AriZona Beverages and 7-Eleven Announce the First of Five Golden Can Winners

WOODBURY, N.Y., Aug. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AriZona Beverages and Shaquille O'Neal kicked off a nationwide promotion inviting consumers to find five "Soda Shaq Golden Cans" in selected 7-Eleven stores. Between August 14^th  and September 3^rd, five golden cans will be hidden at five different 7-Eleven locations throughout the country over the course of the promotion.  In order to win, fans need to follow @Shaq, @drinkarizona or @7eleven for clues to find what store the five specially marked gold cans are hidden in. The Golden Cans are marked "WINNER" across the front and will feature a brand new Shaq expression.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130815/NY65029-a )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130815/NY65029-b )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130813/NY63461 )

The Golden Can Sweepstakes, the second contest to come from the Soda Shaq launch in June, has already generated some buzz and excitement online. Reaching an audience of almost 17 million readers, AriZona Beverages and Shaquille O'Neal will continue providing clues via their Facebook and Twitter pages #sodashaqgold to give fans a few BIG hints and a little direction towards the four remaining golden cans.

The first Soda Shaq Golden Can was found on Wednesday, August 14, 2013, in Los Angeles.  Shaquille O'Neal tweeted clues inviting fans to locate the Soda Shaq Golden Can marked "Winner." Arthur "Bo" Bartholomew, a Los Angeles local in his 30's, was going to meet his Dad, Buzz Bartholomew, for lunch around 1 pm.  They both work in West LA and often have lunch together.  As he was leaving his office, he checked his twitter before getting on his bicycle to head over to meet his Dad. Arthur read Shaquille O'Neal's tweet about an AriZona Soda Shaq Golden Can being hidden in a Los Angeles 7-Eleven and recognized the photo in the post as the 7-Eleven on Wilshire Boulevard near his office. He called his father to let him know they had to swing by 7-Eleven to look for this can before going to lunch and he pedaled over as fast as he could.  His Dad, who was walking, got to the store a few minutes before Arthur and searched around for the Golden Can in the coolers.  The two ended up finding the can together!  A lifelong Lakers fan since attending his first game at age 7, Arthur aka "Bo," was thrilled and visibly shaken when he heard he won the first prize and was entered to win the grand prize - a one in five chance of winning the Grand Prize in the Soda Shaq Gold Can Promotion - a meet and greet with the legendary great!  Shaq is his idol and was the second person he ever followed on Twitter! The Soda Shaq Golden Can Winner video can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJe5OQ931a0&hd=1.

The Grand Prize drawing will be held on September 4^th and the winner will be announced via Twitter and Facebook.  Follow @SHAQ and @drinkarizona to enter to win #sodashaqgold. First prize winners receive Shaquille O'Neal headphones, limited edition Shaquille O'Neal poster, Soda Shaq Swag Bag and four cases of Soda Shaq!  They will then be entered to win the random grand prize drawing – a "meet and greet" with Shaquille O'Neal including round trip airfare for the winner and one guest, one night hotel accommodation and a $500.00 spending allowance.

These five special marked and numbered cans are the perfect addition for any collector who already has the Soda Shaq lineup. Winners will be announced weekly online as Golden Cans are found. Visit www.drinksodashaq.com for official rules and details.

The Soda Shaq Cream Soda line was released in four flavors (vanilla, blueberry, strawberry and orange) nationwide on June 25^th, 2013. Soda Shaq contains no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. Made with real Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla extract and pure cane sugar at only 90 calories per serving. The Soda Shaq line is available in 23.5-ounce cans at a suggested retail price of $0.99 per can. As part of the sweepstakes, the Golden Can will be free of charge.

For more information on this or any other AriZona product, please visit www.DrinkAriZona.com.

About AriZona
Founded in Brooklyn, NY in 1992, Arizona's mission is to offer top quality beverages in uniquely designed packages that are accessible and affordable. AriZona Beverages — makers of the number one Iced Tea in America, holds a unique position in the global beverage industry with its iconic $0.99 big can and "keeping it real" no frills approach to the consumer market.  AriZona never pays for glitzy advertising campaigns to gain consumer loyalty and is constantly ahead of the curve, carving out trends without the use of focus groups and market research. With a loyal following across various demographics, AriZona pulls its own inspiration from its fierce social media following and devoted fan base. To learn more about the AriZona lifestyle, please visit drinkarizona.com; Facebook: AriZonaIcedTea; Twitter: @DrinkAriZona

About Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal is a four time NBA Champion and three time NBA Finals MVP. The recently retired, fifteen time NBA All-Star was named as both the highest ranked athlete in the NBA and the most influential in sports in 2011. With a PhD in Leadership and Education, this iconic marketing and social media marvel is ranked among the "100 Most Creative People in Business" by Fast Company Magazine with an online presence that has grown to become the second most followed US athlete on twitter. As a celebrity, athlete, business professional, and comedian, Shaquille O'Neal has an enormous and devoted fan base across a variety of demographics.  He is involved in many lucrative partnerships, most recently with AriZona Beverages USA LLC. To learn more about Shaq, please visit www.shaq.com; Facebook: Shaquille O'Neal; Twitter: @Shaq

About 7-Eleven, Inc. 
7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas,7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 10,100 7-Eleven® stores in North America. Globally, 7-Eleven has some 51,000 stores in 16 countries. During 2012, 7-Eleven stores generated total worldwide sales close to $84.8 billion. 7-Eleven has been honored by a number of companies and organizations recently. Accolades include: #2 on Forbes magazine's 2011 list of Top Franchises for the Money; #3 spot on Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500 list for 2012, #3 in Forbes magazine's Top 20 Franchises to Start; #2 in Franchise Times Top 200 Franchise Companies. 7-Eleven is No. 3 on Fast Company magazine's 2013 list of the "World's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Retail" and among the Top Veteran-Friendly Companies for 2013 by U.S. Veterans Magazine.  Hispanic Magazine named 7-Eleven among its Hispanic Corporate Top 100 Companies that provide the most opportunities to Hispanics. 7-Eleven received the 2010 Retailer of the Year honor from PL Buyer because of the company's private-label brand initiative. 7-Eleven is franchising its stores in the U.S. and expanding through organic growth, acquisitions and its Business Conversion Program. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com.

SOURCE AriZona Beverages