NESTLE® RAISINETS® Takes Over Raisin City, CA on National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day

RAISIN CITY, Calif., March 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- March 24th is National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day and in celebration NESTLE® RAISINETS® took over the small town of Raisin City, California renaming it: "RAISINETS City" for the day! Costumed RAISINETS characters rolled into town and word quickly spread. Raisin City's 167 residents poured into the town square where they were treated to delicious RAISINETS, as well as a fun-filled day of RAISINETS-themed activities including a parade, relay race, and more.

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Raisin City residents young and old, along with NESTLE representatives, kicked off the celebration with a festive parade around the town square. It was led by the life-sized NESTLE RAISINETS costumed characters who handed out bags of the delicious treat. At the main event, a new town sign was revealed to onlookers, showcasing the city's adopted name for the day: "RAISINETS City."

"There's no better place to celebrate National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day than in California's Central Valley where 100 percent of the raisins used in RAISINETS are grown," said Tricia Bowles, spokesperson, NESTLE RAISINETS. "Bringing the finished product back to those who work so hard to grow the fruit for Raisinets is extremely rewarding. Raisin City's charm and warmth accurately reflect the 80-year tradition of NESTLE RAISINETS."

In honor of National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day, NESTLE USA also announced its donation of GERBER® GRADUATES®, JUICY JUICE®, NESQUIK®, and MAGGI® soups to Community Food Bank, which helps local Raisin City residents in need.

Raisin City Living up to its Name

Raisin City is located in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley – home to nearly 5,000 raisin growers and where 99.5 percent of U.S. raisins are produced. Seventy percent of Raisin City's townspeople are involved in the growing and harvesting of California raisins.

"Raisins are what we're known for, "said Juan Sandoval, Raisin City Community Coordinator. "The secret to growing the best raisins is a lot of hard work and attention to quality, two things that are evident in every bag of NESTLE® RAISINETS®."

"As local Raisin City residents, we're proud of our agricultural heritage and we're excited to be associated with NESTLE RAISINETS," said Sandoval. "We're so grateful to NESTLE for creating such a wonderful program and for donating so generously to Community Food Bank."

Raisin City residents and visitors from surrounding towns participated in a relay race headed by the costumed RAISINETS characters handing off boxes of none other than RAISINETS. The costumed RAISINETS then surprised everyone by going door-to-door to deliver limited edition 10lb. boxes of RAISINETS to five lucky families!

Fun Facts about NESTLE RAISINETS

• All NESTLE RAISINETS are produced in Burlington, Wisconsin.  They are made with select California raisins and a unique blend of NESTLE Chocolate.

• RAISINETS were first introduced in 1927 by the Blumenthal Chocolate Company. Back then, it took two-and-a-half hours to produce one batch of RAISINETS!  Now it takes between 45 and 60 minutes.

• Today, we produce more than 1 million RAISINETS per hour!  Slightly less than 30 million individual RAISINETS each day!

• In 2010 we produced nearly 20 million pounds of Milk and Dark Chocolate RAISINETS, which is equal to approximately 8 billion individual RAISINETS. If you lined them up end-to-end, they'd stretch all the way around the earth about three-and-a-half times!

• Last year we used almost seven million pounds of raisins and more than 10 million pounds of NESTLE Chocolate to produce both Milk and Dark Chocolate RAISINETS.

• RAISINETS are the first chocolate covered raisin candy to have a cartoon series featured on its own YouTube channel! – www.youtube.com/raisinets

• RAISINETS are a natural source of fruit antioxidants and have 30% less fat than the leading chocolate brands!

The Star Struck Sweepstakes Kicks off Today!

NESTLE Raisinets officially kicked off the Star Struck Sweepstakes today in celebration of National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day. RAISINETS lovers can enter at www.raisinets.com/starstrucksweepstakes for a chance to win the Grand Prize – a trip for two to Hollywood or New York City (winner's choice) and $2,500. For ten extra bonus entries towards the Grand Prize, entrants can upload a photograph at the website of themselves holding a package of RAISINETS or the RAISINETS logo/image. Those who enter are automatically entered to win additional daily prizes such as a Flip Video™ UltraHD™ or kate spade Bon Vivant Zippered Chrissy with Bow. The contest will continue through June 21, 2011.

For more information on the NESTLE RAISINETS National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day celebration and the Star Struck Sweepstakes, be sure to visit the RAISINETS Facebook page and www.raisinets.com.

About Nestle USA

Named one of "The World's Most Admired Food Companies" in Fortune magazine for fourteen consecutive years, Nestle provides quality brands and products that bring flavor to life every day.  From nutritious meals with LEAN CUISINE® to baking traditions with NESTLE® TOLL HOUSE®, Nestle USA makes delicious, convenient, and nutritious food and beverage products that make good living possible. That's what "Nestle. Good Food, Good Life" is all about.  Well-known Nestle USA brands include: NESTLE® TOLL HOUSE®, NESTLE® NESQUIK®, NESTLE® COFFEE-MATE®, STOUFFER'S®, LEAN CUISINE®, HOT POCKETS® and LEAN POCKETS® brand sandwiches, NESCAFE®, NESTLE® JUICY JUICE®, BUITONI®, DREYER'S/EDY'S®, NESTLE® CRUNCH®, NESTLE® BUTTERFINGER®, WONKA®, DIGIORNO®, TOMBSTONE® and CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN® frozen pizza.  Nestle USA, with 2010 sales of $10.4 billion, is part of Nestle S.A. in Vevey, Switzerland — the world's largest food company with a commitment to Nutrition, Health & Wellness — with 2010 sales of $105 billion.  For product news and information, visit Nestleusa.com or NestleNewsroom.com.

All trademarks are owned by Societe des Produits Nestle S.A., Vevey, Switzerland unless otherwise noted.

Star Struck Sweepstakes prize mentions approved by Flip Video™ and kate spade.

Media Contacts:
Nestle Confections & Snacks (A Division of Nestle USA)
Tricia Bowles, 818.549.5817, [email protected]

Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide for Nestle
Alex Jessup, 310.248.6119, [email protected]

SOURCE Nestle USA