AXE to Blast 22 Fans into Space with New Apollo Campaign

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Jan. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AXE is going where only the elite few have gone before, giving fans the ultimate out-of-this-world experience: a trip to space.  To recruit for this once-in-a-lifetime journey, AXE is creating the AXE Apollo Space Academy (A.A.S.A) with space futurist and one of the first men to walk on the moon, Buzz Aldrin.  Beginning today, by joining A.A.S.A at AXEApollo.com, guys and girls will have a chance to compete for one of 22 tickets to travel to space on a flight with international space agency, Space Expedition Corporation (SXC).

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/59852-axe-apollo-space-academy-and-buzz-aldrin-to-blast-22-guys-into-space

There's no bigger hero than an astro­naut, so AXE wants to give fans a chance to experience an adventure unlike any other. In the biggest product launch in its 30-year history, AXE is asking guys and girls from 60 countries in 45 languages around the globe to sign up for the A.A.S.A by creating an astronaut profile on AXEApollo.com and telling the world why they deserve to go to space. Top-voted candidates will qualify for a challenge in their local country (excluding U.S.), with the ultimate candidates winning a place in the final stage at the AXE Global Space Camp in Orlando, Florida, where the final 22 space travelers will be selected based on competitive space-simulation challenges.

For those in the U.S. only, between the dates of Jan. 9-Feb. 3 – to  celebrate the first-ever Super Bowl commercial from the Axe Brand – visitors to AXEApollo.com will have a special chance to enter for a chance to win* a bonus ticket to space, skipping the local challenges and space camp. After Feb. 3, U.S. fans will still have the opportunity to join A.A.S.A. and enroll for a chance to be randomly selected to go to space camp and space alongside their peers from around the globe.

"Space travel for everyone is the next frontier in the human experience," said Buzz Aldrin, legendary astronaut and pilot of the historic Apollo 11 spacecraft that landed on the moon in 1969. "I'm thrilled that AXE is giving the young people of today such an extraordinary opportunity to experience some of what I've encountered in space."

SPACE EXPLORATION

AXE, known as LYNX in some parts of the world, has partnered with SXC to secure 22 seats aboard the suborbital spacecraft, aptly named, the Lynx.  SXC, led by CEO Michiel Mol, operates XCOR Aerospace's Lynx suborbital space plane that takes passengers more than 100 kilometers into space, achieving astronaut status.

"The AXE Apollo launch is the biggest and most ambitious in the AXE brand's 30 year history," said Tomas Marcenaro, global Vice President for AXE.  "For the first time, we're simultaneously launching one global competition in over 75 countries offering millions of people the opportunity to win the most epic prize on earth. A trip to space – yes, actual space."

Sign up and enter for a chance to go to space by joining the A.A.S.A at AXEApollo.com.  Official Rules vary by market.  The full line of AXE Apollo products is available in stores beginning today, and for more information visit TheAXEeffect.com.

* Official Rules for U.S.:
AXE Apollo Big Game Sweepstakes: No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. AXE Apollo Big Game Sweepstakes is sponsored by Conopco, Inc., d/b/a Unilever. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18 or older. Begins 1/9/13 at 6:00:00 a.m. PT & ends 2/3/13 at 11:59:59 p.m. PT. For official rules, visit axeapollo.com.

Axe Apollo Promotion: No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. AXE Apollo Promotion is sponsored by Conopco, Inc., d/b/a Unilever. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18 or older. Begins 2/4/13 at 3:00:00 a.m. ET & ends 7/31/13 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET. For official rules including how to enter for free, visit www.axeapollo.com.

About AXE
AXE, a leader in men's care, is an iconic personal care brand around the world that helps guys look, smell and feel their best. The Unilever-manufactured brand is available in a line of deodorant bodysprays, deodorant and anti-perspirant sticks, shower gels and hair care products. AXE is the No. 1 men's grooming brand in the U.S., excluding shaving hardware, and achieved this status only seven years after launch. Including deodorant bodysprays, AXE is the largest men's deodorant brand in the U.S.

The brand's mission is to help guys get the girl with grooming products that reflect individual personality and lifestyle. For more information, visit www.theaxeeffect.com.

About Unilever
Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goods with operations in over 100 countries and sales in 190. Consumers buy 170 billion Unilever packs around the world every year, and our products are used over two billion times a day. We have more than 171,000 employees, and generated annual sales of €46.5 billion in 2011.  More than half our sales are generated in emerging markets (56% in 2011).  Working to create a better future every day, we help people feel good, look good and get more out of life with brands and services that are good for them and good for others. Our portfolio includes some of the world's best known brands such as Knorr, Hellmann's, Lipton, Dove, Vaseline, Persil, Cif, Radox, Sure and Lifebuoy.

Our ambition is to double the size of our business, while reducing our overall environmental impact (including sourcing, consumer use and disposal). We are also committed to doing what we can to improve health, nutrition and hygiene, with goals to help more than a billion people take action to improve their health and well-being, as well as to source all our agricultural raw materials sustainably by 2020. Supporting our three big goals are more than 50 time-based targets in the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan.

Unilever has led the Food Producers sector in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Indexes for 14 consecutive years. In 2012 we were also named leader of the Food and Beverage supersector. We are included in the FTSE4Good Index Series and attained a top environmental score of 5, leading to inclusion in the FTSE4Good Environmental Leaders Europe 40 Index. In 2011 Unilever led the Climate Counts Company Scorecard and for the second year we topped the list of Global Corporate Sustainability Leaders in the GlobeScan/SustainAbility latest annual survey (2012).

For more information about Unilever and its brands, please visit www.unilever.com.

Space Expedition Corporation (SXC)
Space Expedition Corporation (SXC) will offer daily commercial flights into space as of 2014 on the XCOR Aerospace's Lynx suborbital reusable launch vehicle. Participants will have a life-changing experience when viewing our planet Earth from 100+ kilometers and achieving astronaut status.  The Lynx is a two seat fully reusable spaceplane that is designed and built by XCOR Aerospace (XCOR). SXC is the launch customer of this space vehicle that comfortably takes off and lands as a normal airplane from regular airports. The Curacao airport in the Caribbean will most probably be the first location – and first purely commercial Spaceport – outside the USA. The flexibility of the Lynx spacecraft makes it possible to operate from almost any commercial airport. XCOR and SXC have sold over 200 flights to date. The Lynx's full reusability ushers in a new era for the aerospace industry, potentially foreshadowing future superfast long range environmentally friendly travel outside our atmosphere. It is this vision that made KLM airlines decide to offer a partnership to SXC in 2010. The company is led by CEO MichielMol who has a strong international track record in IT (founder LBi), Formula 1 (founder Sahara Force India Formula 1), and Marketing (founder Guerilla Games) among other pursuits. www.spacexc.com

Media Contact:
Adam Bricault
212.819.4801
[email protected]

SOURCE Unilever