Food Network Premieres New Series FOOD FORTUNES Tonight

Food Network invites aspiring culinary entrepreneurs to walk in with an idea and possibly walk out with a fortune, in new series Food Fortunes, premiering tonight, March 9th at 10pm ET/PT. Over the course of eight episodes, food visionaries looking to launch a new product have the opportunity to earn cold hard cash from a rotating panel of four investors, all looking to make lucrative investments and find the next golden idea. But first, the inventors will have to pitch to a room full of consumers to win their approval, as the potential investors watch on. Seeking advice and cash from some of the biggest names in the food, online and retail industry, will the entrepreneurs' ideas land flat, or will they go home with a food fortune? Investors include Willie Degel (Restaurateur, host of Food Network's Restaurant Stakeout), Robert Earl (Founder and CEO of Planet Hollywood International, host of Cooking Channel's Robert Earl's Be My Guest), Scott Gerber (CEO of The Gerber Group), Dan Glickberg (Founder of Dan Glickberg Food), Daniel Green (International food and wine expert), Michele Hoskins (Founder and owner of Michele Foods, Inc.), Sonia Kapadia (Founder and CEO of Taste Savant), and Pat LaFrieda (Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors, Food Network's Meat Men).

"Food Fortunes gives a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into the business side of creating a culinary empire," said Bob Tuschman, General Manager and Senior Vice President Programming, Food Network. "These inventors must capture the attention and imagination of some of the most successful executives in the culinary world to make their dreams a reality."

Throughout the season, food-savvy entrepreneurs have an unprecedented opportunity to pitch their products to a panel of high-profile investors, in hopes that they will score funding that can help them launch or expand their businesses. But the panel wants to make sure that they will make a return on their investments. Whether they are being pitched an ultra-healthy coffee franchise, an American take on Indian food, or a robot that serves as a personal chef, it is every investor for themselves as they argue it out for a chance to get a piece of the action. The up-and-comers must come to the stage with a well-thought-out game plan, and they must also win over the consumer audience who will help the investors decide if a product is truly worthy.

Visit FoodNetwork.com/FoodFortunes to meet the food visionaries vying for a shot at success and the investors they must impress. Join the business banter with #FoodFortunes.

Food Fortunesis produced by 3 Ball Entertainment.

FOOD NETWORK (www.foodnetwork.com) is a unique lifestyle network, website and magazine that connects viewers to the power and joy of food. The network strives to be viewers' best friend in food and is committed to leading by teaching, inspiring, empowering and entertaining through its talent and expertise. Food Network is distributed to more than 100 million U.S. households and up to 35 million unique web users monthly. Since launching in 2009, Food Network Magazine's rate base has grown tenfold and is now the second largest monthly magazine on the newsstand, with over 11.6 million readers. Headquartered in New York, Food Network has a growing international presence with programming in more than 150 countries, including 24-hour networks in the United Kingdom, Asia, and the Europe, Middle East and AFRICA (EMEA) region. Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), which also owns and operates Cooking Channel (www.cookingchanneltv.com), HGTV (www.hgtv.com), DIY Network (www.diynetwork.com), Travel Channel (www.travelchannel.com) and GREAT AMERICAN COUNTRY (www.gactv.com), is the manager and general partner.