Snickers renews FLW Outdoors sponsorship

MINNEAPOLIS – M&M Mars, one of the world’s leading confectionary manufacturers, announced today its renewal of an FLW Outdoors sponsorship for the 2005 tournament season. The food company owns such brands as Snickers® and M&M’s® Chocolate Candies and has been a partner of the nation’s premier fishing-tournament organization since 2001.

Through its FLW Outdoors sponsorship, Masterfoods USA has promoted three new versions of its well-known Snickers bar. The food manufacturer launched Snickers Cruncher in 2001 and its new Snickers Almond Bar in 2003; this year the company promoted its Snickers Marathon Bar. The impact of Masterfoods USA’s marketing campaigns and sponsorship will benefit the nation’s 52 million-plus anglers, a group well-known for its loyalty to sponsor products.

“Our FLW Outdoors sponsorship allows us to reach an audience of millions of consumers who have shown loyalty to us for sponsoring professional fishing,” said Scott Hudler, director of sponsorships, Masterfoods USA. “We are proud to be a part of growing professional fishing and look forward to the growth in the years ahead.”

Masterfoods is among a growing list of innovative companies that have recognized professional fishing as a vital business. The company sponsors all six of FLW Outdoors’ varied fishing circuits, including the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, the world’s most lucrative bass-tournament series; the EverStart Series, the pathway to the Wal-Mart FLW Tour; the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League; the Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail; the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Tour, the world’s most lucrative walleye-tournament series; the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye League for weekend anglers.

As an FLW Outdoors sponsor, Snickers is featured in a variety of media formats most notably the “FLW Outdoors” television program on the Outdoor Life Network, which is broadcast to 65 million subscribers. Sponsors also benefit from prominent advertisements and news features in FLW Outdoors Magazine and at FLWOutdoors.com. Further publicity opportunities at FLW Outdoors include sponsor-specific product displays in the Family Fun Zone, signage at tournaments, angler-award programs, and other promotional and public-relations materials.

Through its sponsorship, Masterfoods USA supports an angling team comprising Chris Baumgardner of Gastonia, N.C.; Pat Fisher of Dacula, Ga.; David Lauer of South Bend, Ind.; and the FLW Tour’s 2002 champion, John Sappington of Willard, Mo. Members of Team Snickers compete in Snickers-clad Ranger boats. During the last two days of competition at FLW Tour events, these Snickers boats are towed by matching vehicles, emblazoned with the Snickers logo.

Masterfoods USA participates in the Family Fun Zone, a free event open to the public that is held at all Wal-Mart FLW Tour events. Fans can partake in a Snickers obstacle course set up for hands-on activities at the Family Fun Zone. The Family Fun Zone offers sponsors a one-of-a-kind product display for Wal-Mart customers. Through its sponsorship, Masterfoods USA also has the opportunity to use the “Official Sponsor of FLW Outdoors” logo on its products.

Bill Petrowiak, vice president of marketing and communications for FLW Outdoors, said: “The partnership with Snickers has assisted FLW Outdoors in our continual efforts to grow and meet the rising demand for tournament fishing on all levels and allow anglers to make a living doing what they love. FLW Outdoors offers family-friendly brands like Snickers a great marketing platform and demographic base to promote their products. We look forward to our continued relationship with Snickers.”

Masterfoods USA – the United States food, snack and pet-care operations of Mars Inc. – is one of the world’s leading food manufacturers. With more than $5 billion in annual sales, the combined food, snack and pet-care segments are symbols of excellence for quality brands. Headquartered in Hackettstown, N.J., Masterfoods USA employs more than 7,000 associates in the United States, with 15 manufacturing facilities nationwide. The company owns some of the world’s favorite brands including M&M’s® Brand, Snickers® Brand, Uncle Ben’s® Brand, Pedigree® Brand Food for Dogs, and Whiskas® Brand Food For Cats. For more information about M&M-Mars, visit Mars.com or call (800) 551-0702.

FLW Outdoors is the world’s leading marketer of competitive fishing. Wal-Mart serves as the title sponsor of FLW Outdoors as it has since 1997. For a complete list of FLW Outdoors sponsors and more information about them, please visit FLWOutdoors.com’s sponsor page.

For more information about FLW Outdoors tournaments, browse this Web site or call (270) 252-1000.