EXHIBIT 99.1
                                 [TRUSERV LOGO]

                                  PRESS RELEASE


                                          For more information contact:
                                          Shelley Hughes
                                          TruServ Corporation
                                          (773) 695-5258/shughes@truserv.com


              JUDITH HARRISON TAPPED FOR TRUSERV BOARD OF DIRECTORS
        Co-op appoints 4th outside director to build best-in-class board


CHICAGO, August 15, 2002 - Global strategist and marketer Judith Harrison,
Principal and Senior Consultant, Judith Harrison & Associates, Inc., has been
appointed to TruServ Corporation's board of directors. Harrison will stand for
election at the company's next annual meeting of stockholders in May 2003.

     In May 2002, Laurence L. Anderson, David Y. Schwartz and Gilbert L.
Wachsman were elected as TruServ's first outside directors as the board began a
shift from being solely comprised of storeowners and TruServ's CEO. By year-end
2002, the board will consist of five outside directors, five storeowners and
TruServ President and Chief Executive Officer, Pamela Forbes Lieberman.

     "Building a best-in-class company starts with building a best-in-class
board of directors," said Bill Blagg, chairman of the board. "With more than 20
years of leadership building global brands and guiding top-tier companies,
Judith offers a rare mix of creative and operational strengths. Her marketing
expertise and experience with turnarounds make her an excellent resource as we
move forward with our strategic plan."

     Harrison began Judith Harrison & Associates, a marketing consulting firm
specializing in brand building and business performance improvement, in 2000.
Prior to the firm's start-up, she served as CEO of Zanybrainy.com, and from 1998
- 1999 Judith served as president of General Cigar Enterprises. In both
organizations, her concept creation and focus on product line mix quickly
yielded bottom-line results. During her tenure as president and CEO of The Monet
Group, 1994 - 1997, Harrison led the organization from Chapter 11 bankruptcy to
global leadership.

     Harrison also served as president of Liz Claiborne Handbags, 1992 - 1994,
and made a significant impact on profitability and growth at Yves Saint Laurent
Parfums Inc., 1990 - 1992, and at Hecht's, a division of May Department Stores,
1980 - 1990.

     Harrison received her B.B.A. and M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin in
Madison, where she currently serves as a director of the Business School. She is
also co-membership chair of the Gotham Chapter of the New York City Young
Presidents Organization and was recently elected Trustee of the Village of
Plandome, Long Island, where she resides.

     TruServ, headquartered in Chicago, is one of the world's largest
member-owned cooperatives with annual sales of $2.6 billion in 2001. The TruServ
cooperative includes approximately 6,800 independent retailers worldwide
operating under store identities that include True Value, Grand Rental Station,
Taylor Rental, Home & Garden Showplace and Induserve Supply. Additional
information on TruServ and its retail identities is available at
www.truserv.com.

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