Chicago, IL (April 1, 2013) – Equal®, a leader among zero-calorie sweeteners, today launches Naturals™ from the maker of Equal®, a 100% all-natural zero-calorie blend of monk fruit and stevia.

A natural extension for the trusted brand of more than 30 years, Naturals™ makes its debut this month in Tampa and Orlando.  The launch comes as health-conscious consumers continue to seek new natural and tasty sweetener solutions.

A recent global study showed that 81% of consumers rated eating “healthy, nutritious foods[1]” as a very important personal behavior, while a second study called out “taste” as the most important attribute for consumers when selecting a sweetener.[2]  This blend of monk fruit and stevia has a clean, sweet taste that makes Naturals™ an ideal choice for consumers.

“Naturals™ from the maker of Equal®, provides a tasty new zero-calorie sweetener for those looking people seeking natural products,” says Lael Edelstein, registered dietitian.

Naturals™ can be used as a substitute for sugar in coffee, tea and other beverages.  Or, use it on cereal and fruit.  The new sweetener can also be used as a natural alternative when making a variety of recipes that call for sugar.  Each packet (80 per box) sweetens like one teaspoon of sugar.

Naturals™ from the maker of Equal® is now available at select retailers in Tampa and Orlando in 80-ct boxes for a suggested retail price of $3.49.  Retail prices may vary by market.  Discover more at www.naturalssweetener.com.

About Equal®

For more than 30 years, Equal® has offered their trusted “blue” packets using the ingredient of aspartame.  Equal also offers yellow (sucralose) and pink (saccharin) packets that bear the brand name and deliver the quality and taste patrons expect.  Equal® is a registered trademark of Merisant Company.

About Merisant Company

Merisant Company, the manufacturer of Equal® brand zero-calorie sweetener, is a privately held company headquartered in Chicago.  Merisant is a global leader in the sweetener industry and has a presence in more than 90 countries with over 420 employees worldwide.

# # #

Chicago, IL (April 1, 2013) – Step aside sugar.  The next generation of sweet starts now.  Equal®, a leader among zero-calorie sweeteners and a trusted brand for more than 30 years, is breaking new ground with the launch of Equal® Next in Tampa and Orlando this month.  This great-tasting, new zero-calorie sweetener is a blend of aspartame and saccharin, sweeteners that are used in the Equal “blue” and Equal “pink” packets respectively.  When combined, these two sweeteners create a synergy that produces a clean, sugar-like taste.

Although many consumers are actively trying to cut calories and manage their sugar intake, staving off a sweet tooth can still be challenging.  Taste was the most important factor (83%) to buyers when choosing a sweetener, according to a Mintel study[1].  Now, consumers can have their cake and eat it too.  With a delicious, sugar-like taste, Equal Next delivers a sweet new alternative to sugar, without all of the added calories.  Equal Next dissolves well in hot and cold beverages, such as coffee, tea and iced tea.  Or, simply use it instead of sugar on cereal and fruit and in your favorite recipes.

“Equal Next offers a delicious new sweetener blend for sugar-enthusiasts and health-conscious consumers,” says Cheryl Gill, director, North America Marketing, Merisant US, Inc.  “It’s the next generation of sweet for sugar lovers, but without the extra calories and carbs.”

Equal Next is now available at select retailers in Tampa & Orlando in 100-ct boxes for a suggested retail price of $3.49.  Retail prices may vary by market.  Each packet (100 per box) sweetens like two teaspoons of sugar.  Discover more at www.equal.com.

About Equal®

For more than 30 years, Equal® has offered their trusted “blue” packets using the ingredient of aspartame.  The brand also offers Equal sucralose and Equal saccharin packets that deliver the quality and taste patrons expect.  Equal® is a registered trademark of Merisant Company.

About Merisant Company

Merisant Company, the manufacturer of Equal® brand zero-calorie sweetener, is a privately held company headquartered in Chicago.  Merisant is a global leader in the sweetener industry and has a presence in more than 90 countries with over 420 employees worldwide.

# # #

Chicago, IL – (April 1, 2013) – Better Brands Beverage Co. announced that it has chosen Arkansas among the first markets to launch Salute American, a new brand with a purpose.  The Company’s inaugural offering is an American-made, premium vodka that’s committed to investing in the future of U.S. veterans who have proudly served their country.  To that end, the Company will donate one-dollar for every 750ml bottle sold to approved veterans’ charities – a declaration etched on every bottle.

This month, Salute American will commit $10,000 to the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC). FVC works with military veterans in 48 states to find healing and meaningful careers in agriculture.  Among its programs is support for internships that provide at risk veterans with hands-on farming and business training.  With this donation, FVC will place an intern on Across the Creek Farm in West Fork, Arkansas, founded by Terrell “Spence” Spencer, who served two tours in Iraq with the US Army.

“We’re honored to receive this support to teach and create opportunities in farming for other vets,” said Mr. Spencer.  “Salute American’s generous donation will allow our vets to provide for their families while transforming themselves into America’s next generation of farming entrepreneurs.  Salute American’s gift isn’t just honorable and patriotic, it’s a game-changer for a young veteran family.”

Salute American is the brainchild of CEO-founder Pete Kelly, a passionate entrepreneur who wanted to make a difference in people’s lives through the ‘pay-it-forward’ philosophy.  Pete couldn’t think of a more deserving group than U.S. Veterans – a band of brothers with increasingly high unemployment and homelessness rates*.  Salute American became a practical way to help maintain and create jobs in the US for veterans, and to generate ongoing economic success, stronger families and stronger communities.

“Salute American is more than a name – it’s our mission,” said Pete Kelly, CEO-founder, Better Brands BevCo.  “We prove our patriotism by giving back and paying it forward.”

Salute Vodka is pure American from start to finish.  The vodka, which was approved for the USA Certified™ Seal, is made from corn and wheat grains straight from the heartland.  It’s then four times distilled for a smooth and sweet taste that works well mixed or neat.  The canteen-shaped bottle bearing the red, white and blue, was manufactured in Park Hills, Missouri, by Piramal, and distilled and bottled at Lidestri Spirits in Rochester, NY.

In addition to Arkansas, the brand is available in more than 400 on- and off-premise accounts in Missouri and Southern Illinois.  Salute American will launch in Indiana and Georgia in April and May respectively.  The suggested retail price for a 750ml bottle is $22.99, which may vary by market.  Salute American Vodka is 80-proof and 40% alcohol by volume.  The brand recently received a Silver Medal and an 87-point “highly recommended” rating from the prestigious Beverage Testing Institute in the category of “Best Value Vodka $20 and under.”  For more information, please visit www.saluteamerican.com “like” us on facebook and follow us on twitter @SaluteAmerican

* According to Labor Department Data, the unemployment rate among male veterans, ages 18-24, is nearly 27%.  There are currently more than 100,000 homeless Vets in the US.

About Better Brands BevCo.

Privately owned and Midwest-based, Better Brands Beverage Co. is a for-profit company committed to investing in Veterans Charities that create jobs for Veterans.  The Company was founded in 2012 by CEO Pete Kelly who passionately believes in making a difference in people’s lives through the ‘pay-it-forward’ philosophy.

# # #

Chicago’s Favorite Independent Coffee Bar Sets Up Shop Within New Grocery Store’s Old Town Location

Chicago, IL (March 13, 2013) – Plum Market^®, your neighborhood connection to natural, organic, local and specialty items, is pleased to announce that Intelligentsia will bring its award winning coffees and baristas to the Company’s first Chicago store, located at 1233 North Wells Street in Old Town.

The new 1,200 square foot coffee bar, which will be situated adjacent to Plum Market, but independently operated, will open on June 13^th – the same day as the grand opening of the new grocery store.  It is the sixth Intelligentsia coffee bar to open in Chicago and one of five of its new retail coffee bars opening this year across the country.

“Partnering with Plum Market in the booming Old Town neighborhood was a no-brainer for us,” said Rob Buono, president of Intelligentsia.  ” We’re thrilled to work alongside a company with premium offerings that’s committed to supporting local businesses.”

The new coffee shop’s contemporary design plays host to communal seating, a glass coffee bar and tall ceilings allowing for plenty of natural light.  Architecture firm Gensler worked with the team at Intelligentsia to create a comfortable open space where people can enjoy remarkable coffee with minimal fuss.  A custom colored La Marzocco Strada EP espresso machine takes center stage on the glass bar, with a small area for bar service.  Intelligentsia’s renowned portfolio of single origin coffees will be available by batch brew for those wanting great coffee in a hurry, but also by the cup, for those who enjoy the ritual of a more involved brew method.

In addition to full-service grocery accommodations, including a high-quality selection of product at competitive prices, Plum Market features a vast eat-in and carryout assortment of foods made fresh daily.  The store’s beverage program will feature ongoing educational tasting events in its wine bar and an extensive selection of domestic and imported craft beers, premium and hard-to-find spirits and popular and boutique wines.

Plum Market, which inspires guests to “live well with taste,” is located at 1233 N. Wells St. at Division in Old Town.  The new 27,000 square foot store opens to the public on Thursday, June 13, with daily hours from 8:00am to 10:00pm.  Guests have access to free parking on the second level (validation required).  The Intelligentsia coffee bar, which will have a separate entrance on Wells Street, will be open from 6:00am – 7:00pm daily.

For more information, visit www.plummarket.com join us on facebook http://www.facebook.com/PlumMarketChicago and follow us @PlumMarket on twitter.

About Plum Market^®

Plum Market^® offers a full-service shopping experience to inspire guests to live well, with taste.  The company is a privately owned company based in Farmington Hills, Michigan and has full-service grocery stores in Bloomfield Township, Michigan; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and West Bloomfield, Michigan. Matthew Jonna and Marc Jonna are third generation retailers who grew up working for their father’s store, Merchant of Vino Marketplace, a natural, organic, and specialty food and wine store with six locations across the Midwest.  The chain attracted significant attention from competitors and in 1998 Whole Foods Market acquired the company. Both Jonna’s continued to work with the Whole Foods Market executive leadership team. Matt and Marc left Whole Foods Market to pursue developing a new grocery concept, later to become Plum Market with the first store location opening in 2007.

About Intelligentsia

Intelligentsia Coffee sources, roasts and brews specialty coffee from around the world.  The company pioneered the Direct Trade purchasing model and is known for promoting fresh harvested coffee through its In Season program.  Founder and Co-CEO Doug Zell opened the first coffee bar in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood in 1995 and has since expanded to Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York.  A team of 11 coffee buyers travels throughout the year to visit producer partners at origin and ensure the highest quality raw ingredient.  Every Intelligentsia coffee bar is designed to fit its neighborhood; from the choice of furniture and layout to the coffee equipment and menu design.  The design and execution of these coffee bars has led to Intelligentsia being considered one of the most innovative and premier coffee companies in the world.

# # #