Gatorade's New G Series Pro Line up Now Available at Dick's Sporting Goods

Retailer Also Becomes First, Exclusive Sporting Goods Retailer of New Gatorade Sidelines Equipment

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Jun 01, 2010, 08:00 ET

CHICAGO, June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- To extend availability of its G Series Pro line in the premium sports performance channel, The Gatorade Company, a division of PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) established a partnership with Dick's Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS). Dick's Sporting Goods, the premier, national sporting goods retailer with more than 424 stores throughout the U.S., will be Gatorade's Sports Performance Headquarters and will offer Gatorade's new line of G Series Pro products, a new line of products that is designed for elite athletes, beginning June 1. The retailer also will be the first and exclusive outlet for the coveted new Gatorade sidelines equipment, which debuted at Super Bowl XLIV. Other Gatorade branded items, including towels and cups, will also be available.

G Series Pro, the ultimate in sports nutrition from Gatorade, was developed by The Gatorade Sports Science Institute to meet the sports nutrition needs of elite athletes around the three most critical occasions that affect athletic performance – before, during and after a workout, practice or competition. As the pinnacle of the Gatorade sports performance nutrition portfolio, G Series Pro has only been available in locker rooms and specialized training facilities until now. Expanding distribution into Dick's will make G Series Pro available to a wider range of elite athletes training to go pro.

"G Series Pro raises the sports nutrition bar even higher," said Sarah Robb O'Hagan, chief marketing officer of Gatorade. "We recognize different needs of distinct groups of athletes across the spectrum of the whole category and elite athletes need a highly customized product line like G Series Pro and they're shopping for it in premium distribution channels such as Dick's Sporting Goods," Robb O'Hagan added. As the premium product line from Gatorade, G Series Pro furthers Gatorade's evolution from a sports drink company to a sports performance innovator.

"Dick's Sporting Goods is rooted in being an authentic destination for serious athletes across the U.S., and we strive to provide our customers with elite products like those that are found in the G Series Pro line of products," said Jeffrey R. Hennion, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Dick's Sporting Goods. "This partnership works well because the hydration and nutrition products from Gatorade have enormous appeal and trust with our customers, athletes. We feel that offering the G Series Pro sideline equipment is a natural extension and we're excited to be the exclusive sporting goods retailer and Gatorade's Sports Performance Headquarters. This will serve as a solid foundation for our sports performance product line-up."

On Saturday, June 5, 2010, all 424 Dick's Sporting Goods locations will host G Series Pro "Signing Day." In Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles, NFL stars Johnny Knox, Jason Witten and Maurice Jones-Drew will make special in-store appearances, respectively. At each Dick's Sporting Goods location customers will have the opportunity to learn about G Series Pro line of products and sideline equipment, gain access to the exclusive, online Gatorade Performance Center, and enter the G Series Pro "Train Like A Pro" sweepstakes. The sweepstakes winner will have the opportunity to "train like a pro," and will receive a one-week, expense paid trip to a world class athletic training facility.

For more information about G Series Pro, please visit www.gatorade.com/gseriespro.

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™ and G Series Pro – a 1-2-3 approach to athlete nutrition and hydration before, during, and after 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 19 different product lines that each generates 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 more than 200 countries. With annualized revenues of nearly $60 billion, PepsiCo's people 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. In recognition of its continued sustainability efforts, PepsiCo was named for the third time to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) and for the fourth time to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (DJSI North America) in 2009. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

ABOUT DICK'S SPORTING GOODS

Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. is an authentic full-line sporting goods retailer offering a broad assortment of brand name sporting goods equipment, apparel, and footwear in a specialty store environment. As of May 1, 2010, the company operated 424 Dick's Sporting Goods stores in 41 states, with approximately 23.6 million square feet and 91 Golf Galaxy stores in 31 states, with approximately 1.5 million square feet. http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/

SOURCE The Gatorade Company