Valentine's Day Story Ideas from Cub Foods; Cub Foods Invites Media into Twin Cities Stores to Learn What It Takes to Make Every Valentine Feel Special.

Cub Foods:

WHAT:

    --  Flowers. Is the rose still the most popular flower for
        Valentine's Day? How is Cub Foods prepared to handle the
        onslaught of flower orders? These questions and more can be
        answered with a visit to the Cub Foods floral department.

        Facts

        --  Cub Foods sells up to 10 times more flowers around
            Valentine's Day than any other time of the year.

        --  All Cub Foods stores feature a "Lover's Lane" - a
            check-out aisle devoted just to flower sales, so that
            flowers-only shoppers can get in and out quickly.

        --  Red roses are the most popular Valentine's Day flower.
            Tulips are number two.

        --  According to floramex.com, 61 percent of men say they
            would like to be given flowers on Valentine's Day.

        --  In 2005, the number of roses produced for Valentine's Day
            was 180 million, according to aboutflowers.com.

        --  Cub Foods will sell one dozen rose bouquets, with greens
            and baby's breath, for $15.88 this Valentine's season.

            Rose Care

        --  For simple care of roses, fill a clean vase with warm
            water and a package of flower preservative. Remove any
            foliage that may fall below the water line. Cut the stems
            at an angle about an inch from the end with a sharp knife.
            Place the arrangement in a cool location and keep it out
            of direct sunlight. Maximize the enjoyment of the
            arrangement by replacing the water every couple of days.

            Story Angles

        --  Floral-shop quality at Cub Foods pricing. Flowers at Cub
            come from the same growers that supply local floral shops.
            This means the same quality of flowers can be found at Cub
            - for less - without making an extra trip.

        --  Do something unique! While a bouquet of a dozen (or even
            two dozen!) roses looks great, many consumers prefer mixed
            floral bouquets for a burst of different colors.
            Chrysanthemums, gerberas, snapdragons and more are all in
            season now.

PHOTO/INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:

    -- A day in the life of a Cub Foods floral department

    -- Customers shopping in the Cub Foods floral department

    -- Interviews with Cub Foods floral department managers

    -- Interviews with Cub Foods store directors

    -- Last-minute shoppers standing in "Lover's Lane"

BACKGROUND:

    Cub Foods - the Store Next Door - 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 52 stores in the Twin Cities.