2009-11-19 16:08:03 -

If Twin Cities residents could host a star-studded Thanksgiving dinner, they’d choose television chef Rachael Ray to do the cooking and invite hometown hero Joe Mauer to sit down with them for the feast. That’s according to a survey of 500 shoppers at six Twin Cities Cub Foods stores, conducted from Nov. 9 to 11.

Twins catcher Mauer squeezed past Vikings

quarterback Brett Favre as the local celebrity whom shoppers would most like to have at their Thanksgiving table. Mauer was preferred by 32 percent, edging out Favre at 31 percent. Non-athletes lagged far behind in the top five, with comedian Louie Anderson landing 17 percent, rocker Prince preferred by 14 percent and sports columnist Sid Hartman scoring 3 percent.

Respondents were only slightly more decisive when it came to choosing a celebrity chef, though most clearly preferred a professional in the kitchen. Respondents were shown a list of well-known names: TV cooking stars Ray, Emeril Lagasse, Andrew Zimmern and Paula Deen, as well as first lady Michelle Obama, reality-show mother Kate Gosselin and fictional “Desperate Housewife” Bree Hodge.

Ray received 29 percent of the votes while 24 percent preferred Deen.

Lagasse came in third with 17 percent – a major change from Cub’s similar survey in 2006, when Lagasse was the favorite and Ray ranked second.

No matter who makes the dinner or shares in the feast, Cub’s survey makes one thing clear: Thanksgiving isn’t a day for dieting. Sixty-three percent of respondents said they’ll indulge on Turkey Day, while 19 percent say they’ll watch what they eat. Turkey is famous for making people sleepy, and half of the men who responded to the survey said they plan to catch a few after-dinner “zzz’s.” Only a quarter of women plan to snooze.

Another significant survey finding: More than a quarter of respondents plan to purchase more Cub Foods-branded grocery items this year versus national brands. Nearly 80 percent of the shoppers also plan to make a grocery list, with an average of 25 items. Despite their lists, 60 percent said they’ll need two to three shopping trips to get everything they need for the feast.


Additional Survey Results

- 54 percent of respondents said they learned to cook from their mothers
- 62 percent of people plan to buy a frozen turkey versus fresh
- 83 percent said they’ll roast the bird this year
- 46 percent of people plan to cook the stuffing inside the bird while it’s roasting
- 77 percent of respondents said they’ll stay in the metro area to celebrate Thanksgiving
- Pie was the favorite ready-to-eat Thanksgiving food (26 percent) just beating dinner rolls (25 percent)


Cub Foods provides consumers with the freshest produce, widest selection and greatest value available today. In addition to innovative natural, ethnic and certified organic food sections, Cub stores offer shoppers added conveniences, such as in-store pharmacy and banking. Cub Foods was established in 1968 as one of the nation’s first discount grocery stores. The organization was purchased in 1980 by SUPERVALU and currently operates 58 stores in the Twin Cities.



Cub FoodsLee Ann Jorgenson, 651-779-2132 LeeAnn.M.Jorgenson@supervalu.com : mailto:LeeAnn.M.Jorgenson@supervalu.com orPadilla
Speer BeardsleyKimberly Huston, 612-455-1704 khuston@psbpr.com : mailto:khuston@psbpr.com