• Elliott Mellow, BBQ ASAP
• Chantel Davis, Side Pockets
• Justin Sampson, Boogaloo
• Brandon Love, Three Sixty-Rooftop
• Chris Wheeler, Bar 360
• Andy Brown, Lucas Park Grille
• Alli Hull, SubZero Vodka Bar
• Tim Rabior, Salt

Salute American is a premium vodka that’s committed to investing in the future of U.S. veterans who have proudly served their country.  The brand, which launched in Missouri and Southern Illinois earlier this year, donates $1 for every 750ml bottle sold to approved veterans’ charities – a declaration etched on every bottle.

Salute American Vodka is pure American from start to finish.  The vodka, which is made from corn and wheat grains straight from the heartland, was approved for the USA Certified™ Seal.  It’s 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.  The suggested retail price for a 750ml bottle is $22.99, which will vary by market.  Salute American Vodka is 80-proof and 40% alcohol by volume.  For more information, please visit www.saluteamerican.com “like” us on facebook and follow us on twitter @SaluteAmerican

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.

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Chicago, IL – (May 14, 2013) – Better Brands Beverage Co. announced that it has chosen Georgia to be 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 Purple Heart Homes (PHH), an organization dedicated to providing personalized housing solutions for Service Connected Disabled Veterans and their families that are substantial in function, design and quality.  PHH provides a “quality of life solution” that creates an injury specific, barrier free-living environment – from remodeling an existing home already owned by the veteran, to creating an entire living space from the ground up.  The donation from Salute American will enable PHH to renovate a home in Atlanta for a local veteran.

“Purple Heart Homes is proud to partner with Salute American to assist those veterans who have covered our backs and been tragically wounded while fighting for our nation’s freedom,” said co-founders, Dale Beatty and John Gallina.

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 American 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 Georgia, the brand is available in on- and off-premise accounts in Missouri, Arkansas, Indiana and Southern Illinois.  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 www.facebook.com/SaluteAmericanVodka 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.

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New Full-Service Grocery Store in Old Town First to Carry Zingerman’s “Bakehouse” Breads & Pastries

Chicago, IL (May 1, 2013) – Plum Market^®, Old Town’s newest neighborhood grocer for natural, organic, local and specialty items, plans to bring a little piece of home to its newest location in Chicago – namely, Zingerman’s^® Community of Businesses (ZCoB).

Known well for delivering fresh breads and pastries to retailers across Michigan, Zingerman’s Bakehouse is an energetic group of dedicated bakers committed to making and selling the best-tasting, traditionally made breads and pastries.  The Company purposefully limits their distribution to retailers within driving distance of its Ann Arbor headquarters.   Although the Company sells individual products out of state, their decision to partner with Plum Market in its new Chicago location, was based on Plum Market’s dedication to carry high-quality products.

“Plum asked us to come with them, and after in-depth discussions about how this could work and still maintain the quality of our traditionally-made breads and pastries, we agreed,” said Amy Emberling, a Zingerman’s Bakehouse Managing Partner.

“We’re thrilled to expand our partnership with Zingerman’s to Chicago and committed to providing guests with the best local offerings,” said Matt Jonna, President & Co-Founder, Plum Market.  “99% of our baked goods are made locally and delivered fresh daily.”

In addition to Zingerman’s Bakehouse, Plum Market Old Town Chicago will offer:

• Zingerman’s Creamery, specializing in traditional fresh, soft-ripened and raw cheeses, including the Company’s critically acclaimed Real Cream Cheese and award-winning hand-made gelato and sorbets
• Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory, including their signature Zzang! ^® Candy Bars: Zzang!^® Original, Ca$hew Cow™, Wowza™ and What the Fudge? ^®, as well as its hand made peanut brittle, fudge and special holiday treats

Along with full-service grocery accommodations and 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.  The  store also features an apothecary that houses a huge selection of vitamins and supplements, housewares, Green Living products, and all natural body care.

The new store is located at 1233 N. Wells Street in Old Town and officially opens to the public on June 13.  Daily hours are from 8:00am – 10:00pm.  Guests have access to free parking.

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 Zingerman’s^® Community of Businesses

The Zingerman’s Community of Businesses (ZCoB) is a family of eight businesses all located in the Ann Arbor area and reflects the novel strategy for business growth created by Zingerman’s Deli founders Paul Saginaw and Ari Weinzweig in 1982. Rather than replicating their deli through the franchise model, Paul and Ari instead chose to develop new, independent businesses, all rooted in the local community that work together as one organization. Each business is operated by one or more managing partners who share ownership and put their particular expertise to work in the day-to-day running of their business. The idea for the ZCoB was laid out in Zingerman’s 2009 vision, written by Ari and Paul in 1994 and highlighted in Bo Burlingham’s 2003 article for Inc. Magazine, “The Coolest Small Company in America.” In 2006, the ZCoB managing partners began work on Zingerman’s 2020 vision. It was completed a year later and paints a picture of the ZCoB at the end of the next decade. Zingerman’s 2020 vision was featured in a New York Times article from June 2007, “The Corner Deli that Dared to Break Out of the Neighborhood.”

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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.

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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.

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