Jewel-Osco to Recognize African-American Vendors

ITASCA, Ill. — Jewel-Osco will celebrate Black History Month this February with the company’s 14th annual “A Taste of Black History” program, which honors the contributions and achievements of the retailer’s African-American vendor partners.

The initiative will kick off with a “VIP shopping event” for customers at a Chicago store on Jan. 24, in which consumers can take advantage of savings opportunities and enter a sweepstakes to win up to $1,000 in Jewel-Osco gift cards.

The kickoff event will so feature live music by Chicago band Zzaje’, and an appearance by chef Josh Marks, the national spokesman for African-American vendor Real Men Cook, who will prepare dishes for customers to sample.

Customer tasting events will continue throughout February at select stores to help raise awareness of products supplied by African-American vendors. These events will include savings opportunities.

In addition, the retailer will donate $10,000 to three community organizations, including Chicago’s St. Felicitas Church Food Pantry and Grant A Wish Food Pantry, which were chosen for their commitment to hunger relief. Customers will help select the third donation recipient by casting votes during the kickoff event for their favorite products supplied by African-American vendors; the winning brand will select the charity that will receive the third contribution.

"'A Taste of Black History' gives us an opportunity to thank our African-American vendors for everything they do for our company and our customers,” said Jewel-Osco President Brian Huff, in a statement. “This outstanding group of business men and women plays an important role in our success, and we hope consumers realize that when they purchase African-American vendor products they are supporting these wonderful entrepreneurs.”

Jewel-Osco was part of the recent agreement by Supervalu to sell several of its banners to a group led by Cerberus Capital Management.

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