Survey Finds What Women Want - Respect, Healthy Lifestyle and Family Time

SAN DIEGO - March 2005 - Men who are still trying to answer the oddly perplexing question "What does a woman want?" need to mind their manners and keep their health in check.

That is according to a national "What Women Want" survey, in which Chicken of the Sea queried women on food and health, family, social issues, career and significant others.

The results, available today at www.chickenofthesea.com, are the basis for the seafood company's "Hunks at Home" contest - a nationwide search for ideal men who embrace what women are looking for in life, as determined by the survey. A Chicken of the Sea "hunk" is someone who leads a healthy, active lifestyle, helps around the house, values family and is respectful toward others.

"The contest isn't about finding stereotypical 'hunks,'" said Don George, senior vice president of marketing for Chicken of the Sea. "We're looking for men who share the same quality attributes associated with Chicken of the Sea. Men who lead healthy, active lifestyles are part of what the contest will seek. It also doesn't hurt if contestants know their way around the kitchen."

Of the more than 31,000 responses received in the "What Women Want" online survey, 93 percent of the respondents were women; leaving 7 percent of responses with men thinking they knew what women wanted. Forty-three percent of all respondents were between ages 36 and 50.

A quick synopsis of the survey findings:

Food and Health:

• Eating nutritious meals is a top priority for overall health concerns.
• Respondents want to improve healthy eating habits/weight more than time management, organization and self-discipline.
• Variety also ranks high on the priority list, with respondents preferring to try new menu items rather than stick with time-tested recipes.
• Great taste and low price are reasons respondents will eat nutritious meals more often.
• Convenience is important in simplifying a busy lifestyle.

Family and Significant Others:

• Family is the number one most valued relationship.
• Help with cooking and cleaning are household chores respondents want assistance with most.
• A desirable partner demonstrates respect, communication, humor and thoughtfulness.
• Respondents want to be viewed with respect, adoringly and as an equal partner.

Career, Social Issues and More:

• Gaining personal satisfaction and being appreciated/valued are the top noted objectives in the workplace.
• Hard work/personal ambition is most important in helping people reach personal goals.
• Health care is the number one most important social issue to respondents, followed by education, then children's issues.
• Respondents are most likely to support breast cancer organizations, followed by animal protection/rescue groups and domestic abuse prevention organizations.

"Have we answered that question Sigmund Freud once asked Marie Bonapart - 'What does a women want?' - something us guys seem to trip over?" said George. "Maybe we're a little closer to finding what women want, but it's interesting to learn more and more that women's values are our mantra at Chicken of the Sea." And now with our "Hunks at Home" contest, that benefits charity, we're going to have some fun this year but we'll also be giving tools for both women and men throughout the year based on what our survey respondents told us."

For complete survey results or to enter a man into the "Hunks at Home" contest, visit the Chicken of the Sea Web site at www.chickenofthesea.com. Entries for the "Hunks at Home" contest require an essay of no more than 500 words describing how the nominee fits the following criteria: values family time; shows respect to others (particularly significant others and family); leads a healthy, active lifestyle; and helps around the house. All entries must also include a photo. Additional information and rules are available at the Web site.

A seafood category leader, Chicken of the Sea provides a variety of shelf-stable seafood products, including tuna, salmon, crab, shrimp, oysters, clams, mackerel and sardines. The Chicken of the Sea brand and famous Mermaid icon are among the most recognized brands in America.