FMI Unveils Supermarket Chef Showdown Finalists

The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) has unveiled the 15 finalists of its 2015 Supermarket Chef Showdown, each of whom will vie for the grand champion title during this year's FMI Connect conference in Chicago.

Each chef represents one of three finalists in one of the following five categories: Breakfast to Go; Holiday Party Platters; Ethnic Dishes; Affordable Family Meals; and Desserts. The finalists will prepare their winning recipe on June 10 for a chance to be crowned grand champion and receive a trip for two to the Italian Culinary Institute in Calabria, Italy. The chef with the best recipe in each category will receive an additional prize of $1,000. 

The 15 finalists are:

• Dayton Carroll from Hy-Vee in Keokuk, Iowa.
• Keoni Chang from Foodland Super Markets, Ltd. in Kaneohe, Hawaii.
• Yolanda Chatman from Kroger Co. in Sugar Hill, Ga.
• Elizabeth Davis from Hy-Vee in Davenport, Iowa.
• Timothy Donnelly from Publix Super Markets Inc. in Lakeland, Fla.
• Brian Dunn from Roche Bros Supermarkets in Wellesley Hills, Mass.
• Amy Gleason from Hy-Vee in Omaha, Neb.
• Alois Maierhofer from Giant Eagle Supermarket in Pittsburgh, Pa.
• Jason Miller from Balducci’s Food Markets in Rockville, Md.
• Greg Retz from Bi-Lo in Jacksonville, Fla.
• Greg Roach from Wild Oats Market in Williamstown, Mass.
• Kirsten Shabaz from Valley Natural Foods in Burnsville, Minn.
• Glenn Terrell from Brookshire Grocery Company in Tyler, Texas.
• Bryan Williams from Rockbridge Hy-Vee in Columbia, Miss.
• Arthur Wise from ShopRite Supermarkets Inc. in Florida, N.Y.

“FMI started this competition in 2012 to shine a spotlight on the culinary talents of the chefs who are driving the fresh-prepared food trends,” said Dagmar Farr, SVP of member services at FMI.  “And, we could not be more delighted by the record-breaking response from chefs.  We received close to 300 recipes from 95 individual chefs across the nation.  Without a doubt, the competition is tough."

Sponsors of this year's Showdown include McCormick & Co., Campbell Soup Co., The Hershey Co., Hillshire Brands Co., The J.M. Smucker Co., Mondelez International, The Pictsweet Co. and Good Cook kitchenware products. 

FMI’s U.S. members operate nearly 40,000 retail food stores and 25,000 pharmacies, representing a combined annual sales volume of almost $770 billion.