Vitamix Partners With Celebrity Chef Jon Ashton

Partnership Blends Nutrition and Fun to Encourage Healthy Eating for Kids

OLMSTED FALLS, OH – Vitamix Corporation, the leading high performance blender manufacturer, today announces a new partnership with celebrity chef Jon Ashton, resident chef of the nationally syndicated TV show, “The Daily Buzz” and executive chef of Relish magazine. Ashton is passionate about children’s nutrition and has already worked with over 50,000 children in countries all over the world, in 2007 alone.

Together, Vitamix and Ashton are promoting childhood nutrition with cooking demonstrations that emphasize how fun and easy it is to add more whole foods into kids’ diets. Ashton will additionally serve as a spokesperson for Vitamix, creating new recipes, conducting high-profile personal appearances and reinforcing the message that healthy eating for kids must begin at home.

In business since 1921, Vitamix has been extolling the virtues of whole food nutrition for decades. The company introduced the first Vitamix blender in 1937 and 13 years later hosted the world’s first television infomercial during which Vitamix founder William G. “Papa” Barnard offered his prescient principles of consuming whole foods, as prepared in his signature blender.

Because “Papa” Barnard’s message holds truer today than ever, Vitamix is expecting the partnership with Ashton to be particularly “fruitful.” Jodi Berg, VP of Vitamix, says, “Jon shares our passion for whole foods and has a strong commitment to helping children eat healthier.”

Jon Ashton adds, “I work with home cooks everyday, and they all want nutritious food that doesn’t take much time to prepare. Even a 30 minute meal is almost too long for busy lifestyles these days. Vitamix offers a solution, allowing families to create healthy ice cream in seconds or make a delicious bowl of hot soup in minutes. I’m looking forward to helping kids - and their parents - understand that healthy eating can be quick and actually really fun!”

For more information please visit www.vitamix.com and www.jonashton.com.

About Vitamix Corporation
Based in Olmsted Falls, Ohio, family-owned and operated Vitamix Corporation was founded in 1921 by William G. “Papa” Barnard, an early promoter of the whole foods lifestyle and a direct marketing pioneer. Since introducing the first Vitamix blender in 1937, Vitamix has set the standard for high performance blenders. Vitamix blending equipment is used in leading smoothie bars, coffee houses and restaurants, and is universally praised by professional chefs and consumers alike for both durability and performance. Vitamix manufacturing operations are located at the corporate headquarters in Ohio; the company’s products are sold in over 75 countries. For more information, please visit HYPERLINK "http://www.vitamix.com/" www.vitamix.com or call (800) 848-2649.

About Jon Ashton
Originally from Liverpool, England, and now living in Orlando, Florida, Jon Ashton is the resident chef of the nationally syndicated morning show, “The Daily Buzz,” and the executive chef of Relish magazine. Ashton has worked in some of the most notable kitchens around the world and with prestigious organizations including Disney and NASA. His flair in the kitchen and engaging personality has also earned him regular spots on “The TODAY Show.” A passionate advocate for the importance of childhood nutrition, Ashton is personally dedicated to inspiring children and families to make healthy choices. By educating children and parents that nutritious, home-cooked meals are fun and delicious, Ashton hopes to promote good eating habits and strong family bonds. For more information, please visit  www.jonashton.com.