Business briefs

Tastefully Simple comes to Stafford

FREDERICKSBURG — Four local residents have become independent consultants with Tastefully Simple, Inc., a national direct-sales company featuring easy-to-prepare gourmet products.

“The Tastefully Simple opportunity is designed to be life friendly. Consultants find a great deal of satisfaction through its fun nature, flexibility, unlimited earning potential and top-notch products,” said Jill Blashack Strahan, Tastefully Simple founder and CEO.

Erika Sypsomos of Fredericksburg, Courney Pellegrino of Spotsylvania and Kym Campbell and Teresa Ovalle of Stafford are the new consultants. As consultants, they offer the company’s gourmet foods and beverages to guests at home taste-testing parties. Guests receive samples, easy meal ideas, recipes and serving suggestions.

For more information, or to schedule a party, please visit tastefullysimple.com.

Giant celebrates Black History Month

LANDOVER, Md. — Giant Food will celebrate Black History Month with the release of its annual Profiles in Excellence brochure. The brochure celebrates landmarks in Black History by highlighting locations throughout America where blacks have made a difference.

This year’s edition of Profiles in Excellence, free at Giant locations, is a celebration of places that hold special significance in Black American History. The historic landmarks featured in these pages have become symbols of culture, community and education and include The Lincoln Theater, Washington D.C.; The Apollo Theater, New York and the F.W. Woolworth Building.

Giant also will celebrate Black History Month by sponsoring its third-annual Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest, which will be open to all students in grades 6 to 8. The essay contest will begin Feb. 1 and run through Feb. 28.

Giant’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest will invite students to address the question, “What can I do to make a difference in my community?” Each essay submission will be judged on the basis of originality, creativity and adherence to the essay topic.

Two winners will be selected from every grade level and each winner will be awarded checks valued from $250 to $1,000. Entry forms are available at all Giant stores and on Giant’s Web site, giantfood.com. All entry forms and essays must be postmarked by Feb. 28, 2009.

— Press releases