Media Advisory/Photo Opportunity - Loblaws® store at Maple Leaf Gardens* Marks First Year with Food's Greatest Celebration™ Party

President's Choice® Giant Holiday Gingerbread House Comes to Life in Store's Canteen!

BRAMPTON, ON, Nov. 22, 2012 /CNW/ - Come one! Come all! On Friday, November 30, join us at the Loblaws^® store at Maple Leaf Gardens* as we host a fabulous party called Food's Greatest Celebration^TM to mark the store's one year anniversary.

"We're so proud to be a part of the community and appreciate the warm welcome we have received over the past year.  On behalf of my team, I invite our customers and the community to join us next week to enjoy the President's Choice^® Giant Holiday Gingerbread House and take part in the special merriment we have planned," said Marcello Piane, store director, Loblaws^® store at Maple Leaf Gardens*.

Behold the sweetest house in the city!
On Friday, November 30 a magical and amazing President's Choice Giant Holiday Gingerbread House comes to life in the Canteen. The edible house will be quite a sight to see soaring almost to the height of the store's well-known cheese wall and about as long as our popular deli counter. It will be decorated with over 700 pounds of colourful candy, including 5,000 mini candy canes!  The house will be complete with Christmas trees, festive trimming, and surrounded by mounds of snowy white and warmed up by the glow of a cozy fireplace.

Ho, Ho, Ho… Santa!
Beginning November 30 and every weekend until the end of the holiday season, Santa will be in the "house" eager to get the scoop on what's on your holiday wish list. His elves will be on hand to take pictures and to help you decorate your very own gingerbread men cookies.  Nibble your creations knowing that all proceeds from purchases of these gingerbread men cookies will be donated to the President's Choice^® Children's Charity.

Little elves with a flair for food are invited to have Breakfast with Santa, when a special PC Cooking School class for kids takes place December 2 from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. On the menu are yummy treats like pancakes, syrup, biscuits with jam toppings, orange juice and lots of fun! Breakfast with Santa is open to all ages and costs $10 per person. Register here.

Prizes Galore!
A true celebration wouldn't be complete without a bunch of great prizes and giveaways! That's why the first 400 customers through the doors at 7 a.m. on November 30 will receive a slice of cake with an instant win prize that could be a yummy treat from the store or even one prize for $5,000 worth of Loblaws gift cards.

Customers can also drop off a ballot every day between November 26 and November 30 for a chance to win a prize for $200 or $5000 worth of Loblaws gift cards!**

Party Games
Think you're the best cupcake decorator in town? Want to try your hand at plating a 4-course meal? Win prizes and talk to our specialists while participating in fun food challenges every day between November 30 and December 2.  Games include a cheese grating challenge, pizza making, cupcake decorating and tons more! Please visit each department for times and details.

Music to Your Ears...
We're bringing back some of our best musical acts of the year to dazzle and delight all week long! Customers won't want to miss out on the great entertainment:

• Kerri Crawford Duo
• Monday November 26, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Tim Hamel Duo
• Tuesday November 27, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Mary Mac Trio
• Wednesday November 28, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Sunday December 2nd, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Ryan Oliver Jazz Duo
• Thursday November 29, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Saturday December 1, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Marty Oakes Trio
• Friday November 30, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Website: http://loblaws.ca/60carlton/
Facebook:  Loblaws 60 Carlton
Twitter:  @LoblawsCarlton, #loblawscarlton1yr

Just Around the Corner...
The Loblaws^® store located at Queen and Portland in Toronto, will also celebrate its first anniversary on December 2 with lots of activities.  The first 100 customers through the door will receive a slice of cake with an instant win prize, including one for $1000 worth of Loblaws gift cards. See in store for details.

About Loblaw Companies Limited:
Loblaw Companies Limited, a subsidiary of George Weston Limited, is Canada's largest food retailer and a leading provider of drugstore, general merchandise and financial products and services. Loblaw is one of the largest private sector employers in Canada. With more than 1,000 corporate and franchised stores from coast to coast, Loblaw and its franchisees employ more than 135,000 full-time and part-time employees. Through its portfolio of store formats, Loblaw is committed to providing Canadians with a wide, growing and successful range of products and services to meet the everyday household demands of Canadian consumers. Loblaw is known for the quality, innovation and value of its food offering. It offers Canada's strongest control (private) label program, including the unique President's Choice^®, no name^® and Joe Fresh^® brands. In addition, the Company makes available to consumers President's Choice Financial^® services and offers the PC^® points loyalty program.

*Reg'd TM. Lic'd use.

**This Loblaws 1 Year Anniversary Gift Card Contest (the "Contest") is run by Kognitive Marketing Inc.  (the "Sponsor"). The Contest will be run only at the Loblaws® store at Maple Leaf Gardens* from November 26, 2012 until November 30, 2012 (the "Contest Period"). No purchase necessary.  Complete the Contest entry form by including all requested information.  Original entries only. Entry forms must be deposited in the Contest entry box located at the Loblaws® store at Maple Leaf Gardens* front entrance, on or before 6:30 pm of the Contest closing date November 30, 2012 (the "Closing Date"). No responsibility will be taken for lost, stolen, misdirected, delayed, destroyed or illegible entry forms. The Contest prize consists of one (1) prize of five thousand dollars ($5000) worth in Loblaws gift cards and five (5) prizes of two hundred dollars ($200) worth in Loblaws gift cards. Total value of all prizes is six thousand dollars ($6000). The Sponsor will make the prize(s) available for pick up by the winner at the Loblaws® store at Maple Leaf Gardens*.  The prize must be claimed by the prize winner, with valid photo identification, within 60 days of notification of winning or another winner will be drawn from the remaining eligible entries and the prize awarded to that person. A skill testing question must be answered correctly before prize can be claimed. For full Contest Rules & Regulations, please visit the Loblaws® store at Maple Leaf Gardens* front entrance.

SOURCE: Loblaw Companies Limited

For interview requests, images or additional information, please contact:
Lisa Power, rock-it promotions, inc. at [email protected] or 416.629.7638
Ashley Ballantyne, rock-it promotions, inc. at [email protected] or 416.656.0707 ext. 111