It's time to take those Madden NFL video game skills you've honed with your buddies and put them on display for all to see.

Thanks to a promotion with EA SPORTS™, a label of Electronic Arts Inc. (Nasdaq: ERTS), "The World's Most Refreshing Beer" is giving legal-drinking-age consumers the opportunity to showcase their video game talents in bars and restaurants across the country this fall.  In addition to the national promotion, each market will plan a series of promotions in local accounts that will enable consumers to challenge each other on the spot at Madden NFL 11.  And in select markets, people will have the chance to compete in tournaments for the right to play Madden NFL 11 against a local NFL alumnus.

The national promotion also features a sweepstakes, which kicks off September 1 and continues through December 31.  One grand prize winner could have his likeness featured in an upcoming Madden NFL game.  Additional prizes include tickets to Madden Bowl XVII party in Dallas on February 3, 2011, during Super Bowl week, as well as copies of Madden NFL 11 and discounts on select EA SPORTS merchandise.

"Coors Light consumers are passionate about football in all forms, whether they're cheering on their favorite team on Sunday or facing off against friends in Madden NFL 11," said Rick Gomez, vice president of marketing for the Coors Family of Brands.  "As cool as it is to whip your buddies in Madden NFL 11, imagine how much better it would be to do it in front of a bar full of people, or next year with 'video you' there to help your team march to victory."

"EA SPORTS continues to bring Madden to the People in new and creative ways," said Christopher Erb, senior director of partnership marketing for EA SPORTS.  "This promotion with Coors Light gives fans not only a way to play Madden NFL, but to become part of it."

To participate in the national sweepstakes, consumers can text codes found on Coors Light and Coors Banquet point-of-sale materials in on-premise retail accounts such as bars and restaurants or enter online.  Full details on the text-to-win sweepstakes can be found at CoorsLight.com/madden.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA™, EA Mobile™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2010, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.7 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million units. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

About EA SPORTS

EA SPORTS™ is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, global videogame competitions and breakthrough digital experiences.  EA SPORTS delivers personal access to the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports simulation videogames, including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA ELITE basketball, NCAA® Football, Fight Night boxing and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® golf, and EA SPORTS Active.

For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit www.easports.com to connect, share and compete.

EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Active, EA Mobile and POGO are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc.  John Madden, NFL, NHL, NBA, NCAA, Tiger Woods and PGA TOUR are trademarks of their respective owners and used with permission.

© 2010 NFL Properties LLC. Team names/logos/indicia are trademarks of the teams indicated.  All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League.

About MillerCoors

Built on a foundation of great beer brands and more than 288 years of brewing heritage, MillerCoors continues the commitment of its founders to brew the highest quality beers.  MillerCoors is the second largest beer company in America, capturing nearly 30 percent of U.S. beer sales.  Led by two of the best-selling beers in the industry, MillerCoors has a broad portfolio of highly complementary brands across every major industry segment.  Miller Lite is the great tasting beer that established the American light beer category in 1975, and Coors Light is the brand that introduced consumers to refreshment as cold as the Rockies.  MGD 64 completes the company's premium light beer portfolio, offering consumers fresh, crisp taste at just 64 calories.  MillerCoors brews full-calorie beers Coors Banquet and Miller Genuine Draft; and economy brands Miller High Life and Keystone Light.  The company also imports Peroni, Grolsch, Pilsner Urquell and Molson Canadian and offers innovative products such as Miller Chill and Sparks.  MillerCoors features craft brews from the Jacob Leinenkugel Company, Blue Moon Brewing Company and the Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Company.  MillerCoors operates eight major breweries in the U.S., as well as the Leinenkugel's craft brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wis., and two microbreweries, the Leinenkugel's 10th Street Brewery in Milwaukee and the Blue Moon Brewing Company at Coors Field in Denver.  MillerCoors vision is to become the best beer company in America by driving profitable industry growth.  MillerCoors insists on building its brands the right way through brewing quality, responsible marketing and environmental and community impact.  MillerCoors is a joint venture of SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company.

SOURCE Coors Light

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The Society of Wine Educators has announced that Ira Norof, CWE, Director of Education at Southern Wine & Spirits in Southern California, will assume the role of President of the Society on September 1, 2010. This is a three-year term, which he will hold until August 31, 2013.

Norof began his career at Southern Wine and Spirits in 1983, after a career in retail and as a sommelier. He first joined the Society of Wine Educators that same year, and became a Certified Wine Educator (CWE) in 1999. He was elected a Member of the Board in 2002, has served as Conference Chair since 2005, and became Vice President in 2007.

While respecting the traditions and mission of the Society, Norof's goals for the Society are focused on conservative expansion, both globally and domestically. "I think it's a good time for the Society to expand our presence in existing markets, such as Asia and Europe, and develop our presence in new ones, such as South America. I would like to increase the areas of study and educational opportunities. Our Annual Conference is our core event, with over 50 sessions covering an enormous range of subjects, but in order to promote more awareness and increase membership, in addition to this prestigious event, the Society is introducing our first one-day intensive in Houston in October. The Society has an impressive past, and I look forward to contributing to an exciting future."

The Society of Wine Educators also announced the election of its Board of Directors. Voted on by the members of the Society, these people will serve a 2-year term.

  • Mark Chandler, CSW: Executive Director of the Lodi Winegrape Commission in Lodi
  • Barry Wiss, CWE: A Wine Educator and CSW/CWE exam administrator and proctor who teaches at the CIA and WISE Academy
  • Patrick D. Dodd, CWE: Director of Wine & Spirits Education for the Ernest & Julio Gallo Winery, Modesto, CA
  • Paul Wagner: Founder and President of Balzac Communications, Napa, California.
  • Maria E. Denton, CWE: General Manager, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Washington DC

The mission of the non-profit Society of Wine Educators is to advance wine and spirit education through professional development and certification. Founded in 1974 by a group of wine professionals at the UC Davis campus, the Society is now headquartered in Washington, DC. The Society has over 2,600 members in 13 different countries. The Society offers three types of certification: 1) Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW), geared to the intermediate wine professional; 2) Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS); and 3) Certified Wine Educator (CWE), recognizing a higher level of achievement, and requiring a written exam, sensory evaluations, and a teaching presentation. In addition to gaining a depth of knowledge, people who achieve certification are viewed as prize candidates for jobs in the wine, spirits and hospitality industries.

For more information about the Society of Wine Educators, please visit www.societyofwineeducators.org

SOURCE Society of Wine Educators

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MillerCoors reinforces its commitment to protect and preserve local water resources, a key sustainable development priority for the company, with its second annual Water Stewardship Volunteer Month this September. MillerCoors breweries across the country will partner with local non-profit organizations to host employee volunteer activities focused on protecting local watersheds.  

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090615/CG32452LOGO)

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090615/CG32452LOGO)

"Clean, high-quality water is not only a key ingredient in our great beers, it's also an essential ingredient for healthy and vibrant communities across the country," said MillerCoors Chief Executive Officer Leo Kiely.

MillerCoors will build upon the success of its first Water Stewardship Volunteer Month, during which more than 500 employees volunteered 1,650 hours. Through activities with non-profits in 11 MillerCoors communities, employees will help clean up rivers and beaches, test water quality, remove invasive species and plant native trees and shrubs along river banks.

MillerCoors is constantly working to be a good steward of water and reduce water usage. In 2009, the company recorded a water usage ratio of 4.11 barrels of water per barrel of beer produced and continues to work towards its 2015 goal of reducing water usage by 15 percent to achieve a water-to-beer ratio of 3.50 to 1.00. The company is also conducting water foot-printing research to identify and address future risks.

Several MillerCoors breweries across the country have implemented innovative ways to conserve water. At the Ft. Worth brewery, dry lubricant is used on some of its production lines instead of water and the brewery will switch to the dry lubricant on all lines by the end of 2010. The Ft. Worth brewery currently uses 3.5 barrels of water per barrel of beer produced. Several other breweries are also researching the use of dry lubricant in their production lines.  

"Water stewardship is a priority for the business and our employees are passionate about making a difference. We build awareness around preserving this precious resource in September to give employees the opportunity to volunteer in the communities where we live and work," Kiely added.  For every employee volunteer hour, MillerCoors will donate $2 to the United Way.

Listed below are the Water Stewardship Volunteer Month events taking place throughout September.

Golden, CO, Saturday, September 11, 9am-3pm

The brewery will host its fourth annual Friends of the Forest day in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation to repair the streambed along Clear Creek.

Elkton, VA, Friday, September 17, 9am-1pm

Employees will volunteer with Shenandoah Valley Pure Water Forum to help clean up the Island Ford Boat Launch on Shenandoah River while canoeing.

Albany, GA, Friday, September 17, 2pm-4pm

The brewery will team with Keep Albany/Dougherty Beautiful to pick up litter near Lake Chehaw and help place storm drain markers on city streets.

Chicago, IL, Saturday, September 18, 9am-12pm

Volunteers will restore the Chicago River waterway by planting a garden, testing water quality and removing invasive plants with Friends of the Chicago River.

Fort Worth, TX, Saturday, September 18, 8:30am-11:30am

Employees will join with the Tarrant Regional Water District for the 19th annual Trinity River Trash Bash.

Chippewa Falls, WI, Saturday, September 25, 8am-11:30am

Leinenkugel employees will team with Chippewa Falls Department of Parks and Recreation to clean up the banks of Duncan Creek and build a rain garden.

Eden, NC, Saturday, September 25, 8am-12pm

Employees will help restore the Leaksville Landing boat access and historic Bateau Port in partnership with the Dan River Basin Association.

Trenton, OH, Saturday, September 25, 9am-12pm

The brewery will work with Miami Conservancy District to secure the banks of a new boat ramp and landscape the area overlooking the river.  

Irwindale, CA, Saturday, September 25, 9am-12pm

The brewery will join the Ocean Conservancy to help clean up the coast as part of the International Coastal Clean-up.

Milwaukee, WI, Saturday, September 25, 9am-12pm

Employees will clean up the Milwaukee River and remove trash at Lincoln Park with partner Milwaukee Riverkeeper.

Puerto Rico, Saturday, September 25, 9am-1pm

Employees will work with Coalicion Playa Para Todos in Mar Chiquita in Manati to help clean up the beach for International Clean-Up day.

For more information on these activities and other sustainability initiatives, visit www.GreatBeerGreatResponsibility.com or Great Beer, Great Responsibility on Facebook.  

About MillerCoors

Built on a foundation of great beer brands and more than 288 years of brewing heritage, MillerCoors continues the commitment of its founders to brew the highest quality beers.  MillerCoors is the second largest beer company in America, capturing nearly 30 percent of U.S. beer sales.  Led by two of the best-selling beers in the industry, MillerCoors has a broad portfolio of highly complementary brands across every major industry segment.  Miller Lite is the great tasting beer that established the American light beer category in 1975, and Coors Light is the brand that introduced consumers to refreshment as cold as the Rockies.  MGD 64 completes the company's premium light beer portfolio, offering consumers fresh, crisp taste at just 64 calories.  MillerCoors brews premium beers Coors Banquet and Miller Genuine Draft; and economy brands Miller High Life and Keystone Light.  The company also imports Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Pilsner Urquell, Grolsch and Molson Canadian and offers innovative products such as Miller Chill and Sparks.  MillerCoors features craft brews from the Jacob Leinenkugel Company, Blue Moon Brewing Company and the Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Company.  MillerCoors operates eight major breweries in the U.S., as well as the Leinenkugel's craft brewery in Chippewa Falls, WI and two microbreweries, the 10th Street Brewery in Milwaukee and the Blue Moon Brewing Company at Coors Field in Denver.  MillerCoors vision is to create America's best beer company by driving profitable industry growth.  MillerCoors insists on building its brands the right way through brewing quality, responsible marketing and environmental and community impact.  MillerCoors is a joint venture of SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company.

SOURCE MillerCoors

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For the first time and just in time for grilling this Labor Day weekend, Whole Foods Market (Nasdaq: WFMI) is having a nationwide one-day meat special on Friday, September 3, offering ground grass-fed beef at $3.99/lb., a significant savings for this increasingly popular meat known for its positive impact on the cattle, the environment and local communities, as well as being a leaner alternative to grain-fed beef.  

Because grass-fed cattle are typically leaner than cattle that are fed grain, almost all cuts have less fat than grain-finished beef. In addition, meat from pasture raised animals that spend their entire lives grazing has a more favorable ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids.

Preparing grass-fed beef differs from grain-fed beef. Cooking tips include:

  • Don't cook grass-fed beef cold; it is best when removed from the refrigerator 15 minutes or so prior to cooking.
  • When cooking on the grill, let the flames burn down more than is recommended for other meat. Also, it doesn't need as much cooking time.
  • Always use tongs, never a fork, to turn your beef and don't flatten during cooking.
  • When cooking in the oven, lower the oven's cooking temperature by about 25 degrees F and the cooking time will stay about the same.

A video on grilling with grass-fed beef featuring Kevin Gillespie, co-owner and executive chef of Woodfire Grill in Atlanta and Top Chef Fan Favorite, plus more information is available here: wholefoodsmarket.com/grassfedbeef.

In May, Whole Foods Market announced all of its U.S. stores were offering grass-fed-and-finished beef by partnering with grass-fed producers from across the country who are either independent, selling beef from only their own property or belong to a small, locally focused producer group.

"Years ago, I began to understand that the welfare of our herd and the stewardship of our land was being compromised. Now I operate in cooperation with nature, as my great grandfather and grandfather did," said Will Harris, owner of White Oak Pastures in Georgia and supplier to Whole Foods Market. "'You take care of the land and the herd, and they will take care of you,' is the most central of our family's core values."

Elizabeth.Smith@wholefoods.com – 512 542 0380

SOURCE Whole Foods Market

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Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) and Coors Light are bringing yet another eye-catching, highly functional packaging innovation to market that is bolder, colder and more portable than ever before.  Coors Light is launching the 16-oz. resealable Silver Bullet Aluminum Pint in Alumi-Tek bottles nationally on September 1, just in time for football season.

"The Coors Light Silver Bullet bottle represents a great opportunity for us," said Rick Gomez, vice president, Coors Family of Brands. "We've seen our past innovations drive share and volume growth. And we're going to really leverage the Silver Bullet bottle to gain incremental distribution."

With its striking design emphasizing the Cold Activated mountains, the new Silver Bullet Aluminum Pint reinforces Coors Light's positioning as the World's Most Refreshing Beer, according to Gomez. The bottle delivers portability with a resealable twist off cap and wide mouth opening for a smooth pour. Cold Activated technology provided by thermochromic graphics printed on the bottle plus a Cold Activation Window in the secondary packaging lets consumers see that the beer is cold before they buy it. The unbreakable, 100 percent recyclable bottle helps keep beer cold and is perfect for any occasion, including patios, beaches, sporting events and other occasions in which glass may not be appropriate.

In addition to beer, Ball's light weight Alumi-Tek bottle can be used for a wide variety of beverages, such as carbonated soft drinks, juices, energy drinks, enhanced water and beverages requiring retort processing. Ball leverages its two-piece aluminum beverage can manufacturing expertise to produce the Alumi-Tek bottle because the manufacturing technology for both packages is very similar. The bottles have the same high quality graphics found on cans and are decorated with the same printing process. Ball manufactures both 12-oz. and 16-oz. bottles at its plant in Monticello, Ind.

Ball Corporation is a supplier of high-quality packaging for beverage, food and household products customers, and of aerospace and other technologies and services, primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ more than 13,000 people worldwide and reported 2009 sales of more than $7.3 billion including discontinued operations. For the latest Ball news and for other company information, please visit www.ball.com.

Photo available in Ball's image library: http://www.ballcorporate.com/page.jsp?page=44&id=58

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Key risks and uncertainties are summarized in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Exhibit 99.2 in our Form 10-K, which are available at our Web site and at www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect our packaging segments include fluctuation in product demand and preferences; availability and cost of raw materials; competitive packaging availability, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; crop yields; competitive activity; failure to achieve anticipated productivity improvements or production cost reductions; mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; and changes in foreign exchange rates or tax rates. Factors that might affect our aerospace segment include: funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts. Factors that might affect the company as a whole include those listed plus: accounting changes; changes in senior management; the current global recession and its effects on liquidity, credit risk, asset values and the economy; successful or unsuccessful acquisitions, joint ventures or divestitures; integration of recently acquired businesses; regulatory action or laws including tax, environmental, health and workplace safety, including in respect of climate change, or chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process; governmental investigations; technological developments and innovations; goodwill impairment; antitrust, patent and other litigation; strikes; labor cost changes; rates of return projected and earned on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting our debt; and changes to unaudited results due to statutory audits or other effects.

SOURCE Ball Corporation

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