CONCORD, Mass. (June 16, 2005) You'll have to forgive Peter Hillsman of San Francisco for being a little skeptical when he was recently informed that he had won a $25,000 Savings Bond in Welch's Road To Rewards promotion.

After all, he had never won anything like this before and, well, you can never be too sure nowadays. "I didn't believe it was true," he said. "Until the time that the prize was actually awarded, I pretty much thought it was a hoax." And what about his family, friends and co-workers? Let's just say that their reaction was, how should we phrase it, subdued? "I really didn't tell anyone else," he admitted, "I just didn't think it was real."

But real it was, and with his newly found money, Peter becomes the third and final grand prize winner in Welch's Road to Rewards promotion, joining Patti Park of Glenn Heights, Texas, who won a 2004 Chevrolet Venture minivan, and Tony Goicoechea of Ketchum, Idaho, who won a kitchen makeover. Those prizes were both awarded in 2004.

Through the Welch's Road to Rewards promotion, consumers who purchased specially marked Welch's jams and jellies received a unique code on the packaging. With code in hand, consumers could then log onto www.welchsrewards.com. Once there, consumers could enter their code to participate in the sweepstakes and learn if they had won a "Quick Win" prize and be entered into the sweepstakes for the grand prizes. Everyone who entered a code received either a coupon for money off their next Welch's purchase or a discount at one of Welch's online promotional partners, discovery.com or companykids.com.

The promotion, which started in 2003 and attracted more than 250,000 participants, concluded on January 31, 2005.

Peter hasn't decided what he'll do with the money, but for now plans to keep it invested in bonds.

In the meantime, he'll continue savoring one of his favorite treats. "I've never outgrown the taste of peanut butter and jelly," he said, "and I've always been particularly fond of Welch's grape jam." After winning the final sweepstakes prize in the Welch's Road to Rewards promotion, it probably wouldn't be much of a stretch to say that he's fonder than ever of Welch's grape jam

Welch's is the world's leading marketer of Concord and Niagara grape-based products, including grape juice and jelly. The company produces a variety of other fruit-based products, including 100% juices, juice cocktails, and drinks in the following forms: single serve, bottled, refrigerated, and frozen and shelf-stable concentrates. In addition, Welch's produces a number of fruit spread products under both the Welch's and BAMA brand names. Welch's web site can be found at http://www.welchs.com.

***

Back To Main Press Release Page