America's Most Whimsical Celebrity Ellen DeGeneres Gives Viewers the Chance to Live by Their Whims

America's Most Whimsical Celebrity Ellen DeGeneres Gives Viewers the Chance to Live by Their Whims

Survey Reveals American Women are Taking Beloved Talk Show Host's Lead and Living More Whimsically

NORWALK, Conn., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- In a recent survey sponsored by Pepperidge Farm, Incorporated, America's favorite talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres, beat out a long list of celebrities to be deemed America's most whimsical celebrity. DeGeneres' free-spirited attitude, non-stop dancing feet and laid-back approach to interviewing the top stars in Hollywood helped earn her the title. Now, Ellen is giving four lucky viewers a chance to win an all-inclusive trip to her show in a game called, "Watch & Whims."

Beginning September 12th, viewers can get a chance to be whisked off to LA as a VIP guest on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" by going to http://www.ellentv.com/ and answering one of four quizzes each containing multiple questions. From among those with the correct answers, four people will be chosen and each gets to bring a friend. The sweepstakes reflects the theme of the survey conducted by Pepperidge Farm as it launches Whims(TM) cookies -- its new poppable, sweet snack. The survey revealed that American women not only think Ellen is the most whimsical celebrity in the country, but also that they want to emulate DeGeneres' free spirit in their own approach to life.

"Our research shows that women really try to make spontaneity and whimsy part of their daily lives," said Carol Degener, Director of Innovation, Pepperidge Farm. "Whims Waves and Clusters offer consumers delightful moments of whimsical indulgence so it seemed only natural for us to partner with Ellen, America's most whimsical celebrity."

Survey Says ...

Women ages 25-49 participated in the survey to find out what role spontaneity and whimsy play in their every day lives. Results showed:

* Spontaneous weekend vacations topped the charts -- 46 percent of respondents stated the most spontaneous thing they've ever done was to take a spur of the moment weekend trip. Twenty-three percent said their most spontaneous event was to throw an impromptu party. Only 15 percent said they called in sick for work and spent a day at a spa, and 14 percent said the most spontaneous thing they ever did was to buy an expensive pair of shoes and lie about the price.

* Eighty-one percent of the respondents confessed to adding something extra to their cart while waiting in line at the check out counter -- and 5 percent admitted this item was a celebrity gossip magazine.

* Sixty-two percent of the women surveyed admitted they can't keep a secret -- when they buy something they feel they shouldn't have, they confess. Only 16 percent said they hide their shopping bags so that their significant others won't know.

To help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, Pepperidge Farm Whims Cookies will make an initial cash donation of $50,000 to America's Second Harvest, which will provide the equivalent of approximately 750,000 meals. And, for every purchase of Whims Crunchy Clusters or Whims Crispy Waves made during the month of September, Pepperidge Farm will donate five cents to America's Second Harvest for Hurricane Katrina relief, up to a maximum total of $50,000. Additionally, Pepperidge Farm and its parent company, Campbell Soup Company, are donating more than $2 million worth of products to help feed the victims of Hurricane Katrina through America's Second Harvest.

About Whims(TM) cookies

Whims Crispy Waves are unique crispy-thin sweet snacks with just the right amount of chocolate or toffee baked into every bite. They are gently curved into a bite-sized waved shape. Enjoy rich Chocolate Chip, refreshing Mint Chocolate Chip or smooth Toffee Chip.

Whims Crunchy Clusters feature combinations of your favorite cookie ingredients -- rich chocolate, delicious nuts and crispy bits -- all rolled up into bite-sized poppable clusters. Chocolate Cashew has a delectable combination of crunchy nuts and rich chocolate. For the extreme chocolate fan, there's Chocolate Chocolate, with the perfect blend of milk and dark chocolate. Or try White Chocolate Pecan, a mix of creamy white chocolate and chunks of flavorful pecans.

Whims cookies hit store shelves this June at the suggested retail price of $3.49. The products are available in grocery stores, mass merchandisers and drug retailers nationwide.

About Pepperidge Farm

Pepperidge Farm, Incorporated, based in Norwalk, Connecticut, is a leading provider of premium quality fresh bakery products, cookies, crackers, and frozen foods. Among the company's most popular products are Chocolate Chunk and Milano(R) cookies, Goldfish(R) crackers, and more than 50 varieties of fresh baked breads including Swirl, Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse(R), and Natural Whole Grain breads.

Pepperidge Farm was founded in Connecticut in 1937 by Margaret Rudkin, an entrepreneurial homemaker who began baking fresh, all-natural bread for her allergy-afflicted son. The company is now a nationwide business with eight manufacturing facilities, almost 5,000 employees, 3,000 independent distributorships, and just over $1 billion in sales. Pepperidge Farm was acquired by Campbell Soup Company in 1961.

About "The Ellen DeGeneres Show

"The Ellen DeGeneres Show" has won two consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Talk Show and this year won the Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show Host, and has now earned nine Daytime Emmy Awards in its first two seasons. "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" is the only talk show in the history of the Daytime Emmys to win two consecutive awards for Outstanding Talk Show in its first two seasons. "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" premiered on September 8, 2003 and was the highest-rated freshman syndicated show of the 2003-2004 season. In May, 2004, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" received four Daytime Emmy Awards including Outstanding Talk Show and made Daytime Emmy history, garnering 12 nominations in its first year, more than any other freshman talk show in the history of the Daytime Emmys. Originating from NBC Studios in Los Angeles, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" is produced by A Very Good Production and WAD Productions, Inc. in association with Telepictures Productions and is distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution.

The Pepperidge Farm Women's Whims cookies report presents the findings of an internet survey conducted among a national probability sample of 1,535 people comprising of females, 25-49 years of age, living in private households in the continental United States. Impulse Research Corporation via CyberPulse(TM) Advisory Panel of Los Angeles conducted the survey in January 2005. The study has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

Source: Pepperidge Farm, Incorporated

CONTACT: Alyssa Kautto of DeVries Public Relations for Pepperidge Farm, Incorporated, +1-212-891-0459, akautto@devries-pr.com; or Geri Allen, Manager Corporate & Brand Communications of Pepperidge Farm, Incorporated, +1-203-846-7351, geri_allen@pepperidgefarm.com

Web site: http://www.ellentv.com/

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