Coca-Cola To Market Disney-Branded Beverages
Walt Disney and Coca-Cola will market nutritious children’s beverages globally under the Disney brand. The first product launched will be juices and juice drinks from The Minute Maid Co., an operating group of Coca-Cola. The first beverage to enter the market, “Mickey’s X-treme Coolers,” is a vitamin-fortified juice drink available in single-serve pouches and multi-serve plastic bottles.
Reebok & Clearly Canadian Launch Water Beverage
Reebok and Clearly Canadian have launched Reebok Fitness Water, an enhanced water beverage featuring essential vitamins, minerals and electrolytes. Reebok Fitness Water will compete in the $9.6 billion Alternative Beverage category, and will help pioneer a new concept: enhanced water beverages.
“Marketing this new enhanced water beverage with Reebok provides us a competitive advantage as we draw upon Reebok’s leadership in the fitness industry,” said Douglas Mason, President, Clearly Canadian Beverage Corp.
“Reebok Fitness Water meets our ongoing business objective to extend the Reebok brand into new lifestyle opportunities that meet the needs of our sport and fitness consumers,” said Jay Margolis, President, specialty business group for Reebok..
J&J’s BAND-AID Launches New Bandages
Johnson & Johnson’s BAND-AID brand has developed three new bandages to improve the healing of cuts, scrapes and minor wounds. The new bandages include Quick Stop Adhesive Bandages specially designed to stop bleeding faster than ordinary bandages; Pain & Itch Relief Adhesive Bandages; and Gentle Care Adhesive Bandages designed to adhere securely yet gently to the skin.
Organic Yogurt Debuts
Stonyfield Farm has introduced YoSelf, a low fat yogurt made especially for women, with 200 milligrams of calcium per 4oz. serving or 20% of the RDA per serving. In addition to being a good source of calcium, YoSelf features inulin, a natural dietary fiber that is clinically proven to increase calcium absorption. and promote good digestive health.
Uncle Ben’s Mini Bowl Products Introduced
New Uncle Ben’s Mini Bowl products have been launched to satisfy kids’ hunger while delivering taste, nutrition and convenience. Uncle Ben’s Mini Bowl products are complete, microwavable meals that are ready in five minutes. Six varieties include Beef Taco Ole, Pepperoni Pizzeria, Cheesy Mac & Cheese, Chicken & Veggie, Crazy Cartwheels & Meatballs and Cheeseburger! Cheeseburger!
OdwallaMilk Debuts
Odwalla, Inc., the super-premium juice company, is introducing OdwallaMilk, a creamy blend of organic soy, basmati rice and oat milks that have been combined to create a healthful dairy-free beverage. Odwalla reports that soy beverages grew 97% in U.S. grocery outlets from one year ago, and refrigerated dairy-free products exploded to more than 600% growth.
Game Boy Advance Debuts
Nintendo is debuting a new era of portable video gaming with the launch of Game Boy Advance. “There has never been a portable game system like Game Boy Advance,” said Peter Main, Exec. V.P., Marketing, Nintendo.
Game Boy Advance breaks existing boundaries for handheld video game play, boosting both screen size and battery life by 50%, and picture resolution by 66%. Game Boy Advance runs 17 times faster and displays more than ten times as many on-screen colors as Game Boy color.
Minute Maid Launches Simply Orange
Minute Maid has launched Simply Orange, a not from concentrate orange juice. Positioned to be a premium player in the chilled orange juice category, Simply Orange comes in a unique, clear carafe that seals in freshness. Available in Original (pulp-free), Calcium Fortified (pulp-free) and Grove Made (high pulp) varieties, Simply Orange will be the only product carrying the Simply Orange Juice Company name.
Bumble Bee’s Tuna In A Pouch Debuts
New Bumble Bee Tuna In A Pouch, offers drain free packaging for Bumble Bee Tuna Chunk White Albacore in Water and Chunk Light Tuna In Water. Available initially in regional markets, the new easy-to-open, drain-free pouch delivers moist, flavorful tuna without the mess.
Gund Introduces Giftware
Gund, America’s oldest soft toy company, has introduced a collection of giftware which will be marketed under a new brand name, Gold Leaf. Among the initial release are picture frames, music boxes, desktop accessories, votive holders and wall plaques. The first concepts to include these items are Tender Teddy along with Webster and Bradley from the “Celebrating America’s Teddy Bear” collection.
Canandaigua Unveils K
Canandaigua Wine Co., has introduced K, an alcoholic hard cider made with apples from the English countryside. Rob Vlosky, K Brand Director, said, “Historically, cider has been positioned to male pub drinkers aged 35-45, but our research indicates that K appeals to younger consumers.”
K’s introduction will be supported with product sampling at regional fairs and a national music tour.
Sun Soy Launches Coffee-Flavored Soymilk
Morningstar Foods has launched Sun Soy Coffee Latte, a coffee-flavored soy milk. “Coffee flavors are very popular with consumers right now and allow brands to attract a wide range of consumers,” said Toby Purdy, Sr. V.P., Marketing, Morningstar.
Kodak Introduces mc3
The Kodak mc3 is the first portable unit that combines digital video with virtually unlimited recording, an MP3 player and a digital still camera together for less than $300.
“The mc3 offers an entertaining and simple way to create movies and share them with friends,” said Willy Shih, President, Kodak’s Digital and Applied Imaging Group.
iRadio Telematics System Announced By Motorola
Motorola has announced the state-of-the-art iRadio Telematics System, offering entertainment, navigation and communication, all converging in one smart, wireless “stereo” package. Designed to wirelessly deliver a variety of services to the car, iRadio features voice-recognition capabilities as well as the usual knobs and buttons. The iRadio can give a voice response and simultaneously show the driver easy-to-glance-at icons. The iRadio system can synchronize with personal electronic devices, including cellular phones, PDAs, and pagers.
GE Launches Profile Arctica Refrigerator
GE Appliances has launched the GE Profile Arctica side-by-side refrigerator. Its features include: The CustomCool ExpressChill setting, which cools foods and beverages in minutes, not hours. ExpressThaw thaws meats and other freezer items in hours, not days. Larry Johnson, CEO, GE Appliances, said, “People want to save time. GE has answered the ‘need for speed’ with our exclusive refrigeration technology.”
SONICblue’s Rio Car Takes MP3 On The Road
Rio, a division of SONICblue, has shipped Rio Car, a removable in-dash digital audio player with on-board storage for up to 1000 hours of listening enjoyment.
“Until now, the car audio experience was cluttered by plastic jewel cases,” said Jim Cady, President of Rio. “By storing all the music they own in one portable device, Rio Car frees music fans.”
Logitech Launches Cordless MouseMan
Logitech has introduced Cordless MouseMan Optical, a mouse that offers both optical precision and cordless freedom. With no ball to clean and no cables to tangle, Cordless MouseMan Optical combines the two hottest features in today’s mouse market. “It’s no surprise that Logitech, a widely recognized pioneer in mouse technology, has once again set a new standard by delivering on this much-anticipated combination,” said Wolfgang Hausen, Sr. V.P., Logitech.
Cross Unveils Convergence
The Cross Pen Computing Group has launched the Cross :Convergence Pen, featuring a built-in scanner that enables users to connect to web sites eliminating the need to memorize lengthy URLs. The Cross :Convergence wireless scanner pen stores up to 300 codes which can be uploaded onto a PC. “Print to Internet linkage needs to be mobile and wireless to be successful,” said Dave Whalen, CEO of A.T. Cross. “The pen is an ideal form for a scanner as it won’t add to the number of gadgets that people normally carry.”
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