Number One Rule of Gift Giving This Year: Shop for Quality Not Quantity

Trusted Brands and Superior Products Should Be Top of List for Shoppers

TORONTO, Nov. 19 /CNW/ - For many shoppers this holiday season, gift giving will be a scaled down affair. But scaling back doesn't have to translate to poor quality gifts that will inevitably end up being re-gifted. Savvy holiday shoppers will make everyone on their list extra jolly this year if they opt for quality products from trusted brands backed up by top-notch customer service.

"Let's face it, times are tough and consumers are looking for greater value," said Mike Kempster Sr., Executive Vice President, Weber-Stephen Products Co. "When dollars are tight, consumers tend to research a bit more before making a purchase. Trusted brands, such as Weber, just make more sense in the long run." Weber's range of products, from charcoal and portable gas grills, to grilling tools and cookbooks, will warm the hearts of grilling enthusiasts this holiday season:

Select Weber Grills, Accessories and Cookbooks Under $50

    
    -  The Weber(R) Smokey Joe(R) Gold charcoal grill, is a compact charcoal
       grill with a porcelain-enameled bowl and lid, and a 14 1/2" plated
       steel cooking grate that's perfect for grilling small meals for
       picnics or camping (MSRP: $54.99).

    -  The New York Times best-selling Weber's Way to Grill(TM) cookbook by
       Jamie Purviance is the most complete grilling technique book that's
       ever been on the market. With hundreds of images detailing step-by-
       step techniques, plus a photo of every plated dish, Weber's Way to
       Grill is a must-have for grilling enthusiasts (MSRP: $32.50).

    -  The Weber Style(TM) Kabob Set's stainless steel rack makes
       transporting skewers to and from the grill easy. The two-prong design
       on the five included skewers keeps food from rotating. (MSRP: $59.99).

    -  The Weber Style(TM) Stainless Steel Rib Rack optimizes grilling area
       for ribs and chicken quarters by standing them up; it also has wider
       space in between each divider to help ensure even saucing and/or
       smoking. (MSRP: $59.99).

    Select Weber Grills Under $200

    -  The Weber(R) Q(R) 100 gas grill is a portable gas grill with the same
       futuristic design of the Weber(R) Q(R)200, yet it's even lighter and
       more compact. Perfect for urban dwellers with small balconies to RV
       users who have a small, onboard stowage space (MSRP: $199.99).

    -  The Weber(R) One-Touch(R) Gold charcoal grill features an 18.5-inch
       cooking area, a plated steel, hinged cooking grate and a stainless
       steel One-Touch(TM) cleaning system which easily sweeps ashes into the
       catch pan below. Available in black, this classic kettle is the right
       fit for any griller (MSRP: $179.99).

    Select Weber Grills Under $400

    -  The Weber 18.5" Smokey Mountain Cooker(TM) Smoker is perfect for "low
       and slow" barbecue enthusiasts. With 481-square inches of space, this
       smoker is great for slow-cooking roasts, turkeys, ribs, and whole
       fish. (MSRP: $399.99)
    

Weber's 5-Star Customer Service

The Weber Grill-Line(SM) (1-800-GRILL-OUT(R)) is staffed by a specially trained team of representatives - Certified Barbecue Experts(TM) (CBEs) - who are skilled in assisting consumers with a wide variety of grilling subjects, including food preparation, grilling information, tips, recipes, meal-planning ideas, and product safety issues. Established as North America's first and most authoritative grilling hotline, the service has fielded more than one million calls since its inception in 1989. The line is open year-round, from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. CT, seven days a week, and closed only on Christmas.

Additionally, www.weber.com(R) features dealer locator information, grilling tips, instruction guides, and more than 200 original recipes.

Editors' Note: For digital artwork please contact Theresa Stahl at [phone], [email protected]

Weber-Stephen Products Co., headquartered in Palatine, Ill., is the world's leading manufacturer of charcoal and gas grills, grilling accessories and other outdoor room products. In 1952, founder George Stephen sparked a backyard revolution with his invention of the Weber(R) kettle. More than 55 years later, the family-owned company remains the industry leader with its Weber(R), Weber(R) Q(TM) and Ducane(R) brands. As a leading exporter of grills, Weber brand products are sold worldwide at selected home centres, hardware stores, department stores, patio stores, and other retail outlets. Weber has the strongest consumer outreach program in the industry with its Weber Grill-Line(SM) (1-800-474-5568)*, Weber Customer Service in the U.S.A. (1-800-446-1071)*, through its Canadian distributor Onward Manufacturing (1-800-265-2150), and a content-rich website with grilling tips, techniques, and original Weber recipes at www.weber.com(R).

For further information: Theresa Stahl, [phone], [email protected]