NGA Best Bagger Championship sponsored by PepsiCo will once again be emceed by Food Network star Duff Goldman

Arlington, VA2016-1-11 — /EPR Retail News/ — Food Network star, Duff Goldman will once again emcee the National Grocers Association (NGA) Best Bagger Championship, sponsored by PepsiCo, and held at The NGA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada from February 28 – March 1, 2016.

“2016 will be an exciting year for the NGA Best Bagger Championship as we celebrate 30 years of the competition and welcome back Duff as our emcee for this always energetic event,” said Peter J. Larkin, NGA President & CEO. “Having Duff Goldman emcee Best Bagger has brought a new level of awareness and enthusiasm to this long standing program, which features an important element of providing outstanding customer service and is one example of an area in which independent supermarket operators excel.”

“We are excited to be sponsoring NGA’s Best Bagger competition for the fourth year. The Best Bagger event is a great way to support and recognize the importance of independent grocery retailers and wholesalers which are the backbone of their local communities,” said Art Rosenberg, VP of Industry Development, PepsiCo.

The NGA Best Bagger Championship will be held Monday, February 29, from 5:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. (PST) in the Grand Ballroom at the Mirage Hotel and Casino.

The NGA Best Bagger Championship is the culmination of contests held across North America, in which one contestant who has won their statewide competition is eligible to compete in the championship and vie for “bagging rights.” Nearly 30 baggers will compete for the 2016 Best Bagger Champion title and the grand prize of $10,000. Contestants will be judged by speed of bagging, proper bag-building technique, weight distribution in the bag, as well as style, attitude and appearance.

Duff Goldman graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, with degrees in history and philosophy, and went on to study at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, Calif. He worked at several acclaimed culinary destinations, including the French Laundry, the Vail Cascade Hotel and Todd English’s Olives before returning to Baltimore in 2000 to become a personal chef.

In March 2002, Duff quit his day job and opened Charm City Cakes. There, he was able to show off his creativity, which comes from a long line of artistic genes. The bakery became a household name on the hit Food Network show Ace of Cakes, which aired for 10 seasons. More recently, Duff and his team opened a second bakery location, Charm City Cakes West in Los Angeles.

Registration for The NGA Show is available at www.theNGAshow.com. For more information on the NGA Best Bagger Championship, visit www.bestbagger.com.

Media inquiries: Please email communications@nationalgrocers.org

SOURCE:  National Grocers Association

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NGA Best Bagger Championship sponsored by PepsiCo will once again be emceed by Food Network star Duff Goldman

NGA Best Bagger Championship sponsored by PepsiCo will once again be emceed by Food Network star Duff Goldman

Starbucks and PepsiCo partner to bring Starbucks® ready-to-drink coffee and energy beverages to Latin America

New Agreement Signed to Bring Starbucks® Ready-To-Drink Coffee Beverages to First 10 Latin American Markets in 2016 

SEATTLE and PURCHASE, NY, 2015-7-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) and PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE: PEP) today announced they have entered into an agreement for the marketing, sale and distribution of Starbucks® ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee and energy beverages including Starbucks® Frappuccino® chilled coffee drinks, Starbucks Double Shot® Espresso and Cream, and Starbucks Refreshers® beverages in Latin America. The RTD coffee and energy beverage category in Latin America is an estimated US$4 billion business and is projected to grow by 22% over the next five years.*

The agreement leverages the respective strengths of Starbucks and PepsiCo to bring a carefully selected portfolio of Starbucks® RTD coffee and energy beverages to consumers in Latin America unlocking new market opportunities for each company. Starbucks will provide coffee expertise and PepsiCo will sell and distribute Starbucks® RTD coffee and energy beverages leveraging its expansive network and experience across the region. Together, both companies will continue to market, innovate and further develop the brand in Latin America.

In 2016, consumers in select markets in the Caribbean, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Uruguay will see a portfolio of Starbucks® RTD coffee beverages. Over time, the companies plan to expand to other markets in Latin America.

“Our expansion throughout Latin America in 2016 enables us to deliver high-quality Starbucks coffee in a convenient ready-to-drink format to our customers where they live, work and play,” said Michael Conway, president, Global Channel Development at Starbucks. “PepsiCo’s sales expertise and distribution network makes them the ideal company to work with to unlock the Latin American ready-to-drink market and accelerate local demand for Starbucks.”

“The North American Coffee Partnership is arguably one of the most successful joint ventures in the beverage industry, and with this new agreement, we bring more than 20 years of partnership success to a region where coffee is part of the culture,” said Laxman Narasimhan, CEO of PepsiCo Latin America. “Together, our highly talented and passionate teams will expand upon the vision set decades ago to create a new blueprint for continued growth in Latin America.”

Starbucks relationship with PepsiCo began more than 20 years ago when the two companies formed the North American Coffee Partnership (NACP), a joint venture that built the RTD coffee category in the U.S. The NACP now has approximately 97 percent market share** in RTD coffee, and the RTD coffee category is one of the fastest growing liquid refreshment beverage categories in the U.S.

The NACP has grown to more than a $1.5 billion retail business***, in terms of annual retail sales as of June 14, 2015. What began with the launch of Starbucks Frappuccino® chilled coffee drinks, now includes a diverse portfolio of coffee and energy beverages: Starbucks® Frappuccino®, Starbucks Double Shot®, Iced Coffee, Iced Espresso Classics ,and Starbucks Refreshers®. Starbucks and PepsiCo will leverage the scale and innovation of the NACP for this new Latin American agreement.

Since launching its retail operations in Latin America in 2002, Starbucks retail presence has grown to more than 870 stores in 14 markets. Latin America is an important growing region for Starbucks coffee as it supplies more than half of the approximately 400 million pounds of high-quality arabica coffee that Starbucks purchases every year.

PepsiCo and its predecessors have been operating in Latin America for more than 100 years, and its beverages operations and franchises span across all countries within the region and in select markets throughout the Caribbean Islands.

 

Download Starbucks and PepsiCo Infographic here

*Based on 2014 Euromonitor results

**Based on IRI data as of 52 weeks ending June 14, 2015 Total US MULOC

***Based on IRI data as of 52 weeks ending June 14, 2015 Total US MULOC

About Starbucks
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with more than 21,000 stores around the globe, Starbucks is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit our stores or online at Starbucks.com and news.starbucks.com.

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $66 billion in net revenue in 2014, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our goal to deliver top-tier financial performance while creating sustainable growth and shareholder value. In practice, Performance with Purpose means providing a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; finding innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and reduce our operating costs; providing a safe and inclusive workplace for our employees globally; and respecting, supporting and investing in the local communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

Starbucks Cautionary Statement
Certain statements contained herein are not based on historical fact and are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the applicable securities laws and regulations. Generally, these statements can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “feel,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements are based on information available to Starbucks as of the date hereof, and Starbucks actual results or performance could differ materially from those stated or implied, due to risks and uncertainties associated with its business. These risks and uncertainties include: fluctuations in U.S. and international economies and currencies, our ability to preserve, grow and leverage our brands, potential negative effects of material breaches of our information technology systems if any were to occur, costs associated with, and the successful execution of, the company’s initiatives and plans, including bringing Starbucks® RTD portfolio to Latin America,  the acceptance of the company’s products by our customers, including our RTD products in Latin America, the impact of competition, coffee, dairy and other raw material prices and availability, the effect of legal proceedings, and other risks detailed in the company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the “Risk Factors” section of Starbucks Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2014.  The company assumes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.

PepsiCo 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. Terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “drive,” “estimate,” “expect,” “expressed confidence,” “forecast,” “future,” “goals,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “objectives,” “outlook,” “plan,” “position,” “potential,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “strategy,” “target,” “will” or similar statements or variations of such terms are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such terms. Forward-looking statements 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 or otherwise; changes in the legal and regulatory environment; imposition of new taxes, disagreements with tax authorities or additional tax liabilities; PepsiCo’s ability to compete effectively; 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 markets where PepsiCo’s products are made, manufactured, distributed or sold; unfavorable economic conditions in the countries in which PepsiCo operates; increased costs, disruption of supply or shortages of raw materials and other supplies; failure to realize anticipated benefits from PepsiCo’s productivity initiatives or global operating model; disruption of PepsiCo’s supply chain; product contamination or tampering or issues or concerns with respect to product quality, safety and integrity; damage to PepsiCo’s reputation or brand image; failure to successfully complete or integrate acquisitions and joint ventures into PepsiCo’s existing operations or to complete or manage divestitures or refranchisings; PepsiCo’s ability to hire or retain key employees or a highly skilled and diverse workforce; loss of any key customer or changes to the retail landscape; any downgrade or potential downgrade of PepsiCo’s credit ratings; the ability to protect information systems against or effectively respond to a cybersecurity incident or other disruption; PepsiCo’s ability to implement shared services or utilize information technology systems and networks effectively; fluctuations or other changes in exchange rates, including changes in currency exchange mechanisms or additional governmental actions in Venezuela; climate change, or legal, regulatory or market measures to address climate change; failure to successfully negotiate collective bargaining agreements or strikes or work stoppages; any infringement of or challenge to PepsiCo’s intellectual property rights; potential liabilities and costs from litigation or legal proceedings; and other factors that may adversely affect the price of PepsiCo’s common stock and financial performance.

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 Securities and Exchange Commission, 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.

For more information on this news release, contact us.

 

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Starbucks and PepsiCo partner to bring Starbucks® ready-to-drink coffee and energy beverages to Latin America

Starbucks and PepsiCo partner to bring Starbucks® ready-to-drink coffee and energy beverages to Latin America

Food Network star Duff Goldman to emcee the 2015 National Grocers Association (NGA) Best Bagger Championship this February in Las Vegas, Nevada

Arlington, VA, 2014-12-2 — /EPR Retail News/ — Food Network star, Duff Goldman will emcee the 2015 National Grocers Association (NGA) Best Bagger Championship, sponsored by PepsiCo, and held at The NGA Show this February in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“We are thrilled to have Duff join us as our emcee for this very exciting event,” said Peter J. Larkin, NGA President & CEO. “Duff’s creativity and enthusiastic personality will certainly bring another energetic component to the Best Bagger Championship, and we look forward to having him there with us to crown the 2015 Best Bagger Champion.”

Added PepsiCo’s Lisa Walsh, SVP Sales, “We are delighted to be sponsoring NGA’s Best Bagger competition for the third year.  Having Duff emcee Best Bagger will add a new level of excitement and awareness in this incredible event.  We view the Best Bagger event as a great way to support and acknowledge the importance of independent grocery retailers and wholesalers which are the backbone of their local communities.”

The NGA Best Bagger Championship will be held Monday, February 9, from 5:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. (PST) in the Grand Ballroom at the Mirage Hotel and Casino.

Now in its 29th year, the NGA Best Bagger Championship is the culmination of contests held across North America, in which one contestant who has won their statewide competition is eligible to compete in the championship and vie for “bagging rights.” Nearly 30 baggers will compete for the 2015 Best Bagger Champion title and the grand prize of $10,000. Contestants will be judged by speed of bagging, proper bag-building technique, weight distribution in the bag, as well as style, attitude and appearance.

Duff Goldman graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, with degrees in history and philosophy, and went on to study at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, Calif. He worked at several acclaimed culinary destinations, including the French Laundry, the Vail Cascade Hotel and Todd English’s Olives before returning to Baltimore in 2000 to become a personal chef.

In March 2002, Duff quit his day job and opened Charm City Cakes. There, he was able to show off his creativity, which comes from a long line of artistic genes. The bakery became a household name on the hit Food Network show Ace of Cakes, which aired for 10 seasons. More recently, Duff and his team opened a second bakery location, Charm City Cakes West in Los Angeles.

Registration for The NGA Show is available at www.theNGAshow.com. For more information on the NGA Best Bagger Championship, visit www.bestbagger.com.

If you need additional information, please contact Laura Strange at 703-516-8808.

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