EXHIBIT 99.1


CHERRY  CORPORATION  TO EXPLORE  STRATEGIC  ALTERNATIVES  FOR ITS  SEMICONDUCTOR
SUBSIDIARY  WAUKEGAN,  Ill.,  Jan.  27  /PRNewswire/  -- The Cherry  Corporation
(Nasdaq: CHER - news) today announced that its Board of Directors has decided to
explore various strategic alternatives to help the Company maximize the value of
Cherry Semiconductor Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary ("CSC").

The Company has retained Banc of America  Securities LLC as financial advisor to
assist the Company in analyzing and pursuing  strategic  alternatives that would
maximize   shareholder  value  with  respect  to  CSC.  The  Cherry  Corporation
manufactures  proprietary and custom electrical  switches,  sensors,  electronic
keyboards  and  controls,  and  semiconductors  for  the  worldwide  automotive,
computer,  and consumer  and  commercial  markets.  The company has eight wholly
owned subsidiaries in the United States, Germany,  England,  France,  Australia,
Czech  Republic,  Mexico and Hong Kong.  Cherry also has 50-50 joint ventures in
Japan,  Hirose  Cherry  Precision  Company  Limited,  and in India,  TVS  Cherry
Limited.  Additional  information  is  available  on the  company's  website  at
http://www.cherrycorp.com.