Disney and Beech-Nut Announce New Toddler Food Line Featuring Winnie the Pooh Characters

GLENDALE, Calif. and AMSTERDAM, N.Y., Dec. 14, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Disney Consumer Products and Beech-Nut are proud to introduce a new line of great-tasting and nutritious toddler foods featuring the Disney Winnie the Pooh characters. The new line is made with natural ingredients and has a great taste that even picky toddlers will love.

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Highlighting Disney's long-term commitment to providing more nutritious food options for kids, the Beech-Nut toddler food line for kids age 12 months and older have no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. The products adhere to Beech-Nut's strict ingredient standards in order to maintain an authentic taste and provide nutritious and delicious food for this active age group. The packaging features favorite Disney characters including Winnie the Pooh, Tigger and Piglet.

"In 2006, Disney made a commitment to meet high nutrition standards by offering a healthier portfolio of foods. The Beech-Nut toddler line is one more example of our commitment to these goals of offering 'better for you' foods that kids will love and parents will feel good about," said Embola Ndi, vice president of Food, Health & Beauty, Disney Consumer Products.

"Beech-Nut and Disney share a commitment to offer better nutrition choices for children. Our 20 new toddler products include steam-cooked microwavable meals, whole grain and real fruit snacks, and 100 percent juice beverages. They're tasty and nutritious products that moms can feel really good about," said Evan Eckman, chief marketing officer at Beech-Nut.

The Beech-Nut toddler food is fortified with vitamins and minerals and contains valuable nutrients, fiber, whole grains, real fruit, real yogurt, real vegetables and protein. The line features meals, sides, snacks and juices including:

• Steamies™: These complete meals have a home-style taste and texture and cook via a unique steam-cooking process. They are available in 10 different varieties.
• Goodies™: Made with Chiquita Bananas® and whole grains, Goodies Banana Bites offer a more nutritious choice for snack time. Goodies Mixed Fruit Nibbles come in two flavors and are made with real fruit. One serving offers 100 percent of the daily recommended serving of vitamin C.
• Juicies™: These 100 percent juice beverages come in refreshing flavor combinations, including white grape and peach, pear blueberry, and apple pomegranate. They offer the benefits of antioxidant super-fruits and contain 100 percent of the daily recommended serving of vitamin C.

The Disney-branded toddler foods by Beech-Nut are available now in grocery stores nationwide. Beech-Nut plans to introduce its new Disney steam-cooked microwavable meals with an upcoming TV commercial campaign and other promotional programming in collaboration with Disney's entertainment divisions.

About Beech-Nut Nutrition Corporation

Beech-Nut Nutrition Corporation is held by Hero Group, a family-owned food company headquartered in Lenzburg, Switzerland. Hero is a leader in the Infant Nutrition category with operations in more than 30 countries based in Europe, North America, Middle East/Africa and Turkey/Central Asia. Beech-Nut is committed to three core principles; providing better access to good nutrition, generating category growth through innovation and being a responsible steward of the environment. Beech-Nut is headquartered in Amsterdam, New York and has recently opened a $124 Million energy efficient manufacturing facility which has applied for Silver Level LEED certification (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design).

About Disney Consumer Products

Disney Consumer Products (DCP) is the business segment of The Walt Disney Company (DIS) that extends the Disney brand to merchandise ranging from apparel, toys, home decor and books and magazines to foods and beverages, stationery, electronics and fine art. This is accomplished through DCP's various lines of business which include: Disney Toys, Disney Fashion & Home, Disney Food, Health & Beauty, and Disney Stationery. Other businesses involved in Disney's consumer products sales are Disney Publishing Worldwide, the world's largest publisher of children's books and magazines, and www.DisneyStore.com, the company's official shopping portal. The Disney Stores retail chain, which debuted in 1987, is owned and operated by Disney in North America, Europe, and Japan. For more information, please visit www.disneyconsumerproducts.com or watch us at www.youtube.com/disneyliving "like us" on www.facebook.com/disneyliving, or "follow us" at www.twitter.com/disneyliving.

SOURCE Beech-Nut Nutrition Corporation