PGA Of America Renews Sponsorship With PepsiCo

The PGA of America and PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE: PEP) has renewed their longstanding partnership with a new multi-year contract. PepsiCo, maker of iconic beverage brands such as Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Lipton iced teas and Aquafina, has served as the official non-alcoholic beverage provider of PGA Professionals since 1993.

Nearly two decades ago, PepsiCo first made a commitment to The PGA of America and its thousands of Professionals nationwide. Today, PepsiCo beverages will continue to be exclusively served in hospitality and concession areas at each PGA Championship, U.S.-based Ryder Cup, Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid and PGA Grand Slam of Golf. PepsiCo beverages will also be poured at PGA of America-owned and operated facilities, including Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., and PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Fla., which encompasses PGA Golf Club, PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance and PGA Country Club.

"An impressive line of PepsiCo products have collectively served as the beverage choice for a generation of PGA Professionals," said PGA President Allen Wronowski. "The PGA of America is delighted that PepsiCo has extended our partnership, which will span over two decades when the terms are fulfilled, a reflection of the great value of and influence our 27,000 men and women PGA Professionals have on consumers. With a rich tradition of support at the green grass golf facility level and continued engagement at the Association's major consumer events and golf properties, PepsiCo beverages have become an integral part of the fabric of The PGA of America and the game of golf." 

"PepsiCo and The PGA of America have shared a strong relationship for many years, and we're excited to renew our partnership as its exclusive beverage provider," said Stacy Reichert, senior vice president, national sales and chief customer officer of PepsiCo's Foodservice division. "We're committed to supporting the game of golf and its thousands of Professionals across the United States. The PGA of America is a valued partner and will continue to give our brands' great visibility in the golf community over the coming years."

PepsiCo has also renewed its support of Golf Retirement Plus™. Founded in 1997, Golf Retirement Plus is a supplemental retirement program for PGA Professionals and apprentices, GCSAA Superintendents, and CMAA Club Managers, which allows them to make their own contributions or have their employers contribute to their Golf Retirement Plus account on their behalf. PGA Professionals may also earn personal retirement incentives by participating in the Golf Retirement Plus Sponsor Programs.

Since its founded in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf. 

PepsiCo is a global food and beverage leader with net revenues of more than $65 billion and a product portfolio that includes 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in annual retail sales. Our main businesses – Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola – make hundreds of enjoyable foods and beverages that are loved throughout the world. 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 by conserving energy and water 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. 

Mountain Dew and Dale Earnhardt For The Dark Knight Rises Promo

Mountain Dew and Dale Earnhardt Jr. brought a little bit of movie magic to the track on June 14, 2012, to promote the film “The Dark Knight Rises” in Brooklyn, Michigan. Earnhardt, who will be driving a special No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew/“The Dark Knight Rises”-inspired Chevrolet in Sunday’s race, tested at the two-mile track before going alongside Batman’s iconic Tumbler during demonstration laps around the speedway.  “I’m excited to finally get the No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew ‘The Dark Knight Rises’-inspired Chevrolet out on the track,” said Earnhardt, driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. “And it was cool to draft with the Dark Knight Tumbler.”

Earnhardt asked the Mountain Dew Crew members in May to vote on one of four paint schemes inspired by this summer’s most-anticipated blockbuster and third installment of the Dark Knight trilogy, “The Dark Knight Rises.” The winning design – for which Earnhardt provided creative input — features the Bat Shield on the hood and the faces of the film’s two leading characters, Batman and Bane, on either side.

Mountain Dew is actively promoting the ultimate “The Dark Knight Rises” fan experiences both on and offline, and has created a new limited-time-only flavor, Mountain Dew Dark Berry inspired by “The Dark Knight Rises” which is available nationwide for eight weeks. The specially select 16-oz cans of DEW will use thermochromic ink to feature the Bat Symbol that transforms to a distinctive green color of DEW when chilled. The limited-time 16 oz. cans are now on shelves. Fans that participate in the DEWGothamCity.com experience and enter product codes from specially marked packages ofDEW and Fountain Cups will earn points to redeem for DEW or “The Dark Knight Rises” gear, or for sweepstakes entries for a chance to win exclusive prizes.

Launched earlier this season, the DEW Crew gives Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans access to exclusive No. 88 team-related content and the chance to vote on potential paint schemes, fire suits, and activities in races throughout the year. The term, originally used in the 1980s to describe the pit crew working on Darrell Waltrip’s No. 11 Mountain Dew Buick, has now evolved to encompass both Earnhardt’s pit crew as well as JR Nation.

Mountain Dew, a product of PepsiCo Americas Beverages, is the No. 1 flavored carbonated soft drink in the U.S. With its one-of-a-kind citrus taste, Mountain Dew exhilarates and quenches with every sip. In addition to original Mountain Dew® and Diet Mountain Dew®, the permanent DEW product line includes Mountain Dew Code Red®, Mountain Dew LiveWire®, Mountain Dew Throwback®, Mountain Dew Voltage® and Mountain

Dew White Out®.

PepsiCo is a global food and beverage leader with net revenues of more than $65 billion and a product portfolio that includes 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in annual retail sales. Our main businesses – Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola – make hundreds of enjoyable foods and beverages that are loved throughout the world. 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.

The highly anticipated  film “The Dark Knight Rises” opening in theatres and IMAX on July 20, 2012, stars Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Morgan Freeman. Christopher Nolan directed the film from a screenplay by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer. Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Charles Roven are the producers, with Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Kevin De La Noy and Thomas Tull serving as executive producers, and Jordan Goldberg co-producing. “The Dark Knight Rises” is based upon Batman characters created by Bob Kane and published by DC Comics.