Kenmore brand helping cooks compete

For the second year in a row, Sears' brand of Kenmore appliances will fuel competitive juices in Las Vegas when 400 cooks gather later this year for the World Food Championships.

Kenmore will provide kitchen appliances and equipment to competitors at the World Food Championships which will take place in Las Vegas, Nov. 12-18. The Kenmore brand first teamed with the World Food Championships in 2013 as part of the yearlong celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Kenmore brand. Now as part of a multi-year partnership with the World Food Championships, the Kenmore brand will grow its competition roots further with the announcement of the World Food Championships Super Regional competitions, featuring Kenmore appliances, and Cookmore.com as the host of the FoodChamp Challenge online recipe contest series.

"Last year, hundreds of competitors were able to display their culinary magic thanks to the appliances and support provided by Kenmore," said Mike McCloud, president of the World Food Championships. "This is an incredible partnership with a world-class brand that allows us to deliver a world-class experience and event."

"Over the years, we've seen cooking and baking transform to become a celebrated and competitive art form," said Michael Castleman, president, KCD Brands and SVP of Sears Holdings. "The use of Kenmore appliances in the World Food Championships is a testament to such transformation and supports our commitment to 'trusted performance'. The World Food Championships encourages a more global obsession with quality cooking, made possible through quality appliances."

The 2014 event will see professional chefs and amateur cooks go head to head on an equal playing field to battle it out for hundreds of thousands of dollars and the title of the World Food Champion. Following a tournament-style format across nine food categories — BBQ, chili, burger, sandwich, recipe, dessert, bacon, pasta and seafood — competitors will battle for their chance to claim the title.