Top Ten Finalists Announced in the Ninth Annual Jif® Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest™

ORRVILLE, Ohio, Jan. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hundreds of entrants utilized their creativity and love for peanut butter into a delicious sandwich of their own design for the Ninth Annual Jif® Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest™. The makers of Jif Peanut Butter announced today the top 10 finalists who stood out for their creativity in developing a delicious and unique peanut butter sandwich.

Now the number one brand of choosy moms and dads invites America to vote for their favorite sandwich creation at www.jif.com and www.jifenespanol.com through February 3, 2011. This online vote will help determine the five finalists to compete at the final judging event in New York City with the chance to win a $25,000 college scholarship fund. The online finalists and their recipes include:

• Adeline F., 6 1/2, Deland, FL – BLT PB & Sweet Style!
• Chris R., 12, Roseland, NJ – Peanut Butter, Bacon & Maple Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast
• Landon J., 10, La Porte, IN – Re-invented Chicken 'N Waffles with PBQ Sauce
• Margalit M., 8, Raleigh, NC – Wushu Chicken Tacos
• Mia B., 7, Pittsburgh, PA – Snails on Rails
• Paige H., 10, Carmel, CA – Sa-Taysty
• Rebecca L., 9, Milford, MI – Blast Off Burrito
• Sophie K, 10, San Luis Obispo, CA – Golden Peanut Yum Yum Roll
• Tabitha F. 11, Sudbury, MA – Pear-fect Peanut Butter
• Wesley H., 12, Topsfield, MA – Sweet Potato Peanut Butter Fluff

Finalists were selected based on the following criteria: creativity, nutritional balance, appearance and ease of preparation.

"The Jif brand is committed to engaging families in the kitchen and nurturing creativity in children. For the past nine years, the fresh roasted peanutty taste of Jif Peanut Butter has inspired thousands of young chefs to reinvent the classic peanut butter sandwich," said Maribeth Badertscher, Vice President, Corporate Communications, The J.M. Smucker Company. "These finalists have demonstrated with their appetizing creations that peanut butter can transform a meal and satisfy everyone, from parents to picky eaters."

About the Online Vote

The top 10 sandwich recipes receiving the highest scores from the initial judging round, based on creativity, nutritional balance, taste, appearance and ease of preparation, have been posted online for a chance to become this year's most creative peanut butter sandwich.  The online vote round invites people 13 years of age and older to visit www.jif.com or www.jifenespanol.com to view photos and recipes for the 10 finalists and vote for the best sandwich. Limit one vote per person/e-mail address per day at either website during the entire online voting period.  Online voting is open from January 10, 2011 through February 3, 2011.  

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 2011. The grand prize winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship fund, and four runners-up will each receive a $2,500 scholarship 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 and www.jifenespanol.com.

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 help families create memorable mealtime 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®, White Lily® and Martha White® in the United States, along with Robin Hood®, Five Roses®, Carnation®, Europe's Best® 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 12 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