Bowling Industry Inks Deal for 100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea to Be the "Official Thirst Quencher" of Bowling's U.S. Women's Open

ARLINGTON, Texas, March 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA), the bowling industry's premier trade organization, announced it has formed a partnership with PepsiCo and 100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea, entitling the renowned beverage brand as an official sponsor of the 2012 Bowling's U.S. Women's Open.

100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea will serve as the "Official Thirst Quencher" of the 2012 Bowling's U.S. Women's Open, which will be held under the iconic Virginia Street arch in Reno, Nevada – the "biggest little city in the world." The partnership will include 100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea branding throughout the event space, prominent brand exposure on-site, as well as on the event's website and in press materials, and multiple sampling stations in downtown Reno for the duration of the event, taking place June 21-27, 2012.

"This is a tremendous partnership between two great brands – PepsiCo's iconic Lipton Iced Tea and the brand of bowling, said Steve Johnson, executive director of the BPAA.  "The all-natural ingredients found in 100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea make it the perfect beverage choice to satisfy our athletes during this year's hot competition under the bright lights of Reno."

For the second consecutive year the Bowling's U.S. Women's Open, bowling's most prominent women's event, will be televised on ESPN2, and this year's tournament will mark the first-ever women's outdoor bowling event under the lights of the Reno Arch. This cutting-edge, outside-the-box spectacle, hosted by a sport that is loved by all ages, makes the Open a perfect partner for 100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea.

"We created 100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea because we believe that the ultimate iced tea refreshment starts with great tea and simple, natural ingredients – it a perfect thirst quencher for the tremendous athletes who will compete in the 2012 Bowling's U.S. Women's Open," says Mary Barnard, Vice President and General Manager of the Pepsi Lipton Tea Partnership.

100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea is available in four flavors: Green Tea with Citrus and Iced Tea with Lemon, as well as Iced Tea with Blueberry Pomegranate and Green Tea with Passionfruit Mango. Lipton's Diet portfolio includes Diet Green Tea with Watermelon and the beloved Diet Green Tea with Citrus flavor, both free of artificial colors and flavors. 100% Natural line retails for $.99 to $1.59 and is widely available in 20-ounce bottles. Consumers and fans will be able to enjoy all of the 100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea brands on-site at this year's event in Reno, Nevada.

About Bowling's U.S. Women's Open
Bringing together the most powerful brand in sports and the nation's number one participatory sport, Bowling's U.S. Women's Open, sponsored by the Brands of Ebonite International, is the premier U.S. Women's major professional bowling event.  With competition open to all female youth and adult bowlers, the 2012 Bowling's U.S. Women's Open will culminate in a finals event on June 27, 2012 underneath the famous Reno Arch in downtown Reno, NV during International Bowl Expo 2012 and airing on ESPN2. Additional information and entry forms can be found at: www.bowlingsuswomensopen.com.

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo offers the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 19 different product lines that each generates more than $1 billion in annual retail sales. Our main businesses—Frito-Lay, Quaker, Pepsi-Cola, Tropicana and Gatorade—also make hundreds of other nourishing, tasty foods and drinks that bring joy to our consumers in more than 200 countries. With annualized revenues of nearly $60 billion, PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth, called Performance with Purpose. By dedicating ourselves to offering a broad array of choices for healthy, convenient and fun nourishment, reducing our environmental impact, and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace culture, PepsiCo balances strong financial returns with giving back to our communities worldwide.

SOURCE Bowling Proprietors' Association of America