Gatorade Continues to Redefine Sports Nutrition Category With Launch of G Series Pro Exclusively in GNC

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Mar 23, 2010, 01:56 ET

CHICAGO, March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- In the next stage of its evolution from sports drink to sports performance innovator, The Gatorade Company, a division of PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP), will launch G Series Pro – a new variant of its recently launched G Series – through a distribution alliance with GNC, the nation's premier specialist retailer of nutritional products for the active consumer.

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G Series Pro was originally developed by The Gatorade Sports Science Institute to meet the needs of professional and aspiring professional athletes. As the performance pinnacle of the Gatorade sports performance range, G Series Pro until now has only been available in locker rooms and specialized training facilities. G Series Pro will be available beginning May 1 to a broader segment of elite athletes. The range will be distributed initially through an exclusive co-marketing and co-distribution collaboration with GNC and its network of nearly 5,500 outlets nationwide.

"Make no mistake, Gatorade is all about the athlete," says Sarah Robb O'Hagan, chief marketing officer of Gatorade. "Our 2010 product range focuses on the intersection between the insights of pro athletes and the advantages of our peerless scientific approach to product development. G Series premiered on the Super Bowl sidelines, where we promoted the 'before, during, and after' system of sports performance, and G Series Pro raises the bar even higher. Up to now, we have kept these products in the locker room, but the compatibility between G Series Pro athletes and GNC customers persuaded us this is a product line of genuine interest to those looking to go pro."

"The Gatorade brand has enormous credibility with GNC's sports nutrition customers, and the G Series Pro line will be a valuable addition to GNC's sport performance product line-up," said Joe Fortunato, chief executive officer, GNC. "We have the right retail presence and marketing muscle to drive G Series Pro through our nearly 5,500 U.S. stores."

Gatorade is uniquely placed to capitalize on this growth through its distinctive heritage in the category, whole-hearted commitment to understanding the needs of the athlete and ruthless focus on science-based innovation.

"We recognize different needs of specialized and distinct groups of athletes across the spectrum of the whole category," said Massimo d'Amore, CEO of PepsiCo Americas Beverages. "G Series Pro is a manifestation of this insight – the elite athlete, with his or her particular nutrient requirements, needs a highly customized product. G Series Pro is such a product, made available through premium distribution channels such as GNC. A pioneer and leader in its field, GNC is a company that has been responsible for contributing to the success of major sports nutrition products in the marketplace for more 75 years."

For more information about Gatorade products, please visit www.gatorade.com.

ABOUT GATORADE

The Gatorade Company, a division of PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP), provides sports performance innovations designed to meet the needs of athletes at all competitive levels and across a broad range of sports. Gatorade Thirst Quencher® is backed by more than 40 years of research and is scientifically formulated and athletically proven to quench thirst, replace fluids and electrolytes, and provide carbohydrate energy to enhance athletic performance. The company's product portfolio is built around the G Series™, a 1-2-3 approach to athlete nutrition and hydration before (Gatorade Prime 01™), during (Gatorade® Perform 02 and G2® Perform 02), and after (Gatorade Recover 03™) training or competition. For more information, please visit www.gatorade.com.

PepsiCo offers the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 18 different product lines that each generate 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 over 200 countries. With more than $43 billion in 2008 revenues, PepsiCo employs 198,000 people who 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. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

ABOUT GNC

GNC, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., a leading global specialty retailer of nutritional products including vitamin, mineral, herbal and other specialty supplements and sports nutrition, diet and energy products. As of December 31, 2009, GNC has more than 6,900 locations, of which more than 5,400 retail locations are in the United States (including 909 franchise and 1,869 Rite Aid franchise store-within-a-store locations) and franchise operations in 47 countries. The Company -- which is dedicated to helping consumers Live Well -- also offers products and product information online at www.gnc.com.