Nearly 110 Years in the Baking, Merita® Bread Rises Again as a Longstanding Southeastern Family Favorite

IRVING, Texas, Nov. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Merita®, the iconic bread brand baked in the South for the South, is celebrating nearly 110 years as a longstanding Southeastern family favorite with a number of innovation and marketing-related initiatives. Two new bread varieties packed with the nutrition families need, but with the signature Merita taste and soft texture, have been added to the Merita family of breads. Merita has also launched a new advertising campaign and unveiled new packaging.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101115/NY01559)

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20101115/NY01559)

"The Merita brand is rich in Southern history and has been enjoyed by families for generations," said Ann Oades, Director of Marketing for Merita bread. "In the South, nothing goes together better than good food and good family, and Merita is proud to be a part of these traditions. As we look to the next 100 years, Merita remains committed to bringing Southern families the same delicious, quality breads, with more nutritious choices than ever before."

The new Merita varieties - Merita® Smartwhite® and Merita® Made With Whole Grain White - balance the nutrition moms want with the taste kids prefer.

Merita Smartwhite provides:

• Five grams of fiber per serving - as much as 100% whole wheat bread
• The calcium of an eight ounce glass of milk per serving
• A good source of nine vitamins and minerals
• 1/3 less sodium than regular white bread
• 50 calories per slice

Merita Made With Whole Grain White provides:

• Eight grams of whole grains per serving, making it a good source
• The calcium of an eight ounce glass of milk per serving
• A good source of nine vitamins and minerals
• 1/3 less sodium than regular white bread

The new Merita advertising campaign captures classic Southern moments paired with delicious sandwiches made with Merita bread. The advertising also features the brand's first major packaging update in more than three decades. Merita breads now feature a new logo, richer colors and design and the Merita "Quality Guarantee," which reminds consumers that Merita guarantees the quality and fresh baked taste of every loaf.

For more information visit www.meritabreads.com. Follow Merita on Twitter at @Merita_Bread.

About Merita Breads

"Baked in the South for the South", Merita is one of the most popular bread brands in the Southeast. For nearly 110 years, Merita has brought family and friends together and now has more nutritious choices than ever before. The brand recently introduced two new Merita varieties - Merita® Smartwhite® and Merita® Made With Whole Grain White – which provide even more nutritious options from a brand consumers know and trust.  

SOURCE Merita Breads