First-ever NESTEA(R) The Recruit challenge: The search for aspiring marketers
at six Canadian universities

TORONTO , Oct. 5 /CNW/ - Kicking off the school year in high-gear, the makers of NESTEA(R) have created The Recruit challenge in search of the most creative, smart and strategic aspiring-marketers in the country. The 2009-2010 school year marks the inaugural year of NESTEA The Recruit which brings refreshing possibilities to life for the six participating Canadian universities.

NESTEA The Recruit is the ultimate campus challenge that will give students real-life marketing experience and cash - in the form of execution budget and honorariums - as they work through the challenges with the possibility of winning tuition money and an exclusive internship experience next summer at Coca-Cola or at one of its partner marketing agencies.

Teams from University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, McMaster, McGill, Queen's and Memorial get the unique opportunity to show their love for NESTEA and their marketing savvy by participating in NESTEA The Recruit challenge. The grand prize for one winning team of three includes $3,500 each for tuition and a summer internship spent marketing the NESTEA brand.

"Knowing that the recent economy has been tough on students, we created this incredible and unique experience for students to gain real-life marketing experience working with the NESTEA brand during their participation in the NESTEA The Recruit challenge; and for the grand prize winners - money for tuition and summer internships at Coca-Cola," said Wallace Leung , Senior Brand Manager, Tea, Coca-Cola, Ltd. "At Nestea, we strive to bring refreshing possibilities to life, and this opportunity really speaks to that commitment."

In late August and through the month of September more than 100 student teams auditioned from the participating universities for their chance to take part in the first-ever NESTEA The Recruit challenge. Three teams from each of the six universities were selected to take part in the program that includes three unique marketing challenges: social media and public relations, experiential marketing and a 360 degree challenge that includes the creation and execution of an on-campus student-based event incorporating their experiences from the first two challenges.

The first of the challenges, social media and public relations, starts today. Students will try their hand at experiential marketing in January with the final 360 degree challenge taking place in March. The winning team of NESTEA(R) The Recruit will be announced in April.

To make the experience as real-world as possible, the participating teams have also had the opportunity to meet with NESTEA brand partner agencies including: Inventa - experiential marketing, MS&L - social media and public relations, SoHo Square - advertising and Cossette Media - media buying. Throughout the course of the program, students will have the opportunity to continue to seek guidance from the agency experts.

About Beverage Partners Worldwide

Beverage Partners Worldwide (BPW) is a joint venture between Nestlé S.A. and The Coca-Cola Company. BPW operates autonomously while drawing on the capabilities of Nestlé and The Coca-Cola Company. It is a global business unit with cross-functional teams located in Atlanta , GA; Zurich , Switzerland ; and Bangkok , Thailand . The Americas business unit markets NESTEA(R) ready-to-drink iced teas.

In Canada , BPW products are marketed and distributed by Coca-Cola Ltd. (Coca-Cola in Canada ).

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. In Canada , the Company is represented by its subsidiary, Coca-Cola Ltd. (Coca-Cola in Canada ). Coca-Cola is Canada's largest beverage company, marketing three of Canada's top nonalcoholic sparkling beverage brands, Coca-Cola(R) Diet Coke(R) and Sprite(R), and the leading ready-to-drink tea: NESTEA(R). In addition, some of The Coca-Cola Company's largest juice and juice drink brands, including Minute Maid(R), Five Alive(R) and Fruitopia(R) are marketed by Coca-Cola Ltd. in Canada . The Company also markets DASANI(R), PowerAde(R) and other hot and cold beverages.

For more information about Coca-Cola in Canada , please visit our website at www.cocacola.ca or our parent company's website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

For further information: MS&L, Sara O'Reilly, [phone], [email protected]; Marc Esposito, [phone], [email protected]