World Returns to Omaha for 40th Anniversary of World's Championship Chili Cookoff; ConAgra Foods Sponsorship to Serve Up Ingredients for Award-winning Recipes

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the World's ChampionshipChili Cookoff, which attracted an estimated 10,000 chili fans lastyear, and is expected to provide a boost to the local economy and putOmaha on the map as chili capital, said Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey, whojoined leaders from the International Chili Society (ICS) and ConAgraFoods to announce the cookoff's return to Omaha and sample last year'swinning red chili recipe at a press briefing in the customer testkitchen at ConAgra Foods' Culinary Center of Excellence.

Omaha's selection for a rematch reflects the success of lastyear's event, according to national and local ICS representatives, whojoined the Mayor in expressing appreciation for ConAgra Foods' role assponsoring host. They also praised the strong turnout by thousands ofresidents who watched 400 award-winning cooks from the United Statesand beyond duel with their stirring chili renditions on the sun-soakedbanks of the Missouri last fall for the officially sanctioned world'sbest honors in traditional red chili, green "verde" chili and salsacategories.

"For the world's best chili, tasting is believing. For aworld-class event, seeing is believing," said Mayor Fahey. "Last yearit was clear to me and the thousands of participants and attendeesthat Omaha, the ICS and ConAgra Foods really know how to host afirst-class event. Thanks to ConAgra Foods for its generous support,and to the ICS for once again making Omaha the chili capital of thenation."

"The world is returning to Omaha to find the perfect chili, whichis a strong testament to the world-class character of our community,"said Mike Fernandez, senior vice president, corporate affairs, andchief communications officer, ConAgra Foods. "Once again, the chilichampionship will provide an excellent opportunity for ConAgra Foodsto learn and share tips about great chili with the champions, and alsoshowcase our great-tasting brands that provide the perfect ingredientsfor so many chili recipes. Quality brands and products like Hunt's(R)tomatoes, Gebhardt(R) chili powder, Ro*Tel(R) diced tomatoes & greenchilies, Gilroy Foods(TM) garlic and Wesson(R) Oil, are helpingconsumers and chili fans across America make their own world-classchili."

Carol Hancock, ICS owner and chief executive officer, said: "Omahaand ConAgra Foods were superb partners in 2005. We look forward to ourbest chili cookoff ever as we celebrate our 40th anniversary inOctober. This is a remarkably friendly, supportive community. I know Ispeak for the chili cooks when I say that Omaha really is a red hothost city in our books--it has all the ingredients you need for agreat world's championship chili cookoff."

In its four decades, ICS has sanctioned cookoffs across the worldfor charitable and non-profit organizations, raising nearly $80million and qualifying regional winners to compete in the World'sChampionship Chili Cookoff. Prizes for winners among the more than 400teams in Omaha at the 2006 cookoff will total $40,000, including a$25,000 top prize, from ICS. ConAgra Foods will sponsor an additional$5,000 prize for a winning red chili that includes ingredients fromthe company's brands, such as quality Hunt's tomato products,Gebhardt's chili powder, Ro*Tel diced tomatoes & green chilies, GilroyFoods garlic and Wesson(R) Oil.

In addition to its sponsorship, ConAgra Foods' Culinary Center ofExcellence (CCOE) also played a role in last year's chili cookoff,with its top chefs participating in the judging as well as hostingchili samplings and seminars for thousands of attendees. The CCOEcontinues to promote chili competition winners and their recipesonline and through the ICS, and also provides cooking ideas and advicefor the growing number of chili fans looking to prepare world-classchili in the comfort of their own homes.

ConAgra Foods is a natural partner for America's long-time love ofchili, with its quality brands and ingredients helping to produce thewinning recipe at last year's championship chili cookoff, and also inhomes and kitchens across America. ConAgra Foods has committed tobeing a resource and center for chili excellence, whether for world'schili champions looking for the very latest on top chili ingredients,or the millions of Americans looking to cook up a super bowl of chilito satisfy friends and family watching the Big Game or just enjoy agreat chili.

Enthusiasm for chili in the United States continues to grow amongevery-day consumers, and more avid fans and "chiliheads," many of whomattend officially sanctioned and regulated competitive chili cookoffs.The ICS currently sanctions 180 plus events annually attended by morethan 750,000 people.

Origins of Chili - the All-American Food

While no one knows for sure exactly where chili originated, somehistorians have concluded the first bowl of chili was made by a groupof Spanish colonists who founded San Antonio, Texas, in the early 18thcentury. But in 1976, Rufus Valdez, a full-blooded Ute Indian and Utahnative, won the world's chili championship using what he claimed to bea 2,000-year-old Ute recipe that had been passed to the Utes by Pueblocliff dwellers in Mesa Verde, Ariz. It took the advent of the cattledrive, however, to spread the popularity of chili as an all-Americanfood with the persistence of a fine habanero. By the early 20thcentury, chili had become a national dish and chili parlors emergedaround the country.

About International Chili Society and World's Championship ChiliCookoff

The ICS is a not-for-profit organization that sanctions chilicookoffs. These events are worldwide and benefit charities ornonprofit organizations. Winners of ICS-sanctioned cookoffs qualify tocompete for cash prizes and awards at the World's Championship ChiliCookoff, which has been held annually since 1967. The ICS is thelargest food contest, festival organization in the world. It currentlyreaches more than 750,000 attendees a year through 180 plus eventsannually. Its sole purpose is to promote, develop and improve thepreparation and appreciation of true chili and to determine each yearthe World's Champion Chili through officially sanctioned and regulatedcompetitive cookoffs. ICS- sanctioned cookoffs include threecategories: Red (traditional red chili), Chili Verde (green chili) andSalsa, with a World Champion crowned annually in each category. Thisassociation shall further the camaraderie of chiliheads on behalf ofcharitable and nonprofit organizations in the world. For moreinformation, visit www.chilicookoff.com.

About ConAgra Foods

ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE:CAG) is one of North America's largestpackaged food companies, serving grocery retailers, as well asrestaurants and other foodservice establishments. Popular ConAgraFoods consumer brands include: Banquet, Chef Boyardee, Egg Beaters,Gebhardt, Gilroy Foods, Healthy Choice, Hebrew National, Hunt's, MarieCallender's, Orville Redenbacher's, PAM, Ro*Tel, Wesson Oil and manyothers. For more information, visit www.conagrafoods.com.