EIN Presswire: Pepsi-Cola Live Feed Press Releases

Flowers, Champagne and Discounts: 55% of Brits Plan to Enjoy Special Dining Offers This Valentines Day

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:01:00 +0000

Flowers, Champagne and Discounts: 55% of Brits Plan to Enjoy Special Dining Offers This Valentines Day

PR Newswire

LONDON, February 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

- TOPTABLE REVEALS MEN LEAVE IT TO THEIR PARTNERS AS ONLY 18% MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR 14TH FEBRUARY -

A survey released today by toptable, reveals that savvy Brits plan to spend more this Valentine's Day but also want to get more value for their money with over 55% planning to take advantage of special offers ahead of their romantic dates.

The poll conducted by the UK's leading online restaurant booking site found that in spite of the current economic climate, one third of Brits planned to spend more eating out this Valentine's Day than they did last year, with most planning to spend more than GBP75 to impress their date.

However, British diners are also becoming savvier wanting more value for money. The survey revealed that over half (55%) of Britons were planning to take advantage of special offers to treat their date to more.

Women in charge of booking this year

When it comes to making Valentine's Day dinner reservations this year, it is British women who are wearing the trousers. No longer prepared to wait for their partner to book, nearly two thirds of the women (60%) stated they would be making the booking. This compares to just 18% of women who said their man was in charge, with the remainder stating it was a joint decision.

The rise of the 'mate date'

Although Britons seem to be getting less romantic, singles are keen to get in on the action with over one in three of those surveyed planning to go on 'mate dates' and make dinner reservations to dine with more than one other. Of those surveyed, only 25% said that if they can't dine out with a partner they would rather stay at home.

Lucy Taylor, head of restaurant dining at toptable said: "It is great to see that Britons are using both their hearts and their heads this year and aren't being a fool for love, taking advantage of special offers such as free glasses of champagne to accompany meals or money off set courses. By doing so, it means that couples can really enjoy more from their dining experience, maybe even visit places they wouldn't be able to normally. On toptable, you are able to see special offers available at restaurants of your choice and can even search by restaurant offers only which will pull out all the offers available in your chosen location, arguably a great way to enjoy more this Valentine's Day."

For more information on toptable, please visit http://www.toptable.com

*Findings based on a sample size of 1,074 British diners, research conducted by toptable running a poll on their website. Online fieldwork took place between 23rd January and the 26st January 2012.

About toptable
More than 12 million diners have been seated via toptable, making it the leading consumer destination for restaurant reservations in the UK. toptable.com provides a free and easy-to-use service, allowing diners to browse and book at more than 3,000 restaurants across the UK. More than 200,000 diners are seated at restaurants each month through reservations booked via toptable.com. toptable is owned and operated by OpenTable, Inc.

OpenTable, OpenTable.com, OpenTable logos, toptable and other
service names are the trademarks of OpenTable, Inc. and/or its affiliates

Littlewoods Ireland Plays Cupid This Valentine's Day

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Littlewoods Ireland Plays Cupid This Valentine's Day

PR Newswire

DUBLIN, February 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Treat that special person in your life this Valentine's with a great gift from Littlewoods Ireland, Ireland's leading online department store. Whether looking for thoughtful gifts or that special dress Littlewoods Ireland.ie has something for every need and budget and with free 4 day delivery; Valentine's is delivered direct to your door.

Teddies and chocolates are seen as the traditional Valentine's gifts so the adorable Me To You I Love You This Much Bear, €29 and the delicious Thorntons Valentine's Bundle, €14 are sure to go down a treat. If you'd prefer an alternative to the teddy and chocolate combo, show your love with a timeless keepsake like the pretty Heartfelt Love Jewellery Wardrobe, €39 or the funky Ice-Watch Pink Silicone Strap Watch, €99.

If you're treating you and your loved one to a romantic Valentine's meal and want to make an extra special effort these head turning dresses at LittlewoodsIreland.ie will do just that, the fabulous Holly Willoughby Bodycon Dress, €89 will ensure he only has eyes for you! We also love this Fearne Cotton Tulip Lace Dress, €104 in smouldering red.

Now, what to give that special man in your life? The Personalised Leather Wallet, €27 is a practical gift with the embroidered personal finish adding a thoughtful and loving touch while the beautiful Sean John Unforgivable 30ml, €34 will keep your man smelling irresistible this Valentine's! The Mock The Week: Too Hot For TV Box Set DVD €24 is sure to bring a smile to your man's face (check out LittlewoodsIreland.ie for a full range of box sets available) or why not treat his wardrobe to a Spring update with the stylish G-Star RAW Perth Adams Mens Shirt, €139.

And if you're spending Valentine's Day footloose and fancy free Littlewoods Ireland can even deliver the ideal man to your door! Have a laugh with the Knit Your Own Perfect Boyfriend, €17 or the Sculpt Your Own Perfect Boyfriend, €17, giving you a perfect man without all the bad habits! Your girlfriends will love this pressie!

With over 40,000 products to choose from online, littlewoodsireland.ie has something for everyone to make this Valentine's Day extra special.

About Littlewoods Ireland http://www.littlewoodsireland.ie

Littlewoods Ireland is one of Ireland's largest shop at home retailers, offering convenient online and catalogue shopping. Formerly Family Album and Kays, the company rebranded to become Littlewoods Ireland in June 2007. Littlewoods Ireland is owned by Littlewoods Shop Direct Group, the UK's largest Home Shopping Business.

Littlewoods Ireland offers a wide range of well known high-street fashion brands, such as Miss Sixty, Firetrap, French Connection, Oasis and many more. Exclusive to Littlewoods Ireland, is uber trendy own brand, Love Label. In addition to its comprehensive women's, men's and children's clothing range, Littlewoods Ireland also offers a wide variety of homeware, appliances, electronics, jewellery and toys, providing the complete department store shopping experience.

For more information about Littlewoods Ireland, to order a catalogue or to shop online, visit http://www.littlewoodsireland.ie

For further information / additional visuals,
Please contact:
Donna Moore
Account Director
Market Match,
Ph: +353(0)1-4914355
donna@marketmatch.ie

Róisín Reilly
Head of PR
Littlewoods Ireland
+353(0)1-811-2312
rreilly@shopdirect.ie

Diet Pepsi Refreshes Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week With an Out-of-the-Box Runway Experience

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Diet Pepsi Refreshes Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week With an Out-of-the-Box Runway Experience

Diet Pepsi Brings Four Regional Designers to the Fashion Industry's Center Stage

PR Newswire

PURCHASE, N.Y., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Diet Pepsi returns to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week to provide a refreshing take on a traditional runway show experience. In partnership with fashion commentator Simon Doonan, Diet Pepsi will give four up-and-coming regional designers the opportunity to showcase their collections at the 'Diet Pepsi Style Studio' fashion show on February 9th at 8:00 p.m. in The Box at Lincoln Center.

Curated by Simon Doonan and presented on a set designed by Jonathan Adler, each designer will bring their unique hometown perspective to three themed fall looks. The themes, reflecting key style trends, include fierce safari prints, avant garde workwear and metallic finishes inspired by the refreshing Diet Pepsi can.

"We're excited to be partnering with regional designers who can bring their hometown perspective to the cutting-edge fashion of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week," said Amy Wirtanen, Senior Marketing Director Pepsi Beverages Company. "We hope that by translating high-end trends, we are opening the doors of the industry's premiere event, and making style accessible to all women."

The four designers selected to display their collections include: "Project Runway" alum and Dallas-based Shirin Askari; Denver, Colorado's Rachel Hurst of Rae Marie; Genoveva Christoff from Columbus, OH; and Elise Bergman of Chicago, IL.

"I am honored to be a part of bringing these fresh new faces to Fashion Week," said Simon Doonan. "Acting as their mentor has been an enriching experience, and seeing them adapt key trends for the Diet Pepsi woman makes me very proud."

Following the show, the regional looks will be on display in the Diet Pepsi Refresh Studio, located in the Grand Lobby of Lincoln Center. Designed by Jonathan Adler, the Diet Pepsi Refresh Studio provides guests a place to relax and recharge, while staying up-to-date with the week's trends and shows. Diet Pepsi will also treat guests to 'refreshing moments,' daily, surprising experiences designed to delight and uplift hurried fashionistas.

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo offers the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 22 different product lines that generate more than $1 billion in annual retail sales each. Our main businesses -- Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay, and Pepsi Cola -- also make hundreds of other enjoyable foods and beverages that are respected household names throughout the world. With net revenues of approximately $60 billion, PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo's promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages for local tastes; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment, including by conserving energy and water usage, and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support, and invest in the local communities where we operate. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

SOURCE PepsiCo

McCain Brings Ready Baked Jackets to Life on the High Street

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:43:00 +0000

McCain Brings Ready Baked Jackets to Life on the High Street

PR Newswire

LONDON, February 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

McCain Foods UK (Ltd) is using unique marketing technology, as part of a £1.4 million multi format campaign, to arouse consumers' senses and demonstrate, quite literally, just how delicious new McCain Ready Baked Jackets really are.

New McCain Ready Baked Jackets combine the much loved taste and smell of slow oven-baked jacket potatoes but are ready to eat in just five minutes. McCain wanted to recreate the in-home experience of their new product direct to the consumers on the streets by bringing them to life through their special outdoor campaign.

3D jacket potatoes will be appearing at bus shelters across the UK, and are set to heat up the nation and set taste buds tingling during this cold snap. When consumers press a button on the poster, a hidden heating element gently warms the potato and releases the mouth-watering aroma of a slow oven-baked jacket potato throughout the bus shelter. The aroma was developed over three months in collaboration with a specialist scent lab to accurately match the warming scent of McCain Ready Baked Jackets.

In a media first, the bus shelters will also dispense money off coupons, redeemable across multiple and independent retailers, to make it easier for consumers to trial McCain's latest product.

The Outdoor campaign will include ten fully-wrapped bus shelter specials, fitted with 2-feet high, fibre-glass potatoes, in addition to billboards, roadside six-sheets and point of sale six-sheets at Tesco, ASDA, Morrisons and Sainsbury's. Digital Outdoor will also reach commuters with tailored messaging on screens in train stations. The campaign is set to be introduced in major cities across the UK, including London, York, Nottingham, Glasgow and Manchester.

Mark Hodge, McCain Foods Head of Brand, comments: "McCain Ready Baked Jackets will revolutionise the way we eat jacket potatoes so this ground-breaking campaign provides the perfect advertising support. In the chilly month of February, these Outdoor specials are really going to stand out and drive sales by bringing the tasty oven baked smell of jacket potatoes to warm the consumer. We're adding a whole new meaning to try before you buy."

Spencer Berwin, Managing Director of Sales at JCDecaux, said, "McCain is using touch, smell and sight to create a 360 degree experience of Ready Baked Jackets, on the street. The voucher dispenser is a media first and is a hugely exciting step for JCDecaux, enabling brands to prompt purchases and interact directly with consumers as they go about their day."

Ready to eat in just 5 minutes from the microwave, McCain Ready Baked Jackets taste, smell and fluff just like oven-baked jacket potatoes . . . because that's all they are.

Notes to editors

Refer to pack for cooking instructions as times differ depending on the number of potatoes cooked at once. One potato takes five minutes to cook in a category D / 750W microwave oven from frozen.

McCain is Britain's favourite chip maker and takes pride in the quality of all its products. McCain is a family business that works closely with 300 British farmers, some of whom it has worked in partnership with for three generations. The company aims to make good, simple food and at its heart are its people, the community and the environment. For the full range of McCain products with nutritional information please go to http://www.mccain.co.uk

For more information please contact Nexus PR:

Victoria Auckland, victoria.auckland@nexuspr.com, +44(0)207-052-8846

Phil Slaney, phil.slaney@nexuspr.com, +44(0)20-7052-8839

The Death of Traditional Romance

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:07:00 +0000

The Death of Traditional Romance

PR Newswire

LONDON, February 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Text messages and online greetings are killing off the traditional Valentine's Card
46 per cent of Brits swap cards for texts to say 'I love you'
53 per cent of men think doing the dishes constitutes a Valentine's Day treat

Forget Valentine's cards, perfumed letters and lavish meals out - the humble text message is the new way to say 'I love you' this year.

Almost of half us (46 per cent) now admit swapping traditional greetings for mobile media when it comes to sharing our feelings.

Another one in five (19 per cent) of us opts to declare our love on Facebook, while ten per cent of those quizzed said they'd take to Twitter to say something soppy instead of sending a card.

New research by pudding brand lovetub found that our passion for mobile technologies could signal the death of love notes and cards altogether.

The survey of 2,004 British adults found that saying it with a phone was most popular among 18 to 24 year olds, with more than two-thirds (67 per cent) saying they would share their love via text.

Just 27 per cent said they would bother crafting a letter and only 14 per cent would pen a poem for their loved one.

And it seems some would-be Romeos have a lot to learn, with 62 per cent of us thinking making a cuppa constitutes a romantic gesture, and a quarter (26 per cent) walking the dog to show we care.

Unsurprisingly, men and women differed in their romantic ambitions. More than half of men (53 per cent) said they would show their love by washing the dishes compared to just 39 per cent of women, and 48 per cent thought taking out the rubbish was a way to show they care compared to 29 per cent of women.

Londoners were the most likely get physical, with over half (52 per cent) saying they would spice things up in the bedroom to show their feelings.

Boozy students were the most likely to hit the bar as a sign of their affection, with 61 per cent saying they would buy their loved one a drink.

But when it comes to physical contact, it seems the old ways are the best, with three quarters of us (78 per cent) showing their love through a daily hug or kiss.

Roberta Herd, brand manager at lovetub, said: "It seems the UK is embracing technology to share the love. We expect there'll be lots of loved up texts, tweets and Facebook messages this Valentine's Day, and fewer letters, verses, and sonnets.

"It's great to see that little gestures such saying 'I love you' or giving your partner a kiss and cuddle are the ways most of us like to get loved up, but slightly less encouraging to see that many think doing the dishes rates as a loving gesture!

"We're not exactly known as a nation of romantics, but Valentine's Day is the perfect time to buck the trend by sharing our love in new and imaginative ways."

Notes to editor

Until 7^th February, pudding lovers can feel the love and share the love for free. Get your hands on a free 100g lovetub Pudding by 'liking' the lovetub Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/lovetubpuddings) and downloading the printable coupon to redeem at your nearest Sainsbury's store*

lovetub is a warm, rich, melt-in-your-mouth pudding which can be found in the dessert chiller in selected Sainsbury's stores. Available in both Sticky Toffee Pudding and Chocolate Pudding flavours, lovetub can be microwaved to lip-smacking perfection in just 30 seconds, and eaten straight from the tub.

Frutarom Acquires Mylner - Brazilian Flavor Company

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Frutarom Acquires Mylner - Brazilian Flavor Company

PR Newswire

HAIFA, Israel, February 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

- Frutarom's First Acquisition in Brazil, Eighth Acquisition for Frutarom Over Last 12 Months

Ori Yehudai, President of Frutarom: "The acquisition of Mylner represents an important base which will strengthen and boost Frutarom's growth in the flavor solutions market in Latin America, and will further enhance its position as a leading global flavors manufacturer and supplier."

Frutarom Industries Ltd. ("Frutarom") (LSE: FRUT, TASE: FRUT, FRUTF.PK) announced that today it signed an agreement for the acquisition of the Brazilian Mylner Indústria E Comércio Ltda ("Mylner"), in return for approximately $US 15.7 million (27.1 million BRL). Mylner, founded in 1974 by three partners with many years of experience and a well established reputation, develops, manufactures and markets flavor solutions, focusing mainly on sweet flavors for beverages and baked goods, and natural flavor products. Mylner has a modern development, production and marketing site in the area of Sao Paulo, Brazil, including land for future expansion, and employs some 70 workers. Mylner's wide customer base includes food manufacturers mainly in Brazil, and in other developing countries in Latin America.

Mylner has shown impressive growth rates over the past few years, and its sales turnover has increased over the last 4 years by 43%, from revenues of 13.2 million BRL (US$ 6.8 million) in 2007 to revenues of 19 million BRL (US$11.4 million) in 2011. Over the last year, Mylner's sales turnover grew by 8%.

The acquisition is expected to significantly increase Frutarom's customer base, product portfolio and the scope of its sales in the flavors market, while deepening its operations and market share in the growing Brazilian market and in Latin American markets. Frutarom intends to utilize Mylner's production, development, sales and management, capacities as a base for the development of its business in this important developing region.

According to Frutarom's President and Chief Executive Officer, Ori Yehudai, "After five acquisitions in 2011, Frutarom continues to pursue additional strategic acquisitions and to implement its rapid growth strategy with this third acquisition since the beginning of 2012.

Frutarom considers this acquisition of Mylner to be an important strategic step and a significant first entry into the taste solutions market in the important and large Brazilian market and in Latin American markets, which strengthens its presence and market share in these high growth potential markets.

The acquisition enables us to create a strong base with experienced management team which will allow us to strengthen our presence and increase our market share in these emerging markets. We believe that the sales in the emerging markets in which Mylner acts will continue to grow at high rates over the next few years as a result of the shift to processed foods and beverages and from changes in consumer demands in this region. Frutarom will act and invest in the strengthening of its research and development, production, marketing and sales in Brazil and in other important target countries in Latin America also through additional strategic acquisitions in the region, continuing to strengthen its status as a leading global player, and will continue to successfully realize its rapid growth strategy, and the realization of the vision 'To be the preferred partner for tasty and healthy success', Yehudai stated.

About Frutarom

Frutarom is a global company operating in the global flavor and fine ingredients markets. Frutarom has significant production and development centers in three continents and it markets its products in five continents to over 13,000 customers in more than 130 countries. Frutarom's products are intended mainly for the food, beverage, flavor, fragrance, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, health food, functional food, food additives and cosmetic industries.

Frutarom, which employs approximately 1,900 people worldwide, has 2 main activities:

The Flavors Segment, which develops, produces and markets flavor compounds and food systems.
The Fine Ingredients Segment, which develops, produces and markets natural flavor extracts, natural functional food ingredients, natural pharma/nutraceutical extracts, specialty essential oils, citrus products and aroma chemicals.

Frutarom's products are produced in its plants in the US, UK, Switzerland, Germany, Israel, China, South Africa and Turkey. The Company's global marketing organization includes branches in Israel, the US, UK, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, France, Hungary, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica, China, Japan, Hong Kong, India ,Indonesia and South Africa. The Company also works through local agents and distributors worldwide.

For further information, visit our website: http://www.frutarom.com.

Company Contact:
Ori Yehudai, President & CEO
Frutarom Ltd.
Tel: +972-9-9603800
Email: oyehudai@frutarom.com

Mary J Blige Joins Forces With Belvedere Vodka and (RED)™ to Help Save Lives

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Mary J Blige Joins Forces With Belvedere Vodka and (RED)™ to Help Save Lives

PR Newswire

LOS ANGELES, February 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Award-winning, multi-platinum singer Mary J Blige will be performing at a private pre-Grammy event on February, 9^th 2012 to celebrate the partnership of Belvedere, the world's first super premium vodka and (RED)™.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20120207/510730 )

The exclusive performance will be followed by a private party at Bardot, Los Angeles to help raise awareness around HIV/AIDS and emphasize the need for consumers to unite in support of programs that help eliminate HIV and AIDS in Africa.

In winter 2011, BELVEDERE (PRODUCT)^[^RED™^] Special Edition bottle launched to raise proceeds for the Global Fund™ to fight HIV/AIDS. The (RED) inspired packaging will contain the same unadulterated and naturally smooth^® Belvedere vodka enthusiasts have always enjoyed. 50% of Belvedere's profits from the global sale of (BELVEDERE)^[^RED^] will contribute to the Global Fund.

Mary J Blige said: "I'm delighted to be supporting (Belvedere) RED in their fight against HIV & AIDS in Africa. It is one of the most devastating issues faced by millions in Africa and if we can raise awareness with this event and encourage people to buy (PRODUCT) RED, we'll be one step closer to an HIV / AIDS free generation in 2015."

Fans can watch the party build up and Mary J Blige's performance live via Facebook at approximately 10.45pm (PST). The event will be streamed to http://www.facebook.com/belvederevodka. Media can download images and B-Roll footage from the event at 6am Friday 10th February 2012, please visit http://www.epklink.com/BelvedereRedWithMaryJBlige

NOTES TO EDITOR

First introduced to North America in 1996, Belvedere Vodka was the first to create a new standard for excellence in the vodka category and is credited with creating the luxury vodka segment. Today, Belvedere's distinctive character and uncompromising integrity are recognized internationally by discriminating vodka enthusiasts, who appreciate its all-natural, additive-free character. Made entirely from Dankowskie Gold Rye and blended with water from its own pristine source, Belvedere Vodka's taste profile is distinctively soft with a subtle sweetness and naturally smooth, clean finish.

For further information on (BELVEDERE)^[RED^]at the Grammy Awards 2012, visit http://www.facebook.com/belvederevodka

World Champions the New York Giants Toast Super Bowl Trophy with Armand De Brignac, Rated the World's #1 Champagne

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:45:00 +0000

World Champions the New York Giants Toast Super Bowl Trophy with Armand De Brignac, Rated the World's #1 Champagne

PR Newswire

REIMS, France, February 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Following in the footsteps of current NBA and NHL champions the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Bruins, freshly crowned NFL Super Bowl champions the New York Giants celebrated their fourth Vince Lombardi Trophy with the world's number one rated Champagne, Armand de Brignac ("Ace of Spades").

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120206/NY48539)

New York Giants Wide Receiver Victor Cruz, teammates and Giants veteran Michael Strahan arrived at The Official New York Giants Post Super Bowl Celebration at Greenhouse at Hyde in Indianapolis, IN, where they were congratulated with an astounding 15L Nebuchadnezzar bottle of Armand de Brignac Brut Gold Champagne - one of the largest luxury bottles of Champagne in the world. The rare, large-format bottle is equivalent to 20 regular-sized bottles and weighs 80 pounds.

Cruz, well known for his signature end zone salsa dances, scored the first touchdown of the 46th Annual Super Bowl Championship game and served as the host of The Official New York Giants Post Super Bowl Celebration.

Armand de Brignac continues to serve as the "Champagne for Champions" after the NFL's New York Giants join teams from the NBA, NHL, MLB and Grand Prix in celebrating their championship victories with the world's number one rated Champagne.

Please join Armand de Brignac Champagne in congratulating the New York Giants on their fourth Super Bowl championship.

For more information about Armand de Brignac Champagne, please visit our website or follow us on Twitter or Facebook.

About Armand de Brignac Champagne

Armand de Brignac Champagne, a prestige cuvee bearing distinctive pewter Ace of Spades insignias on its bottle, exemplifies unmatched winemaking expertise and a true passion for the art of Champagne. Armand de Brignac is produced using old-world techniques and a staff of only eight people by a family house established in 1763 in Chigny-les-Roses, France. The Champagne has been rated No. 1 in a blind-tasting of 1,000 Champagne brands, and counts among its other accolades a score of 98 (out of 100) points from world-renowned wine critic Jose Penin and a glowing review from UK critic Jancis Robinson. Armand de Brignac is currently available in more than 100 countries worldwide.

Contact:

Within North and South America:
Lauren Fernstrom
Public Relations Manager
81 Greene St., 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10012, USA
T: +1-212-343-8366 / M: +1-412-600-8073
LaurenFernstrom@ArmandDeBrignac.com

Outside North and South America:
Yvonne Lardner
Global Director of Communications and PR
6-11 rue Dom Perignon,
51500 Chigny-les-Roses, France
T: +44(0)7956-237-822
YvonneLardner@ArmandDeBrignac.com

John Walker & Sons Celebrates 60th Anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen's Accession to the Throne

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:39:00 +0000

John Walker & Sons Celebrates 60th Anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen's Accession to the Throne

PR Newswire

ROYAL DEESIDE, Scotland, February 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

The Bottling of Diamond Jubilee by John Walker & Sons, a Blend of Rare Scotch Whiskies Distilled in 1952

Sixty years to the day since The Queen's accession, John Walker & Sons, Scotch Whisky Distillers By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen, celebrates the occasion with the bottling of Diamond Jubilee By John Walker & Sons; a specially crafted blend of rare malt and grain Scotch Whiskies distilled in and maturing since 1952, the year she acceded to the throne.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53755-johnwalker

At Royal Lochnagar Distillery, on the edge of Her Majesty The Queen's Balmoral Estate, David Gates, Grantee of John Walker & Sons' Royal Warrant, will oversee the filling of The Queen's decanter, as well as 60 further editions for sale around the world. John Walker & Sons' profits from the sale of these editions are being donated to the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) with a guaranteed amount of at least £1million and will support the excellence of craftsmanship as symbolised by the Royal Warrant of Appointment.

David Gates commented: "John Walker & Sons was first awarded a Royal Warrant in 1934 by King George V. We are extremely honoured that the quality of our whiskies is recognised by this symbol and our commitment to this calibre of quality and service is unwavering. Today in 2012, we are privileged to be able to celebrate The Queen's remarkable achievement with this fitting tribute, Diamond Jubilee by John Walker & Sons, the sales of which will help to create an enduring legacy for the supreme craftsmanship that it represents."

The creation of Diamond Jubilee by John Walker & Sons has been a once-in-a-lifetime privilege for Master Blender Jim Beveridge and his apprentice Matthew Crow who have overseen the search, selection and expert blending of the whiskies from the beginning. The final, traditional step of marrying has been carried out in casks made by the John Walker & Sons coopers using oak provided by kind permission of The Queen from her private Sandringham Estate.

Master Blender Jim Beveridge said: "Along with Master Cooper David Taylor, who I have worked alongside for more than 30 years, and all those at John Walker & Sons, I feel an immense sense of pride to be involved in this project. An extraordinary amount of care and attention has gone into every stage of crafting this Scotch Whisky and there has been a great sense of excitement building towards today, when the full character and flavours of Diamond Jubilee by John Walker & Sons will be revealed for the first time."

John Walker & Sons has harnessed the skills of more than 60 fine artisans, including fellow Royal Warrant Holders and QEST Scholars who are creating bespoke pieces to present and accompany the whisky.

The diamond shaped Baccarat crystal decanters stand on a crystal base with six radial legs to reflect the decades of The Queen's enduring reign, and are adorned with Britannia silver, selected for its purity. Leading Scottish silversmiths, Hamilton & Inches, has fashioned the collars set with a half-carat diamond, the Royal Arms, John Walker & Sons monogram and individually numbered seals.

Each edition also includes a pair of lead Cumbria Crystal glasses engraved by Philip Lawson Johnston and a commemorative artefact book, hand bound by Laura West at her Isle of Skye bindery and personalised for each owner by Sally Mangum, Calligrapher By Appointment to

Her Majesty The Queen. All the elements will be housed in a chest made by the cabinet makers at N.E.J. Stevenson, incorporating oak from Sandringham to echo the whisky marrying casks and Caledonian pine from The Queen's Balmoral Estate.

Chairman of QEST, Richard Watling, commented: "The creation of this beautiful work, a monument to the skills of its craftspeople and the definitive tribute to 60 years of Her Majesty's reign is of enormous significance to QEST. The donation will enable us to significantly increase the number of scholarships we award, helping to secure the preservation of vital craft skills for generations to come. For this, QEST is extremely grateful."

Two further editions created for the John Walker & Sons archive, will embark on a tour around the world in Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee year.

NOTES TO EDITORS

SPOKESPEOPLE & ASSETS

The following spokespeople are available for interview upon request:

David Gates, Grantee of the Royal Warrant, John Walker & Sons, and Global Category Director, Whiskies, Diageo
Jim Beveridge, Master Blender and apprentice Matthew Crow, John Walker & Sons
David Taylor, Master Cooper, John Walker & Sons
Richard Watling, Chairman, Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust

Assets available upon request:

'Making of' b-roll and short film
Photography of The Queen's decanter
Studio photography of Diamond Jubilee by John Walker & Sons
Photography of the making of Diamond Jubilee by John Walker & Sons (including contributing craftspeople)

ABOUT DIAMOND JUBILEE BY JOHN WALKER & SONS

The 60 editions of Diamond Jubilee by John Walker & Sons will be released by John Walker & Sons for sale at £100,000 (excluding UK VAT).

A minimum donation of £1,000,000 from the sales of Diamond Jubilee by John Walker & Sons will be given to the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), a registered charity in England (number 802557). 10% will be paid to the charity through QEST Enterprises Ltd (which donates all its profits to the charity) and 90% will be paid to the charity direct.

ABOUT QEST

The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) is the charitable arm of the Royal Warrant Holders Association, established in 1990 to mark its 150^th anniversary and the 90^th birthday of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

QEST provides scholarships to preserve rare skills and enable those talented craftsmen and women with promise and a long-held passion for their craft to achieve greater levels of excellence through study with masters of their craft around the world.

THE JOHN WALKER & SONS COLLECTION

Diamond Jubilee by John Walker & Sons is a unique, extremely limited celebratory edition from The John Walker & Sons Collection. Drawing on almost two centuries of expertise and unparalleled stocks of Scotch Whisky, the John Walker & Sons Collection is an example of supreme crafting and innovative blends with pioneering flavour styles. It comprises King George V, created to celebrate the granting of the Royal Warrant to John Walker & Sons in 1934 by King George V, The John Walker Blended Scotch Whisky, crafted using handpicked whiskies from just 9 distilleries open during the time of John Walker and blended in limited quantities to produce a masterpiece, and Johnnie Walker XR 21 year old, the blend created in honour of Sir Alexander Walker's knighthood awarded in 1920.

ABOUT JOHN WALKER & SONS

John Walker & Sons is part of the Diageo Group.

It is the founding company behind Johnnie Walker®, the world's number one selling Scotch Whisky brand, enjoyed by people in almost 200 countries around the world.

ABOUT DIAGEO

Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker®, Guinness™, Smirnoff™, JεB™, Baileys™, Cuervo™, Tanqueray™ and Captain Morgan™.

Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

Video: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53755-johnwalker

Bacardi Celebrates 150th Birthday on February 4

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Bacardi Celebrates 150th Birthday on February 4

PR Newswire

HAMILTON, Bermuda, February 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

- BACARDI rum celebrates at star-studded parties around the world

- Largest Bacardi family reunion to commemorate 1862 founding of Company and creation of world's favorite rum

- Governments declare February 4 "Bacardi Day"

Family-owned Bacardi Limited officially marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Company and its iconic BACARDI® rum brand on February 4 with activities around the world honoring the world's favorite rum brand. The Company is celebrating its spectacular growth from a small distillery founded by Don Facundo Bacardi Masso in Santiago de Cuba in 1862 to what is now the world's largest privately-owned spirits company.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click here: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53404-bacardi-limited-150th-anniversary-family-celebration-birthday-parties-rum

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120204/MM44988)

Consumers around the world celebrate with classic, great tasting BACARDI rum cocktails at one-of-a-kind birthday parties and other BACARDI-themed events while the Bacardi family marks this historic milestone with its largest reunion ever. As part of its yearlong anniversary celebration, Bacardi launches themed promotions, opens a historical exhibition in Italy, rolls out a $2,000 limited-edition super-premium blend from the Bacardi family Maestros de Ron (Master Blenders) and accepts proclamations from governments declaring the day "Bacardi Day."

"This is an extraordinary milestone to celebrate as the passion and entrepreneurial spirit shown by my great-great grandfather in Santiago de Cuba a century and a half ago gave birth to exceptional rum that changed the spirits industry forever. Every day I'm inspired by his achievements and am proud to carry on his legacy as chairman of the Company he established on February 4, 1862, in Santiago de Cuba," says Facundo L. Bacardi, Chairman of Bacardi Limited and fifth generation family member. "The fact that our family name is on every bottle of BACARDI rum is a constant reminder of a deep-seated commitment to deliver products of exceptional quality for the best tasting cocktails. Since the creation of BACARDI rum 150 years ago, some 365 billion BACARDI cocktails have been enjoyed worldwide."

BACARDI Parties around the World

150^th anniversary celebrations featuring award-winning musical talent and top celebrities are giving consumers around the world the chance to party with BACARDI and enjoy legendary BACARDI rum cocktails. Today, Rolling Stone® magazine hosts the must-attend "BACARDI Bash: 150 Years Rocking the Party" in Indianapolis where performances from LMFAO, Lupe Fiasco, Cobra Starship and Gym Class Heroes make this one of the hottest tickets the weekend of the "big game" -- the most anticipated professional football championship game in the U.S. The festivities continue throughout 2012 as Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East host their own BACARDI 150^th celebrations.

Bacardi kicked-off star-studded BACARDI 150^th birthday parties for consumers from Berlin to Miami with celebrities and VIPs. Magazine publisher Conde Nast also hosted a commemorative event for BACARDI rum in New York. Celebrity Cruises® marks the milestone with a party aboard the Celebrity Summit® as it departs February 4 from Puerto Rico, home to the largest BACARDI rum distillery in the world.

The Largest Bacardi Family Reunion Ever

Nearly 600 members of the Bacardi family from around the world gathered in Puerto Rico to celebrate the 150^th anniversary at their largest reunion ever. Activities included a commemorative celebration featuring a family photo of all eight generations of the Bacardi family and the unveiling of a bust of Bacardi founder Don Facundo Bacardi Masso by sculptor and family member Helena Bacardi that will take permanent residence on the Bacardi campus in Puerto Rico. Bacardi Limited Chairman and great-great grandson of Company founder, Facundo L. Bacardi, led other family members in the planting of a coconut palm to commemorate the original "el coco" that stood at the entrance of the first Bacardi distillery in Cuba and has long symbolized the Bacardi family's perseverance over adversity. Puerto Rico is also home to the Casa Bacardi Visitor Center, the second most-visited venue in Puerto Rico, drawing more than 230,000 visitors a year to learn about the rich history and unique production of BACARDI rums.

"It is exceptional for a family-owned company to survive 150 years, let alone thrive," said Seamus McBride, CEO of Bacardi Limited. "The fact that Bacardi has grown into the third-largest global spirits company is truly something to celebrate."

Official Founding Day of February 4 Recognized as "Bacardi Day"

At the family reunion, Puerto Rico Governor Luis G. Fortuno presented Bacardi with a proclamation declaring February 4 "Bacardi Day" in acknowledgement of the Company's key role in the island's economy. Other proclamations, resolutions and official letters recognizing the 150^th anniversary of BACARDI rum include congratulatory letters from the Bermuda Ministry of Development and Tourism, where Bacardi Limited is headquartered; and Florida Governor Rick Scott; as well as proclamations from Miami-Dade County; the City of Coral Gables, where Bacardi Americas is headquartered; and a United States Senate proclamation by Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio; U.S. House Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's statement for the Congressional Record; a Florida Senate resolution introduced by Senator Miguel de la Portilla and approved by the Florida Senate; and a Florida House resolution introduced by Representative Erik Fresen.

Consumer Promotions

By visiting the BACARDI Facebook® page (http://www.facebook.com/BACARDI), consumers of legal drinking age in select markets can vie for tickets to upcoming BACARDI 150^th birthday parties and BACARDI party crates filled with all the ingredients to host their own unforgettable gatherings. In select markets, consumers can also win or purchase commemorative BACARDI glassware, specialty packs and apparel featuring vintage brand advertisements and/or designs by artists of Cuban heritage.

The Ultimate BACARDI Factory

On February 11 at 8 p.m. ET, National Geographic Channel's "Ultimate Factories" program will take viewers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico on a tour to see how BACARDI rum is made. The program is slated to air in the "Megafactories" series in Canada March 17; Italy March 18; Australia/New Zealand March 27; UK/Latin America March 29; Southeast Asia April 5; Spain/Portugal May 28; Norway/Sweden/Finland/Belgium and Netherlands/Luxemburg/Holland/Hungary May 31; Turkey June 1; Russia/Baltics/Romania and Greece/France June 5; and Germany June 21.

Ron BACARDI® de Maestros de Ron, Vintage, MMXII

Bacardi also marks its anniversary with displays at Miami International Airport, Puerto Rico's Luis Munoz Marin International Airport and other select international airports that roll-out a limited edition BACARDI blend honoring 150 years of Bacardi rum-making expertise and craftsmanship. Eight Bacardi family members, all former BACARDI Maestros de Ron, have combined their extraordinary talents to create a special BACARDI rum - Ron BACARDI de Maestros de Ron, Vintage, MMXII. A blend of the finest rums laid to rest in oak barrels over the last 20 years and finished in 60-year-old Cognac barrels, the vintage blend in a hand-blown crystal decanter housed in a leather case retails for US$2,000. Only 400 decanters are available for purchase at select airports and premium retail establishments.

Cocktail Competition

On February 20, BACARDI will shake things up with a special 150^th anniversary edition of its Legacy Cocktail Competition, drawing top mixologists from more than 25 countries to the finals in Puerto Rico.

Bacardi Heritage on Display at Museo dell'Automobile di Torino

An exhibit showcasing the 150 years of heritage and craftsmanship of BACARDI rum opens in Turin, Italy, at the famous Museo dell'Automobile di Torino (Automobile Museum of Turin). Throughout February, museum patrons of legal drinking age can immerse themselves in a visual and narrative journey of Bacardi the company, BACARDI rum and their pioneering roles in cocktail history.

Year of the Bat

Bacardi is proud to support Bat Conservation International in raising public awareness for bats as part of its "Year of the Bat" campaign. A 15-second advertisement describing the many environmental and economic benefits of bats airs on the CBS JumboTron in New York City's Times Square until the end of March. With one of the most recognizable logos in the world featuring a bat, Bacardi has believed in the power of bats for 150 years.

Bacardi support for bats goes back to its founding in 1862 when Dona Amalia, the founder's wife, spotted a colony of fruit bats in the rafters of the Bacardi distillery in Cuba. In Spain, where Don Facundo emigrated from, and with the native Taino Indians in Cuba, bats symbolized good health, family unity and good fortune, so the Bacardi founder made sure the bats remained in the distillery and identified with his new rum. The Bacardi creation became known by the people as el Ron del Murcielago or "the Rum of the Bat." Today, the Bacardi Bat Device still proudly graces every bottle of BACARDI rum. The Bacardi family's long-term involvement with bat research, education and conservation is also reflected in the work of the non-profit Lubee Bat Conservancy to protect biological diversity through the conservation of fruit bats and their habitats.

Bacardi 150^th Heritage

After years of experimenting, Don Facundo revolutionized the spirits industry with the smooth, light-bodied spirit he created, as opposed to the harsh "fire water" of the time. He used techniques never before used in rum-making including using high quality blackstrap sugarcane molasses, isolating a special strain of yeast (still used today) for controlled fermentation, filtering multiple times, mellowing his rums in American white oak barrels, and then blending them to create the perfect taste of BACARDI rum. This new mixable spirit helped usher in a cocktail culture that thrives today. The artful BACARDI Maestros de Ron continue today to follow the same exacting and artful standards set forth by Don Facundo.

To learn about Bacardi heritage, including why a signature graces every bottle of BACARDI rum or how Bacardi became Cuba's first multinational company, visit the special 150^th anniversary section at http://www.BacardiLimited.com/150.

Media are invited to register to receive information on additional Bacardi 150^th anniversary activities, as well as access multimedia assets such as logos, images, advertisements, video and audio files, interviews, timelines and more via http://www.bacardimediacentre.com/.

About Bacardi Limited

Bacardi Limited, the largest privately-held spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally-recognized spirits and wines. Its brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDI® rum, the world's best-selling and most-awarded rum; GREY GOOSE® vodka, the world's leading super-premium vodka; DEWAR'S® Blended Scotch whisky, the top-selling blended Scotch whisky in the U.S.; BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, the top-valued and fastest-growing premium gin in the world; MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, the world's leading vermouth; CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, the number-one premium tequila in Mexico and a top-selling premium tequila in the United States; ERISTOFF® vodka, one of the fastest-growing vodka brands in the world; and other leading and emerging brands.

Founded on February 4, 1862, and family-owned for the past seven generations, Bacardi now employs nearly 6,000 people, manufactures its brands at 27 facilities in 16 markets on four continents, and sells in more than 150 countries. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. http://www.bacardilimited.com/

PepsiCo Declares Dividend

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:15:00 +0000

PepsiCo Declares Dividend

PR Newswire

PURCHASE, N.Y., Feb. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE: PEP) today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.515 per share of PepsiCo common stock. The dividend is payable March 30, 2012, to shareholders of record on March 2, 2012. This quarterly dividend is a 7 percent increase versus the comparable year-earlier period.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo offers the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 22 different product lines that generate more than $1 billion in annual retail sales each. Our main businesses -- Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay, and Pepsi Cola -- also make hundreds of other enjoyable foods and beverages that are respected household names throughout the world. With net revenues of approximately $60 billion, PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo's promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages for local tastes; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment, including by conserving energy and water usage, and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support, and invest in the local communities where we operate. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

Cautionary Statement

Statements in this communication that are "forward-looking statements" are based on currently available information, operating plans and projections about future events and trends. They inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted in such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: changes in demand for PepsiCo's products, as a result of changes in consumer preferences and tastes or otherwise; damage to PepsiCo's reputation; PepsiCo's ability to grow its business in developing and emerging markets or unstable political conditions, civil unrest or other developments and risks in the countries where PepsiCo operates; trade consolidation or the loss of any key customer; changes in the legal and regulatory environment; PepsiCo's ability to build and sustain proper information technology infrastructure, successfully implement its ongoing business transformation initiative or outsource certain functions effectively; unfavorable economic conditions in the countries in which PepsiCo operates; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; PepsiCo's ability to compete effectively; increased costs, disruption of supply or shortages of raw materials and other supplies; disruption of PepsiCo's supply chain; climate change, or legal, regulatory or market measures to address climate change; PepsiCo's ability to hire or retain key employees or a highly skilled and diverse workforce; failure to successfully renew collective bargaining agreements or strikes or work stoppages; and failure to successfully complete or integrate acquisitions and joint ventures into PepsiCo's existing operations.

For additional information on these and other factors that could cause PepsiCo's actual results to materially differ from those set forth herein, please see PepsiCo's filings with the SEC, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. PepsiCo undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE PepsiCo

Plant Impact Appoints Agrovista as its Exclusive Distribution Partner for the UK and Ireland

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Plant Impact Appoints Agrovista as its Exclusive Distribution Partner for the UK and Ireland

PR Newswire

PRESTON, England, February 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Plant Impact and Agrovista UK are pleased to announce that they have entered into an exclusive agreement for the distribution and marketing of Plant Impact's leading crop enhancement product, InCa®.

"We are delighted to be working with Agrovista to develop the market for InCa in United Kingdom and Ireland" explained John Brubaker, CEO of Plant Impact. "Their experienced team of field agronomists and longstanding relationships with many of the UK's most professional growers make Agrovista the ideal marketing partner for Plant Impact."

InCa's® calcium delivery system allows plants to absorb calcium and distribute it to tissues that might otherwise become deficient. It plays an important role in improving the marketable yield and produce quality of high-value crops such as potatoes, brassicas and leafy salad.

John Lockett, Purchasing and Logistics Director at Agrovista, added "Agrovista are pleased to be partnering Plant Impact with this novel product range and we have seen outstanding results from using InCa® on key crops. We are delighted to be the exclusive distributor to deliver this innovative technology to professional growers across the UK."

"This agreement builds upon the successful working relationship that our two companies have developed over a number of seasons" confirmed Plant Impact's UK Sales Manager, Andy Aspinall. "Furthermore, Agrovista is highly capable partner to connect this innovative technology with practical use in the field."

Plant Impact is a UK-based agricultural bioscience company that develops and markets crop enhancement and specialty nutrition products to deliver yield and quality benefits for growers. The company was formed in 2003 and is listed on the UK AIM stock exchange (LON:PIM).

Agrovista UK is a leading provider of specialist agronomy, business advice and crop protection products to UK agriculture, horticulture and amenity markets and is part of the international Marubeni Corporation. Agrovista back up their experience and knowledge with the most advanced and comprehensive range of agronomy trials in Great Britain covering all major crops.

New Study Shows Eating Fruit More Important Than Masculinity to Male Attractiveness

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

New Study Shows Eating Fruit More Important Than Masculinity to Male Attractiveness

PR Newswire

CAMBRIDGE, England, February 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Eating dark coloured fresh produce such as plums and nectarines has more impact on how attractive a man appears than his masculinity, according to new research.

Dr Ian Stephen of the University of Nottingham made the findings as part of his ongoing studies into effects on attractiveness of dietary carotenoids, such as those found in red or yellow fruit and vegetables. An earlier study showed that eating these pigments gave the skin a golden tone, and that men rated women who had this as the most attractive.

Dr Stephen said: "In an interview published in today's (February 3^rd) Fresh Produce Journal, a new development in this area suggests that carotenoids might be even more important to our appearance than we previously thought. Whereas a feminine appearance is very important in determining the attractiveness of women, there has been debate amongst scientists about how important masculinity is for men. Our results suggest that the "golden" colour associated with carotenoids is actually more important than masculinity, and predicted how attractive women found men's faces."

Meanwhile, a group of fruit growers has put the findings of Dr Stephen's initial study on the attractiveness of women to the test. Hortgro Services in South Africa asked 65 women to eat one plum and one nectarine every day for two weeks, asking them before and after questions about how attractive they felt. The results were as follows:

45.3% felt more confident about their appearance after eating the fruit
68.8% felt that their complexion was brighter and had a more natural glow than before
53.1% noticed that the condition of their skin improved

"This study is a bit of fun," said Dr Stephen, "but its results make sense in the context of our research. Our results showed that people who eat more fruit and vegetables - especially those yellow and red fruit such as plums and peaches, and green leafy veg like spinach, that contain high levels of red/yellow antioxidants - have a more 'golden' skin tone. This tone seemed to have a much better effect on healthy appearance than a suntan. Since healthy appearance is a huge part of attractiveness, it seems as though fruit and vegetables can make you more attractive."

Notes to Editors

Dr Ian Stephen's original research was published in Evolution and Human Behavior and the International Journal of Primatology
More information on these studies can be found at: http://www.eatpigmentedfruit.com

Dominic Weaver, +44(0)1480-465-953, dominic@redcomm.co.uk

Pepsi MAXimizes Canada's Super Bowl XLVI Television Experience

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:32:00 +0000

Pepsi MAXimizes Canada's Super Bowl XLVI Television Experience

PR Newswire

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Building on its long and proud tradition of Super Bowl advertising, today PepsiCo Beverages Canada unveiled details about a 30-second PEPSI MAX spot that will air on Sunday's CTV broadcast.

This year, Canadians will be treated to a commercial titled "Interview". The ad presents a humorous account of three 20-something buddies secretly working together to land one of them a job. By sending in a decoy to wreak havoc with the prospective employer in the most outrageous way, the group ensures that the job is secured for their buddy. Like PEPSI MAX, a zero calorie cola with maximum taste, the "Interview" spot is fun, young and edgy. "Interview" was created and produced by CLM BBDO and first aired in Canada during the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in December and January on TSN.

In Quebec, PEPSI MAX will also air a commercial called "MAX City" produced in Canada by NolinBBDO in Montreal. The commercial features a young man out on a walk around Montreal, when he notices people around him reacting with amazement that a cola with so much Pepsi taste could have zero calories. The spot is uniquely Quebecois and ends with a bang that is sure to delight Super Bowl viewers across Quebec.

"Having created some of the most memorable spots of the last two decades, Pepsi has a rich history of Super Bowl advertising," said Greg Lyons, VP of Marketing, PepsiCo Beverages Canada. "It's a joyful occasion that brings family and friends together, and our family of brands is part of the experience -- on the screen, in the home where our brands are enjoyed and in the retail store environment."

In the U.S., PepsiCo is leveraging its sponsorship of the hit television sensation, The X Factor, with an epic comedic spot featuring Grammy Award-winning music legend Sir Elton John and The X Factor winner, Melanie Amaro. The 60-second commercial, titled "Kings Court", captures Amaro performing a contemporized version of RESPECT for John who is cast as the "King of Rock". Set in a rock-fantasy version of medieval times, the song, originally by Otis Redding and later made popular by the "Queen of Soul", Aretha Franklin, was recorded exclusively for the ad. With epic Pepsi scale, the commercial ends with a twist and the tagline, "Where there's Pepsi, there's music". The spot will be available for viewing in its entirety to Canadian consumers on February 3 at http://www.youtube.com/pepsi.

PepsiCo is also planning on running a second ad during this year's U.S. Super Bowl broadcast. PEPSI MAX, the official soft drink of the NFL in the U.S., will also debut a commercial featuring legendary television personality, Regis Philbin. Canadian consumers can view the ad now on Pepsi's YouTube page

About PepsiCo Beverages Canada
PepsiCo's businesses in Canada are organized into two business units. PepsiCo Foods Canada includes Frito Lay Canada and the Quaker Foods & Snacks business. PepsiCo Beverages Canada includes the Pepsi, Gatorade and Tropicana businesses.

Follow PepsiCo Beverages Canada:
Twitter (@PepsiCA)
Facebook

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo offers the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 22 different product lines that generate more than $1 billion in annual retail sales each. Our main businesses -- Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay, and Pepsi Cola -- also make hundreds of other enjoyable foods and beverages that are respected household names throughout the world. With net revenues of approximately $60 billion, PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo's promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages for local tastes; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment, including by conserving energy and water usage, and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support, and invest in the local communities where we operate. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

Follow PepsiCo:

Footage is available via CNW's video on demand page:
http://cnw.pathfireondemand.com/viewpackage.action?packageid=509

SOURCE PEPSICO CANADA

Video with caption: "Video: This Pepsi MAX ad will be featured on the Canadian broadcast of Super Bowl XLVI. Three 20-something buddies secretly work together to land one of them a job. By sending in a decoy to wreak havoc with the prospective employer in the most outrageous way, the group ensures that the job is secured for their buddy. Like PEPSI MAX, a zero calorie cola with maximum taste, the "Interview" spot is fun, young and edgy. "Interview" was created and produced by CLM BBDO.". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20120202_C8885_VIDEO_EN_9558.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20120202_C8885_PHOTO_EN_9558.jpg&clientName=PEPSICO%20CANADA&caption=Video%3A%20This%20Pepsi%20MAX%20ad%20will%20be%20featured%20on%20the%20Canadian%20broadcast%20of%20Super%20Bowl%20XLVI%2E%20Three%2020%2Dsomething%20buddies%20secretly%20work%20together%20to%20land%20one%20of%20them%20a%20job%2E%20By%20sending%20in%20a%20decoy%20to%20wreak%20havoc%20with%20the%20prospective%20employer%20in%20the%20most%20outrageous%20way%2C%20the%20group%20ensures%20that%20the%20job%20is%20secured%20for%20their%20buddy%2E%20Like%20PEPSI%20MAX%2C%20a%20zero%20calorie%20cola%20with%20maximum%20taste%2C%20the%20%22Interview%22%20spot%20is%20fun%2C%20young%20and%20edgy%2E%20%22Interview%22%20was%0D%0Acreated%20and%20produced%20by%20CLM%20BBDO%2E&title=&headline=Pepsi%20MAXimizes%20Canada%27s%20Super%20Bowl%20XLVI%20Television%20Experience

Video with caption: "Video: Behind the scenes broll of Pepsi's Super Bowl commercial with The X Factor winner Melanie Amaro and Sir Elton John. The full commercial will be available online to Canadians across the country on February 2 at www.youtube.com/pepsi". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20120202_C8885_VIDEO_EN_9572.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20120202_C8885_PHOTO_EN_9572.jpg&clientName=PEPSICO%20CANADA&caption=Video%3A%20Behind%20the%20scenes%20broll%20of%20Pepsi%27s%20Super%20Bowl%20commercial%20with%20The%20X%20Factor%20winner%20Melanie%20Amaro%20and%20Sir%20Elton%20John%2E%20The%20full%20commercial%20will%20be%20available%20online%20to%20Canadians%20across%20the%20country%20on%20February%202%20at%20www%2Eyoutube%2Ecom%2Fpepsi&title=&headline=Pepsi%20MAXimizes%20Canada%27s%20Super%20Bowl%20XLVI%20Television%20Experience

Image with caption: "In this PEPSI MAX Super Bowl commercial entitled "Interview", a young 20-something behaves outrageously during a job interview so that his buddy is a shoo-in for the job. (CNW Group/PEPSICO CANADA)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120202_C8885_PHOTO_EN_9561.jpg

Higher-quality Foods and Expanded Menu Options are Driving U.K. Pub Patronage, Finds Technomic

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Higher-quality Foods and Expanded Menu Options are Driving U.K. Pub Patronage, Finds Technomic

PR Newswire

CHICAGO, February 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

As pub foodservice expands, pub chains look to new growth opportunities with an extended mix of food and drink for their customers. Consumers cite higher-quality food as the number one reason for visiting pubs more often, indicating that high-quality ingredients and premium positioning can drive traffic and sales. Thirty-nine percent of consumers say they are visiting pubs less often than they did a year ago in the midst of a sluggish economy. However, changes in the evolving pub sector are attracting a broader base of consumers and attracting more young consumers, 52 percent of which say they are visiting pubs more often compared to a year ago.

"Consumers expect pubs to offer high-quality foods, despite the established perception of traditional pub fare," says Technomic Managing Director Darren Tristano. "Pubs aren't just a place to grab a pint anymore. By broadening their menu items and adjusting their concept positioning, new dayparts such as breakfast, can attract couples and families choosing pubs as a viable dining option."

To help operators and others aligned with the foodservice industry more effectively identify opportunities for growth and competitive advantage, Technomic has developed the U.K. Pub Consumer Trend Report

Interesting findings include:

Pubs accounted for 23 percent of the U.K.'s overall foodservice industry sales in 2010 and made up 16 percent of all units.
Although many consumers seek contemporary, sophisticated dishes, nearly two-thirds (64 percent) prefer pub menus to feature a mix of traditional dishes along with contemporary options.
Opportunities exist for operators to offer longer service hours and create a new revenue channel through takeaway programmes. 29 percent of consumers report that late-night food menus are an appealing service pubs could offer.
42 percent of consumers place high importance on new or unique menu items or flavours offered at pubs and 29 percent feel an extensive draught beer list is of high importance.
Consumers are nearly three times as likely to prefer food-led pubs over wet-led pubs, a shift in consumer perceptions of pubs.

Technomic's U.K. Pub Consumer Trend Report assists foodservice executives in better understanding consumer behaviour, preferences and attitudes regarding pubs. The menu insights section utilises Technomic's exclusive online trend-tracking resource, MenuMonitor, to provide an in-depth look at pub menus at breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Consumer Insights section examines pub customer demographics, purchasing behaviour, attitudes and preference of more than 1,000 consumers.

To purchase or learn more about this report please visit Technomic.com or contact one of the individuals listed below.

Contacts
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Press Enquiries: Darren Tristano, 020 3318 1214, or dtristano@technomic.com

About Technomic

Technomic provides comprehensive global information, analysis and insights to food industry executives, through high quality fact-based consulting, market research, online databases, tracking services and industry events. Our programs and services are designed to target the specific needs of leadership, sales, management, marketing and product development professionals. At Technomic, we're always innovating to keep pace with emerging global markets and trends. For over 45 years we've been supporting clients' strategic decisions. Our breadth of research enables us to keep a pulse on food industry, by providing insights into local markets with a global scope.

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