SARGENTO ENCOURAGES CREATIVITY IN THE KITCHEN WITH PREMIUM TOPPINGS

New Sargento Salad Finishers and Potato Finishers bring unique flavors to produce

PLYMOUTH, Wis. (May 14, 2009) /PRNewswire/ — With everyone trying to do more with less these days, it is easy to become overstressed and fall into a rut of performing the same monotonous tasks over and over. By introducing creativity, variety and excitement to your day, you can help avoid succumbing to everyday stress. In fact, a study by the nonprofit Families and Work Institute reported that one in three U.S. employees is chronically overworked and that more than half feel overwhelmed at least once a month.

For example, stress levels can be elevated when it comes to mealtime, as the thought of creating different meals night after night can be daunting. Recognizing the need to de-stress from the day, Sargento is partnering with Ruth Klein, author of The De-Stress Diva in the Kitchen and The De-Stress Diva's Guide to Life, to introduce the newest varieties of Salad Finishers and Potato Finishers by encouraging consumers to take time from their busy schedules and get creative in the kitchen.

"One simple step you can take to help combat everyday stress is to plan meals ahead of time to help give your mind a break from the other worries caused by hectic schedules," says Klein. "After all, spending time in the kitchen to create personalized meals is an easy way to treat yourself to much needed de-stress time, while also rewarding yourself with a delicious dish."

Just in time for National Salad Month in May, Sargento is making it easier to plan meals and add excitement to salad and potato customization with the introduction of the latest Salad and Potato Finishers. Finishers combine complementary blends of Sargento natural cheeses, smoked turkey and ham, real smoked bacon crumbles and chef-inspired sauces.

In response to positive consumer feedback and increasing demand since launching Finishers last summer, Sargento is introducing three new varieties of Finishers combinations, which include Blue Cheese Salad Finishers, Classic Chef Salad Finishers and Southwest Potato Finishers.

"We want consumers to feel adventurous and imaginative in the kitchen," said Troy Davis, senior marketing manager at Sargento. "The introduction of the newest Sargento Salad and Potato Finishers allow food enthusiasts to explore all the ways they can turn ordinary salads and potatoes into extraordinary meals with flavorful, restaurant-quality and chef-inspired ingredients."

With individually packaged ingredients that allow for customization, Sargento Finishers are currently available in the produce section of grocery stores nationwide and sell for the approximate retail price of $2.99 to $3.99.

Additional information may be obtained by contacting Rory Swikle at 312-755-6207 or via email at rswikle@wheatleytimmons.com.

Sargento Foods Inc. has demonstrated its passion for cheese throughout its history. Founded in 1953 in Plymouth, Sargento is a leading manufacturer, packager and marketer of natural shredded, sliced and snack cheeses, cheese appetizers, ingredients and sauces. Sargento is owned and operated by the Gentine family, and has net sales of $900 million.