Masterfoods USA retains sponsorship of FLW Outdoors
Masterfoods USA, one of the world’s leading food manufacturers, announced Monday its renewal of an FLW Outdoors sponsorship for the 2003 tournament season. The food company that owns such brands as Snickers®, M&M’s® Chocolate Candies, Uncle Ben’s® and Pedigree® Food for Dogs has been a partner of the nation’s premier fishing-tournament organization since 2001.
During the 2003 season, Masterfoods USA will promote its new Snickers Almond Bar to the nation’s 55 million anglers. The Snickers Almond Bar, an almond version of the No. 1 candy bar in the United States, will be the newest addition to the family of Snickers bars. This will mark M&M-Mars’ second promotional campaign introducing a new product during FLW Tour events. During the 2001season, the company promoted its Snickers Cruncher Bar, a crisped-rice version of the original.
The partnership ensures visibility for Masterfoods USA along FLW Outdoors’ broad spectrum of tournament circuits that includes the $5.76 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour, the world’s most lucrative bass-tournament series; the $3.88 million EverStart Series, the pathway to the FLW Tour; the $6 million Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League for weekend anglers; the $1 million Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail; and the $3.07 million Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Tour, the world’s most lucrative walleye-tournament series.
“We are very excited to have the Snickers Brand back on board with the FLW Tour for 2003,” said John King, director of sponsorships, Masterfoods USA. “Our partnership with FLW Outdoors gives us a great platform to promote the new Snickers Almond among the most loyal consumers in America.”
Through its sponsorship, Masterfoods USA supports a four-person angling team comprising Chris Baumgardner of Gastonia, N.C.; Pat Fisher of Stone Mountain, Ga.; David Lauer of South Bend, Ind.; and the FLW Tour’s 2002 champion, John Sappington of Wyandotte, Okla. Team members will compete in Snickers-clad Ranger boats that are towed by matching Chevy Trailblazers during FLW Tour events.
Masterfoods USA participates in the Family Fun Zone, a free event open to the public that is held at all Wal-Mart FLW Tour events. Fans can partake in an array of exciting, hands-on activities at the Family Fun Zone, many times alongside professional anglers. The Family Fun Zone offers sponsors a one-of-a-kind product display for Wal-Mart customers. Through its sponsorship, Masterfoods USA will also have the opportunity to use the “Proud Sponsor of FLW Outdoors” logo on its products.
Christine Creed, vice president of marketing and sales for FLW Outdoors, said: “Snickers is a great example of how sponsors of FLW Outdoors can build brand awareness. They are launching a new product this year, as they did in 2001 with the Snickers Cruncher Bar, to reach the broad consumer base of anglers and their families, and we look forward to continually helping them reach this loyal audience.”
Masterfoods USA – the United States food, snack and pet-care operations of Mars, Incorporated – is one of the world’s leading food manufacturers. The combined food, pet-care and snack segments are symbols of excellence for quality brands. Headquartered in Hackettstown, N.J., Masterfoods USA owns some of the world’s favorite brands including M&M’s, Snickers, Uncle Ben’s, Kal Kan®, Pedigree Brand Food for Dogs, Whiskas® Brand Food for Cats, Seeds of Change® and Flavia® Beverage Systems.
Wal-Mart and many of the world’s most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its six tournament trails. Wal-Mart has been the title sponsor of FLW Outdoors since 1997. For a complete list of FLW Outdoors sponsors and for more information about the premier products and services they offer, please browse this Web site.
For more information about M&M-Mars, visit Mars.com or call (800) 551-0702.