DIAMOND^® FOODS LAUNCHES NATIONAL CONTEST TO UNCOVER BEST HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING IDEAS USING DIAMOND INSHELL NUTS

 

Grand Prize Winner will be Featured on Millions of Diamond Packages and Win a Trip for Four to New York City to See George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker^TM

 

 

San Francisco, Calif. (Oct. 27, 2008) - Diamond Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: DMND), a leading branded food company specializing in processing, marketing and distributing culinary nuts and snack products, today launched a consumer contest to find the best holiday entertaining ideas that incorporate Diamond Inshell Nuts.  The Grand Prize Winner will have their idea published on bags of Diamond Inshell Nuts in 2009 and on the Diamond Nuts website.  The winner will also win a trip for four to New York City to see a performance of New York City Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker^TM. 

 

The contest kicks off today and submissions will be accepted through December 31, 2008.  Lifestyle, décor and culinary experts will judge the contest in mid-January and declare a winner on February 1, 2009.  Consumers can enter the contest and obtain more details at www.diamondnuts.com. 10 first place winners will receive outdoor fire pits that are perfect for roasting inshell nuts and 20 second place winners will receive gift packages of Diamond of California products and recipes.

 

“Time-honored customs make the holidays special, and toasting and cracking nuts by a warm fire is a traditional way to celebrate the holidays,” said Tina Salter, culinary expert and head judge of Diamond’s 2008 Inshell Nuts contest.  “Over the years, many people have shared their decorating and entertaining tips with Diamond and we are often amazed by their creative ideas.  We’re excited to learn about the modern and inspired ways consumers incorporate Diamond Inshell Nuts into their festivities.  The best idea will be seen by millions of Diamond consumers in 2009.”

 

To kick off the contest, Diamond offers the following basic guidelines/suggestions for using Inshell Nuts:

-          Roasting:  All nuts, even in their shell, taste better when toasted.  The process is simple.  Preheat the oven to 375°F. For 4 servings, spread 4 cups of in-shell nuts on a baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes.  After 20 minutes, carefully remove one nut, holding it with a dish towel or pot holder, and crack it open.  The meat should be lightly toasted and aromatic.  If it still looks pale inside, roast a few minutes longer. Let the nuts cool before serving.  Smaller nuts, such as hazelnuts and almonds, may take less time.

-          Storage:  Between uses, treat nuts as you would a fine wine or olive oil.  Their enemies are light, heat and moisture.  To keep nuts fresh longer, store them in an airtight bag in the freezer.

 

“Trends indicate that consumers will stay at home with their families more this winter and will try to spend wisely in the grocery store, on entertaining and on home decor,” said Melissa Waters, Marketing Manager for Diamond of California.  “Winter is the number one season for Inshell Nuts and we want to make holiday decorating and entertaining with family and friends even more fun with the chance to win exciting prizes.”

 

Following the autumn harvest and throughout the holiday season, Diamond’s Inshell Nuts are readily available in grocery stores everywhere.  Diamond offers Inshell Nuts in single pack types (Walnuts, Almonds, Pecans and Brazil Nuts) as well as variety packs, and in bulk bins.

 

Contest details, including rules and regulations, are available at: www.diamondnuts.com

 

About Diamond

Diamond is a leading branded food company specializing in processing, marketing and distributing culinary nuts and snack products under the Diamond®, Emerald® and Pop Secret® brands.

 

About the Judges:

 

Tina Salter:  Tina Salter is the series producer for Jacques Pepin: More Fast Food My Way and the James Beard and Emmy award winning local show Check, Please! Bay Area.  She has authored two and collaborated on more than a dozen cookbooks. A British expatriate, Tina attended London’s renowned Cordon Bleu culinary school. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

 

Andrea Pannes:  Interior designer and decorator Andrea Pannes is an expert in transforming both residences and commercial properties from the ground up.  With 14 years of successful projects in San Francisco, New England and the Southwest she has extended her expertise to stage and screen with her most recent project on the set of Jacques Pepin’s new series, Jacques Pepin: More Fast Food My Way.

 

For images, please email press@diamondfoods.com

 

CONTACT:

Media — Hillary Houser, 415.445.7439

Director of Public Relations, Diamond Foods, Inc.

hhouser@diamondfoods.com

 

Corporate Web Site: www.diamondfoods.com

Consumer Web Sites: www.emeraldnuts.com/ and www.diamondnuts.com/ and www.popsecret.com

 

Contest Name:The Sony Ericsson Walkman Phone Usher Contest

Deadline:11/30/2008

Prizes: Sony Ericsson is granting one lucky fan the chance of a lifetime — to meet superstar Usher in person. From now until November 30, fans can enter to win a VIP trip for two to meet Usher by performing their rendition of Usher’s “What’s your name?” and submitting the video to www.YouTube.com/SonyEricsson.

How to enter:During the Contest Period, you may enter this Contest via the Internet by logging on to www.youtube.com/sonyericsson (the “Contest Site”) and following entry directions there to complete an online entry form and to create and upload a short video expressing the theme “What’s Your Name?” hereafter referred to as “Submission” or “Entry.” Submission may include singing, dancing or performing.

Other info: Create an original Entry incorporating lyrics and/or music (audio only) featuring singer Usher’s song “What’s Your Name?” for a total maximum video length of no less than 20 seconds or no more than 1 minute. You entry may be a cappella, or may include Usher’s song “What’s Your Name.” Your Entry may not, however, include any part of the Will.i.am vocal portion of “What’s Your Name?”.

My Summer Adventure Sweepstakes at www.mysummeradventure.com!

Grand Prize:

A seven night Caribbean cruise vacation for two on Royal Caribbean International, first–class roundtrip tickets to any port city served by Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air, Uncommonly Smooth™ Seattle’s Best Coffee®, and a Borders gift card.

First Prize:

A three or four night Bahamas cruise vacation for two on Royal Caribbean International, roundtrip coach tickets to any port city served by Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air, Uncommonly Smooth™ Seattle’s Best Coffee®, and a Borders gift card.

Second Prize:

A three or four night Baja Mexico cruise for two on Royal Caribbean International, roundtrip coach tickets to any port city served by Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air, Uncommonly Smooth™ Seattle’s Best Coffee®, and a Borders gift card.

Third Prize:

100 winners will receive one (1) 12 oz. bag of Seattle’s Best Coffee® Breakfast Blend Coffee.

Note: This Sweepstakes is intended for participation by legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 21 years of age or older at the time of entry. The Sweepstakes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with U.S. law without regard for any applicable conflicts of laws rules. Do not enter this Sweepstakes if you are not located in the United States.

OFFICIAL RULES - NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.

These rules apply to the Seattle’s Best Coffee (“SBC”) My Summer Adventure Sweepstakes (”Sweepstakes”) being conducted by Seattle’s Best Coffee, LLC, 2401 Utah Ave. South, Seattle, WA 98134 (”Sponsor”), and administered by Marden-Kane, Inc., 36 Maple Place, Manhasset, NY 11030 (”Administrator”). This Sweepstakes starts 12:00:00 AM (Midnight) Pacific Time (“PT”) July 2, 2008 and ends at 11:59:59 PM PT September 2, 2008 (“Promotional Period”).

1. ELIGIBILITY: Sweepstakes is open to all legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are 21 years of age or older at time of entry.

2. HOW TO ENTER: During the Promotional Period, complete and submit electronically the entry form located online at http://mysummeradventure.com. Complete all the required information and click submit. All entries become the property of the Sponsor and will not be returned. Limit one (1) entry per person per e-mail address during the Promotional Period. Multiple entries submitted by a single entrant or e-mail address or incomplete entries are void. All entries must be received by 11:59:59 PM PT on September 2, 2008.

3. DRAWING: The potential winners will be selected on or about September 9, 2008 from all eligible entries received in a random drawing conducted by Marden-Kane Inc., an independent judging organization whose decisions are final on all matters relating to this Sweepstakes. Limit one prize per person or household. The odds of winning will be dependent upon the number of eligible entries received.

Contest Name: Seattle’s Best Coffee “My Summer Adventure” Vacation Sweepstakes

Deadline: September 2, 2008

Prizes:

Grand Prize:A seven night Caribbean cruise vacation for two on Royal Caribbean International, first–class roundtrip tickets to any port city served by Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air, Uncommonly Smooth™ Seattle’s Best Coffee®, and a Borders gift card.

First Prize:

A three or four night Bahamas cruise vacation for two on Royal Caribbean International, roundtrip coach tickets to any port city served by Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air, Uncommonly Smooth™ Seattle’s Best Coffee®, and a Borders gift card.

Second Prize:

A three or four night Baja Mexico cruise for two on Royal Caribbean International, roundtrip coach tickets to any port city served by Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air, Uncommonly Smooth™ Seattle’s Best Coffee®, and a Borders gift card.

Third Prize:

100 winners will receive one (1) 12 oz. bag of Seattle’s Best Coffee® Breakfast Blend Coffee.

How to enter: During the Promotional Period, complete and submit electronically the entry form located online at http://mysummeradventure.com. Complete all the required information and click submit. All entries become the property of the Sponsor and will not be returned. Limit one (1) entry per person per e-mail address during the Promotional Period. Multiple entries submitted by a single entrant or e-mail address or incomplete entries are void. All entries must be received by 11:59:59 PM PT on September 2, 2008.

How to win: The potential winners will be selected on or about September 9, 2008 from all eligible entries received in a random drawing conducted by Marden-Kane Inc., an independent judging organization whose decisions are final on all matters relating to this Sweepstakes. Limit one prize per person or household. The odds of winning will be dependent upon the number of eligible entries received.

Other info:

All rules can be found at the following website: http://www.mysummeradventure.com/Rules.html