November 2009 Archive

The following posts were made in November 2009. You may subscribe to the RSS feed for this archive if you would like to take your time reading through our posts.

Catalyst News

[yellow tail] Wine Unveils Limited-Edition Wine[tails]TM Glasses Created by Renowned Designer Michael Graves

Exclusive Sets to be Auctioned on eBay Starting November 24

White Plains, NY (November 24, 2009) - [yellow tail] wine today revealed the designs for an exclusive glassware set created by world-renowned architect and designer Michael Graves. The designs are a celebration of the brand's wine[tails]^TM concept -- fun and flavorful drinks made with [yellow tail] wines.

Graves whose amazing architectural projects include the restoration of the Washington Monument, has become a household name with his home product line at Target Stores. [yellow tail] selected Graves based on his continued commitment to creating artistic, yet accessible products, which echoes their own brand vision - a fun, playful versatility, while continuing to provide an unpretentious product for everyone.

"Being that wine[tails] are a union of the wine and cocktail worlds, I felt the final design was a perfect hybrid for consumers looking for a middle ground between a cocktail glass and a wine glass," Graves said. "As with all of my product designs, we wanted to make sure the consumer had an inventive, yet functional piece of glassware."

Each limited-edition set is comprised of 4 handcrafted glasses -- a wine, champagne, margarita, and martini glass. Each glass is designed to provide the illusion of an inverted bottle within the glass shape.  The four collectible sets of the [yellow tail] wine[tail] glasses will be auctioned off on eBay in two cycles - one beginning on Tuesday, November 24 through Thursday, December 3, 2009 and the second on Friday, December 4 through Sunday, December 13, 2009. All proceeds from the online auctions will be donated to the American Association of Museums, which develops standards of excellence for museums across the United States.

"When [yellow tail] was introduced a few years ago, it turned the wine industry on its head with its fun and approachable attitude, and a label that was different from conventional wine packaging.  Everything we do is inspired by an unpretentious attitude and a desire to push boundaries," said Mark Lyle, Vice President of Marketing for [yellow tail] wines. "We feel that Michael's understanding of our personality is reflected in this glassware collection."

The evolution of wine[tails] and the exclusive wine[tail] glasses signal [yellow tail]'s continued commitment to add fun and accessibility to the wine category. These unique glasses provide the perfect companion to the wine[tail] recipes [yellow tail] created in 2008 with award winning mixologist Trudy Thomas. These drinks provide the elegant flair of a cocktail with the freshness of a made-to-order drink.

For more information on [yellow tail] wine please visit us at www.discoveryellowtail.com, Facebook and Twitter.

About W. J. Deutsch & Sons, Ltd

W.J. Deutsch & Sons was founded in 1981 by Chairman Bill Deutsch to market quality wines produced by prestigious families from major wine regions of the world.  Deutsch's wines are sold to the trade with well-planned marketing support and offered to U.S. consumers at fair market prices. Today the company is renowned for its brand building prowess and ability to identify and fill consumer niches within the wine category. Bill's son Peter Deutsch is CEO; thus two generations of the Deutsch family work side by side in their continuous quest to build strong brands and relationships throughout the wine industry. 

The W.J. Deutsch & Sons portfolio includes award-winning wines from: Australia; [yellow tail], [yellow tail] The Reserve, [yellow tail] Sparkling, California; Atlas Peak, Buena Vista Carneros, Esser Vineyards, Gary Farrell Vineyards and Winery, Geyser Peak, Kunde Estate, XYZin, France; Andre Lurton, Georges Duboeuf, Hob Nob Vineyards, J. Vidal Fleury, Pierre Sparr, Sauvion et Fils, Idaho; Ste Chapelle, Italy; Barone Fini, Castello di Monastero, Coldisole, Poggio alle Sughere, Villa Pozzi, New Zealand; The Crossings, Portugal; Quinta Do Vale Meao, Spain; Mar De Frades (Rias Baixas), Cruz de Alba (Ribera del Duero), Ramón Bilbao Vinos Y Vinedos (Rioja), and Volteo (Castilla), Washington; Columbia Winery, Covey Run.  www.wjdeutsch.com.

About [yellow tail]

[yellow tail] is the champion wine brand for Casella Wines. Owned and operated in Yenda, Australia, the Casella family has winemaking links going back six generations to Italy. [yellow tail] wines are created with a simple philosophy - make a great wine that everybody can enjoy. [yellow tail] is everything a great wine should be; approachable, fresh and full of flavor.

The [yellow tail] wine portfolio includes eight [yellow tail] varietals (including Shiraz and Chardonnay), three blends and a Sparkling White and Rosé wine. The [yellow tail] The Reserve portfolio includes six varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Grigio.  [yellow tail] and [yellow tail] The Reserve wines are produced by John Casella and Chief Winemaker, Alan Kennett of Casella Wines, Australia.

About Michael Graves

Michael Graves, FAIA, is credited with broadening the role of the architect in society and raising public interest in good design as essential to the quality of everyday life.  A native of Indianapolis, Graves received his architectural training at the University of Cincinnati and Harvard University.  In 1960, he won the Rome Prize and studied at the American Academy in Rome, of which he is now a Trustee. In 1962, Graves began a nearly 40-year teaching career at Princeton University, where he is now the Robert Schirmer Professor of Architecture, Emeritus. He has received 12 honorary doctorates and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters as well as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

His two firms-Michael Graves & Associates, the planning, architecture and interior design practices, and Michael Graves Design Group, the product design, graphic design, and branding practices-have offices located in Princeton, New Jersey and New York City, New York.  MGA has designed over 350 buildings worldwide and MGDG has designed over 2,000 consumer products. Michael Graves and the firms have received nearly 200 awards for design excellence, including the National Medal of Arts and the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal, the highest award bestowed upon an individual architect. 

About AAM

The American Association of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. With more than 15,000 individual, 3,000 institutional and 300 corporate members, AAM is dedicated to ensuring that museums remain a vital part of the American landscape, connecting people with the greatest achievements of the human experience, past, present and future. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.

Tags: [yellow tail] , wine , michael graves , aam , ebay. wine[tails] , mark lyle , catalyst public relations

Catalyst News

SUBWAY® Restaurants Introduce Reusable Lunch Bags in Support of World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

 Commemorative Bags will be Available with SUBWAY FRESH FIT FOR KIDS^TM Meal

Milford, CT (November 16, 2009) - SUBWAY^® restaurants, the world's largest submarine sandwich franchise, today introduced reusable bags which are free with the purchase of SUBWAY FRESH FIT FOR KIDS^TM meals.  The wildlife-themed bags will feature WWF's  panda logo and will promote the use of reusable products to further reduce pollution and wasteful consumption. In conjunction with this program, SUBWAY® restaurants will donate $100,000 to WWF.

"Our partnership with WWF is a natural fit for SUBWAY®," said Tony Pace, Chief Marketing Officer of the SUBWAY Franchisee Advertising Fund Trust. "We believe this evolves the premium that kids enjoy with a SUBWAY® meal to a more meaningful level. By serving our FRESH FIT FOR KIDS^TM meals in reusable bags we are encouraging children to eat fresh and live green."

SUBWAY® restaurants, which have long been committed to promoting better-for-you meal options for both children and adults, is the first major quick service restaurant (QSR) to introduce an environmentally-friendly message to children and families. 

The SUBWAY FRESH FIT FOR KIDS^TM meals consist of a mini sub paired with a healthy side and either 1% low fat milk, 100% juice or bottled water. The reusable WWF-themed bags will be available in stores nationwide November 15 through December 31. Each bag will feature one of four different animals: Polar Bear, Black Rhino, Amur Leopard and Cheetah and will include an endangered species card and sticker, spotlighting interesting facts about the selected species, along with a tip for kids on how to make a difference in their own world. The bag designs featuring charities or partners will rotate periodically throughout 2010.

"SUBWAY ® restaurants are setting a great example by showing kids the connection between reducing waste and protecting the environment," said Terry Macko, WWF's Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. Teaching children to be more environmentally aware is an important step toward building a future in which humans live in harmony with nature." 

Additionally, SUBWAY® restaurants are educating children with environmental facts and related games through the SUBWAY® Fresh Fit Adventure, "Find the Endangered Species" game on www.SubwayKids.com, which teaches kids fun facts about various endangered species.

The SUBWAY® brand has made a commitment to be more environmentally responsible in everything it does. The brand has taken numerous steps in this area by opening of six Eco-Stores, with 15 in various stages of development; using recycled and post-consumer material in its packaging; taking steps to improve its distribution methods; creating a green-certified cleaning program; and taking steps to save water and energy in its stores. In all, over the past three years, the brand has saved 79.5 million gallons of water per year; saved the equivalent of 284,044 barrels of oil; saved 1,017 trees from deforestation; and eliminated 122,112 metric tons of carbon dioxide. The brand has also secured certification from such groups as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), CARB (California Air Resources), EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), DFE (Designed for the Environment), SFI (Sustainable Forest Initiative) and GREENSEAL.

About SUBWAY^® Restaurants

The SUBWAY® restaurant chain is the world's largest submarine sandwich franchise, with more than 31,500 locations in 91 countries. Headquartered in Milford, Connecticut, and with regional offices in Amsterdam, Beirut, Brisbane, Miami, and Singapore, the SUBWAY® chain was co-founded by Fred DeLuca and Dr. Peter Buck in 1965. The SUBWAY® brand was ranked the number one Franchise Opportunity and the number one Global Franchise Opportunity in the 2009 edition of Entrepreneur magazine's "Annual Franchise 500®" survey, an honor that the SUBWAY® chain has received 16 times in the past 22 years. For more information about the SUBWAY® chain, visit www.subway.com and www.subwayfreshbuzz.com.  SUBWAY® is a registered trademark of Doctor's Associates Inc.

About World Wildlife Fund

WWF is the world's leading conservation organization, working in 100 countries for nearly half a century. With the support of over 1.2 million members in the U.S. and almost 5 million worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat climate change.  Visit www.worldwildlife.org to learn more. 

Tags: subway , fresh fit , world wildlife fund , wwf , tony pace , endangered species , terry macko

Catalyst News

Under Armour and IMG Form Unprecedented Partnership

New Comprehensive Sports Performance Measurement System

NEW YORK,  (November 2, 2009) - Under Armour (NYSE:UA) and IMG Worldwide, today announced an exclusive partnership highlighted by the development of a unique comprehensive athletic training platform that will establish a global measurement standard for improved sports performance, health and fitness called "Combine360".

By utilizing the performance and training expertise of Under Armour and IMG Performance, Combine360 will measure and record sport-specific ability and mental aptitude, nutritional level, ability to communicate and a variety of other performance disciplines allowing athletes of all abilities from across the world to compare their scores.

"Consistent with Under Armour's global mission to make all athletes better, IMG Performance is a pioneer in the field of athletic and character development for competitors of all ages," said Kevin Plank, CEO and Founder, Under Armour.  "This partnership represents a marshalling of the most passionate, scientific and innovative thinkers in the sports performance space and, together, we will establish the ultimate benchmarks by which all athletes, trainers and coaches will be measured.  We have always said that the combine is the one true measure of an athlete's potential, and we believe each athlete's Combine360 score will be as universal as an SAT score in terms of making all athletes better."

As part of this new venture, beginning in early 2010, Under Armour and IMG Performance will host over 100 combines at regional sites across the country. Staffed by some of the world's top performance specialists from Under Armour and IMG Performance, the combines will lay the foundation for a consistent platform for athletic analysis. This partnership will also help establish testing metrics, training methodology, certification standards and continuing educational programs to maximize athletic development and performance potential.  The focal points of this integrated training platform are at three levels: 90 (Core Physical), 180 (Sports-Specific Physical) and 360 (Advanced Elements). These tests will include physical conditioning, muscle regeneration, nutrition, sports medicine and anthropometric assessments. 

"We are very pleased to have teamed with Under Armour to develop a unique and highly effective sports performance measurement system that we believe will become the benchmark by which all athletes will be measured," said George Pyne, President of IMG's Sports and Entertainment group.  "Under Armour has become the dominant company in athletic combines and the addition of this revolutionary new tool takes that business to the next level."

To kick off the partnership and showcase the multi-sport applications of this joint initiative, Under Armour and IMG Performance hosted a special grassroots combine for dedicated football, soccer and rugby players (ages 8-18) on October 24^th at London's Finsbury Park Stadium in conjunction with the NFL game in London between the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Over 250 talented athletes participated in this first-ever program. 

In addition to the London combine, Under Armour will provide apparel, footwear and accessories to IMG Academies, a division of IMG Worldwide. Under Armour also will utilize the IMG Performance Institute at the Academy to test its newest innovations. IMG and Under Armour's partnership will have multiple retail and consumer extensions, with both parties working to develop sports-specific training programs, equipment, instruction and online content. 

"Under Armour shares our passion to improve performance and the lives of those who pursue athletic development," said Sam Zussman, Senior Vice President of IMG and Managing Director of IMG Performance "IMG Performance, through its world renowned academies has been developing on and off the field training that served over the past 30 years to not only build champions such as Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova, Paula Creamer and Freddy Adu, but also help junior athletes develop into successful adults and pursue their college of choice. Together with Under Armour, we will be able to bring our proven athletic training and measurement to a broader population and help them improve their athletic performance and overall health." 

About Under Armour, Inc.

Under Armour^® (NYSE: UA) is a leading developer, marketer, and distributor of branded performance apparel, footwear, and accessories. The brand's moisture-wicking synthetic fabrications are engineered in many different designs and styles for wear in nearly every climate to provide a performance alternative to traditional natural fiber products.  The Company's products are sold worldwide and worn by athletes at all levels, from youth to professional, on playing fields around the globe.  The Under Armour global headquarters is in Baltimore, Maryland, with European headquarters in Amsterdam's Olympic Stadium, and additional offices in Denver, Hong Kong, Toronto, and Guangzhou, China. For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.underarmour.com.

About IMG Performance

IMG Performance is a division of IMG Worldwide, Inc. which encompasses the business of  the Bradenton, Fla.-based IMG Academies, the 20-plus international David Leadbetter Golf Academies, and the Boca Raton, Fla.-based Evert Tennis Academy, as well as owning and operating multiple national and international junior athletic events. IMG Performance, which created the revolutionary Combine360, Combine180 and Combine90, is the exclusive manager and operator of all Under Armour combines worldwide and provides consulting services to national and international federations, professional organizations and intercollegiate sports teams and universities. For more information on the Bradenton-based IMG Performance, please see www.imgperformance.com

Tags: performance , training , under armour , img , marathon , combine , combine360 , catalsyt public relations , kevin plank