(ITASCA, IL – July 27, 2009) – JEWEL-OSCO, a leading Midwest food and drug retailer, is helping parents and students get ready to go back to school with the 2nd Annual Backpack Giveback promotion. Every weekend, beginning August 15th, participating Jewel-Osco stores will give away backpacks filled with important information for parents, school supplies, and valuable coupons for a combined worth of more than $50.

A fun treat for the entire family, program attendees will also have an opportunity to win prizes by playing a variety of games, and participants can dance to music provided by DJ Vince Adams. Jewel-Osco’s African-American vendors will be on-site to provide samples of their products for all to taste.

“We are proud to be a part of the effort to get the community ready for the upcoming school year,” said Miguel Alba, director of public affairs at Jewel-Osco. “In these challenging economic times, it can be hard to send students to school with all the essential materials. With this program, we can help equip thousands of Chicagoland students to start the school year right.”

The Backpack Giveback program will take place on Saturdays and Sundays in August from 11a – 3p at the following Jewel-Osco store locations:

Saturday, August 15th – 7530 S. Stony Island Ave.
Sunday, August 16th – 87 W. 87th St.
Saturday, August 22nd – 9400 S. Ashland Ave.
Sunday, August 23rd – 2500 Lincoln Highway (Olympia Fields, IL)
Saturday, August 29th – 1220 S. Ashland Ave.
Sunday, August 30th – 11730 S. Marshfield Ave.

To be eligible to receive a free backpack, customers must show a receipt with a $50 minimum purchase at the event location, on the date of the event. One backpack will be distributed per eligible receipt while supplies last. Purchases containing alcohol, tobacco and prescriptions are not eligible.

In addition, Jewel-Osco will join forces with Chicago Defender Charities for the 80th Annual Bud Billiken Day Back-to School Parade and Picnic, Saturday, August 8. One of the most anticipated events of the year, Bud Billiken is the second largest parade in the country. With an expected attendance of 1 million people, the Bud Billiken Back-to-School Parade and Picnic will be a major highlight of the summer. The event, themed Education: Yes We Can!, will host more than 400 floats, bands, drill teams and corporate sponsors. Jewel-Osco has been a sponsor of the parade for more than two decades.

For more information about Jewel-Osco’s back-to-school initiatives, please visit http://www.ourjewelosco.com.

About Jewel-Osco
Jewel-Osco, a SUPERVALU (NYSE: SVU) company, operates 183 stores in Illinois, Iowa and Indiana. With a market-leading position in Chicago, Jewel-Osco stores offer consumers the convenience of combined grocery and pharmacy retail, in addition to services such as fuel centers at select locations. Originally established in 1899, the company and its associates remain committed to the communities they serve. For more information about Jewel-Osco, please visit http://www.jewelosco.com or http://www.oscopharmacy.com.

About SUPERVALU INC
SUPERVALU INC. is one of the largest companies in the U.S. grocery channel with estimated annual sales of $45 billion. SUPERVALU holds leading market share positions across the United States with its approximately 2,500 retail grocery locations, including nearly 900 in-store pharmacies. Through the company’s nationwide supply chain network, SUPERVALU provides distribution and related logistics support services to more than 2,500 independent retailers and other grocery endpoints across the country. SUPERVALU has approximately 190,000 employees. For more information about SUPERVALU visit http://www.supervalu.com.