SymphonyIRI Names Sparkling ICE as "Rising Star" in New Product Pacesetters™ Report

NEW YORK, April 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sparkling ICE®, part of the TalkingRain® portfolio of beverages, has been selected as a 2011 Food & Beverage "Rising Star" in the SymphonyIRI Group's 2011 New Product Pacesetters report, an industry-recognized benchmark analysis of exceptional first-year CPG sales success for newly launched products.

Sparkling ICE is one of only ten brands to be named to the 2011 New Product Pacesetters "Rising Star" list, sharing this honor with some of the world's most-recognized brands, including Dannon, Dr. Pepper, Healthy Choice, Kraft, Magnum, Nabisco, Skinny Cow, Starbucks, and TruMoo.

Sparkling ICE was launched by TalkingRain, a Northwest-based beverage company dedicated to producing refreshing beverages for over twenty five years. Sparkling ICE combines mountain spring water, natural flavors, real fruit juice, vitamins and antioxidants to create a fully- flavored, lightly-carbonated, zero-calorie beverage in eight great tasting flavors. Sparkling ICE is an alternative to high calorie soft drinks and is appealing to consumers of all ages.

"It is such an honor to be recognized as a brand that is setting the pace within our industry, and to be counted among so many noteworthy brands on the 'Rising Stars' list," said Kevin Klock, President of TalkingRain Beverage Co. "We have dedicated extensive time and resources to consumer research, product development and branding surrounding our lightly carbonated Sparkling ICE water, but most importantly have had fun doing it, and we're thrilled that Sparkling Ice has been met with such enthusiasm."

The ranks of the best-selling food and beverage launches of 2011 illustrate the fervor with which consumers are seeking pizzazz in their daily diet. Additionally, SymphonyIRI believes this year's list of Rising Stars hint at a future of CPG marked by bold flavors and gourmet appeal, offering wellness and indulgence direct from the grocery aisles.

SymphonyIRI believes new products, such as the esteemed list of 2011 Rising Stars, to be the lifeblood of the CPG industry. This is reinforced by the fact that, despite prolonged economic difficulties, 22 percent of consumers are actively looking for new products to try.

"The Pacesetters of today, having beaten the new product odds regardless of a difficult and complex environment, are truly remarkable," says Larry Levin, executive vice president, Consumer Insights, SymphonyIRI. "It all begins with listening and responding to consumers. Those manufacturers that are taking the time to gain an intimate knowledge of the needs and wants of their consumers are cracking the code on true innovation."

Sparkling ICE retails $1.19 per bottle or $12.00-$15.00 per 12 pack, and is available at retailers nationwide. For more information, visit www.SparklingIce.com.

About Sparkling ICE®    
Delicious, zero calories and refreshing, Sparkling ICE combines mountain spring water, natural flavors, real fruit juice, vitamins and antioxidants to create tasty, lightly-carbonated, refreshments in assorted thirst-quenching flavors. A great alternative to soft drinks, appealing to all age groups, diabetics and the health-conscious, Sparkling ICE is available in eight distinct, delicious flavors sweetened with Splenda, all of which are caffeine-free, Kosher U and free of sodium and carbohydrates.

Sparkling ICE is part of the TalkingRain® family of beverages, and retails for $1.19. Sparking ICE is available at retailers nationwide and can be found in Canada & Mexico.  www.SparklingIce.com

About the Report
The SymphonyIRI Times & Trends Report, "2011 New Product Pacesetters" is available exclusively from SymphonyIRI, the leading global provider of consumer, shopper, and retail market intelligence and insights for the consumer packaged goods CPG, retail, and healthcare industries. The findings of this report were compiled based on insights from SymphonyIRI AttitudeLink™ Trier-Repeater/Non-Repeater Surveys, BehaviorScan® New Product Testing, IntroCast™ Launch Forecasting, Launch Commander™, and New Product Profiler™. To download the full report, listen to the New Product Pacesetters webinar replay, and view a New Product Pacesetters video, visit: www.SymphonyIRI.com/npp.

About SymphonyIRI Group, Inc.
SymphonyIRI Group, formerly named Information Resources, Inc. ("IRI"), is the global leader in innovative solutions and services for driving revenue and profit growth in CPG, retail and healthcare companies.  SymphonyIRI offers two families of solutions: Core IRI solutions for market measurement and Symphony Advantage solutions for enabling new growth opportunities in marketing, sales, shopper marketing and category management.  SymphonyIRI solutions uniquely combine content, analytics and technology to deliver maximum impact. SymphonyIRI helps companies create, plan and execute forward-looking, shopper-centric strategies across every level of the organization.  For more information, visit http://www.SymphonyIRI.com.

SOURCE Sparkling ICE