Chicago Flower & Garden Show

The
Chicago Flower & Garden
Show proudly announces that it has a new presenting sponsor: Mariano’s, the Chicago area’s unique
new grocery experience. After its very successful partnership with the 2013
show, Mariano’s is increasing its participation and support of  the iconic event, which annually attracts
more than 40,000 people, and will bloom at Navy Pier, March 15 - 23, 2014, as
the “Chicago Flower & Garden Show presented by Mariano’s.”

            “The
synergy between our individual missions is at the core of this innovative
collaboration,”
says Bob Mariano, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Roundy’s
Inc. “Mariano’s is committed to helping Chicagoland Shop Well, Eat Well and
Live Well.  Flower Show Productions,
which plans, organizes and produces the Chicago Flower & Garden Show,
shares that commitment. We both believe education is a key to change. We
committed to the Chicago Flower & Garden Show because its work in Chicago
communities – the same ones we serve – inspires, educates and motivates.”  

Owned by Roundy’s Inc. of Milwaukee, Mariano’s has 12 food stores in the Chicago
area, with five in the city. The 13th Mariano’s is scheduled to open
in Wheaton on Oct. 29, 2013. In addition to naming rights, Mariano’s will have
an active role and strong presence within the show and will ensure an expanded,
year-long support of the show’s theme “Do Green. Do Good.”  Mariano’s will present the “Garden Gourmet”
cooking stage and has plans to present an expanded “floral market” leading into
the show’s “Marketplace,” which offers fresh flowers, gardening and
greening-related products and services.

“We’re growing the show as we’re
cultivating the next generation of gardeners,” says Tony Abruscato, the show’s
director. “With roots as far back as 1847, the Chicago Flower & Garden Show
is one of Chicago’s oldest and most cherished icons. Collaborating with
Mariano’s – one of our area’s newest icons – moves the show forward in its
mission to inspire, educate and motivate, and supports  our evolution 
into a four-season, ‘how-to’ resource for all ages and interests.”

            The collaboration also will reach
into Chicago-area communities, to present fresh ideas, information and
encouragement in support of healthy lifestyles, exercise and eating, which
includes gardening. Mariano’s will team up with another show partner, the
not-for-profit Peterson Garden Project, to present its 2014 Grow2Give™ program.
Managed by volunteers, Grow2Give™ provides fresh produce donations of at least
five percent of garden harvests from each of the Peterson Garden Project’s nine
sites to local food pantries or nutrition programs across the city. It’s
anticipated those programs will receive upwards of 3,800 pounds of donated
fresh produce thanks to the Mariano’s-supported Grow2Give™ program partnership
next year.

In addition to Mariano’s, additional
major sponsors of the 2014 Chicago Flower & Garden Show include The Home Depot, Diet Coke, Subaru and Wintrust Community Banks. Visit Mariano’s online and on social media
for good food and floral ideas, including from their popular Tastemakers
series.

For four-season, good-gardening
inspiration, sign up for the Chicago Flower & Garden Show’s e-newsletter at
www.chicagoflower.com.
You’ll receive valuable details about the show, including group tours, hotel
discounts and special ticket offers, as well as schedules and features.
Follow the show for the very latest updates and unique extras on Facebook
and on Twitter @ChicagoFlower.