Disney, Coca-Cola to Market Disney-Branded Children's Beverages

(c) Disney and Coca-Cola

Disney, Coca-Cola to Market Disney-Branded Children's Beverages
Products to be Introduced to U.S. Consumers During 2001

The Walt Disney Company and The Coca-Cola Company today announced an agreement to market innovative and nutritious children's beverages globally under the Disney brand.

The first products launched will be juices and juice drinks from The Minute Maid Company, an operating group of The Coca-Cola Company.

Don Knauss, president and CEO of The Minute Maid Company, and Andy Mooney, president of Disney Consumer Products Worldwide, said that the companies together will market healthful juices, juice drinks, milk-based and water-based drinks, punches and smoothies. These products will be packaged in entertaining and colorful containers featuring Disney's beloved characters, including Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh.

The first beverages to enter the market include "Mickey's X-treme Coolers(TM)," a unique new vitamin-fortified juice drink targeted to kids. With fun flavors like Raspberry Rage, Bora Bora Berry and Citrus Chiller, Mickey's X-treme Coolers will be packaged in kid-friendly, single-serve pouches and distinctive multi-serve plastic bottles.

A nutritious, 100 percent juice product, "Pooh's 100 Acre Wood Apple-Berry(TM)" is designed for younger children and will feature four apple and berry blends fortified with vitamin C and calcium. The product will be packaged in both single-serve drink boxes and multi-serve plastic bottles.

Both product lines are targeted for introduction to U.S. supermarkets during 2001. Coca-Cola expects to roll out the Disney-branded children's beverages internationally in 2002.

"We're delighted that this relationship brings together two of the world's most trusted consumer brands," said Knauss. "These healthful beverages will meet parents' needs and are fun for kids."

Said Mooney, "The Disney and Minute Maid brands have consistently delivered quality products and value to consumers for generations. This agreement represents an exciting new direction for Disney and a unique way to bring Disney magic to children worldwide."

Under the long-term agreement, the Walt Disney Company and The Coca-Cola Company will work together to produce targeted marketing efforts to support sales, including advertising campaigns, consumer promotions, themed packaging, in-store displays and point-of-sale messages.

-- Posted February 28, 2001

Source: Company Press Release