Head Island, SC - P-Nutty BBQ Chicken Quesadilla
• Mike S., 11, Jericho, NY - Eggy-Nutty Sandwich
• Leah T., 10, Allentown, PA - Crazy Crunchy Kabob Sandwich
• Olivia T., 8, Nashua, NH - Peanut Butter Boredom Buster
• Devlyn W., 8, Houston, TX - PB All 'Dressed' Up     

"For a decade, the Jif Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest has encouraged parents and kids to spend quality time together and embrace creativity in the kitchen," said Maribeth Badertscher, Vice President, Corporate Communications, The J.M. Smucker Company. "We are pleased to continue this tradition and invite America to help us celebrate the creativity of these finalists."

About the Contest

The ten finalists were selected based on the following criteria: creativity, taste, nutritional balance, visual appeal and ease of preparation.  The top ten sandwich recipes receiving the highest scores from the initial judging round have been posted online for a chance to become this year's most creative peanut butter sandwich.  During the online vote, people 13 years of age and older are invited to visit www.jif.com or www.jifenespanol.com, to view photos and recipes for the ten finalists in English or Spanish and to vote for the best sandwich. Limit one vote per person/e-mail address/day at either website during the entire online voting period.  Online voting is open from January 4, 2012 through February 1, 2012.  

The five entrants with the highest combined scores from the initial judging round and the online vote will advance to the finals. Finalists will participate in a live judging event in New York City in March 2012. The grand prize winner will receive a $25,000 college fund and $10,000 to purchase educational products. Four runners-up will each receive a $2,500 college fund. All finalists will receive a Jif gift basket.

For more information about Jif Peanut Butter contests and promotions as well as tips and recipes, visit www.jif.com, www.jifenespanol.com and www.facebook.com/jif.

About The J.M. Smucker Company

For more than 110 years, The J.M. Smucker Company has been committed to offering consumers quality products that bring families together to share memorable meals and moments.  Today, Smucker is a leading marketer and manufacturer of fruit spreads, retail packaged coffee, peanut butter, shortening and oils, ice cream toppings, sweetened condensed milk, and health and natural foods beverages in North America. Its family of brands includes Smucker's®, Folgers®, Dunkin' Donuts®, Jif®, Crisco®, Pillsbury®, Eagle Brand®, R.W. Knudsen Family®, Hungry Jack®, Cafe Bustelo®, Cafe Pilon™, White Lily® and Martha White® in the United States, along with Robin Hood®, Five Roses®, Carnation® and Bick's® in Canada. The Company remains rooted in the Basic Beliefs of Quality, People, Ethics, Growth and Independence established by its founder and namesake more than a century ago. The Company has appeared on FORTUNE Magazine's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the United States 13 times, ranking number one in 2004. For more information about the Company, visit www.smuckers.com.

The J.M. Smucker Company is the owner of all trademarks, except Pillsbury, the Barrelhead logo and the Doughboy character are trademarks of The Pillsbury Company, LLC, used under license; Carnation is a trademark of Societe des Produits Nestle S.A., used under license; and Dunkin' Donuts is a registered trademark of DD IP Holder, LLC, used under license. Borden and Elsie are trademarks used under license.

SOURCE The J.M. Smucker Company