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Daily Herald; Arlington Heights, Ill.

By Mike Comerford Daily Herald Business Writer

Movie action star Jackie Chan is joining Salton Inc.' s stable of celebrity endorsers, which includes former boxer George Foreman and TV cook Rachael Ray.

The Hong Kong-born Chan will join Foreman in "infomercials" to sell Foreman grills in Asia, a market the Lake Forest-based firm is just entering and has high hopes for.

"We thought that Jackie Chan, as a popular celebrity in Asia, would bring instant recognition and focus attention on the Foreman grill in various countries," said Barbara Balonge, a spokeswoman for Salton.

The Foreman grills were a phenomenal success when introduced in the 1990s. Eight to 10 million units have been sold since.

In recent years, grill sales flattened, but recent versions have helped sales, according to Balonge. She estimates there have been 200 versions of the grills, which siphon off grease from cooking meat.

Eventually, Foreman sold his naming rights and endorsements for a record $137 million in cash and shares.

Chan has numerous other endorsement deals. Among them, the kung fu movie star has endorsed Jackie Chan underwear in Asia and Diet Pepsi in a TV commercial during this year's Super Bowl.

Balonge said Chan has a cooking connection - his father was a cook by profession and Chan owns branded coffee shops in Asia and a restaurant in Hawaii.

The Chan-endorsed grills will go on sale in the second quarter of next year.

Rachel Ray endorses Salton food processors, microwaves and choppers.

Recently having avoided being de-listed on the New York Stock Exchange because of its low market capitalization, Salton rose 10 cents, or 5 percent, Friday to close at $4.14.

mcomerford@@dailyherald.com

Here are some of Jackie Chan's endorsement deals.

Cableflex

Canadian Blood Services

Diet Pepsi

Got Milk?

Hanes

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada

Hefty Ultra Flex Trash Bags

Mountain Dew

TD Waterhouse

Indian motorcycles

Source: About.com, Daily Herald reporting

(c) 2006 Daily Herald; Arlington Heights, Ill.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.