ADIDAS:
will be an official supporter of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Under the agreement with the Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, Adidas will supply uniforms for the workforce (staff and volunteers) and technical officials of the Athens 2004 and Paralympic Games. In total, more than 4,000 athletes will compete in the company's signature three stripes and Adidas will provide products for 26 out of the 28 Olympic sports. The athletic-wear company currently outfits 21 National Olympic Committees, including host nation Greece, the U.S., Germany, the U.K., France and Cuba.
4KIDS ENTERTAINMENT: announced a multi-year licensing agreement with Mattel, Inc. Mattel will serve as master toy licensee for Shaman King, an animated series airing on Fox Box, 4Kids Entertainment's Saturday morning four-hour children's programming block. The master toy license grants Mattel the exclusive manufacturing and marketing rights worldwide, outside of Asia, to produce and sell action figures and accessories, board games, puzzles, vehicles, play sets, activity and role-playing products, youth electronics and visual toys. The first line of products is expected to debut in Fall 2004.
NIKE: announced the Nike 26.2 last week, a marathon for women to be run in San Francisco on Oct. 24, 2004 to benefit The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This race will be an annual event and the first marathon in the U.S. for women runners and walkers of all ages. Running legend Joan Benoit Samuelson and CSI: Miami actress Emily Procter will serve as marathon ambassadors. The race will be the culmination of a weekend celebration in October with events and activities including a race expo at Union Square, featuring health and fitness features for active women, guest speakers, fitness classes, Pilates, natural medicine and meditation.
VALPACK: is supporting the National Association of Letter Carriers' 12th annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive by distributing more than 40 million direct-mail pieces to households across the country. Beginning this week through April 23, U.S. households will receive Valpack envelopes featuring specially designed artwork from Family Circus cartoonist Bil Keane encouraging consumers to support the drive. TV spots support.
PEPSI-COLA NORTH AMERICA: is bringing Mountain Dew LiveWire back to store shelves nationwide beginning this week. It will remain in market through August. Mountain Dew LiveWire—the flavor of Mountain Dew with an infusion of orange and other citrus flavors—was on store shelves during the summer of 2003, and added a 10% volume swing to the Mountain Dew trademark, the company said.
