Mélanie Turgeon and Van Houtte...a winning combination!

MONTREAL , Dec. 9 /CNW Telbec/ - The Winter Olympics are coming, and Van Houtte is spreading the word on Quebec's athletic talent and encouraging young downhill skiers from the province by partnering with Ski Québec Alpin. For each coffee sold in participating ski centres in Quebec , Van Houtte will contribute 10 cents to Ski Québec Alpin.

Through this gesture, Van Houtte has committed to donating $80,000 to the organization over the coming two years. This is the first such agreement between Van Houtte and Ski Québec Alpin. Renowned Quebec downhill skier Mélanie Turgeon, who was recently inducted into the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame, did not hesitate for a moment when asked to be the spokesperson for the partnership. "I believe it's important for me to associate myself with a cause that promotes local skiers," she explains. "Encouraging the development of elite downhill skiers gives young people a real opportunity to make their dreams come true."

This winter, while skiers are warming up with a delicious Van Houtte coffee, they will also be supporting the next generation of skiers passionate about their sport.

This winter, the mobile Van Houtte café-bistro will visit most of the ski stations taking part in this initiative. Skiers are invited to pay a visit, roast a few marshmallows, and talk skiing with Mélanie Turgeon.

* Participating ski stations: Mont Tremblant, le Mont St-Sauveur, Edelweiss, Mont Avila, Mont Olympia, Mont Gabriel, Morin Heights, L'Érablière, Bromont, Le Massif, Mont Sainte-Anne and La Relève.

About Van Houtte

One of North America's leading gourmet coffee companies involved in nearly every aspect of the industry, Van Houtte offers coffee lovers a wide range of high-quality coffee products and services. The company specializes in the roasting and marketing of gourmet coffees, provision of office coffee services, and operation of more than 50 Cafés in Quebec . Through its extensive network, Van Houtte serves more than two million cups of coffee every day in cities large and small across North America .

Van Houtte is the largest Canadian roaster and distributor of gourmet coffees to food retailers. Headquartered in Montreal , Canada , Van Houtte employs 1,900 people in Canada and the United States .

For further information: Marianne Boulet, [phone] poste 234; Rosalie Bergeron, [phone] poste 243; Source: Van Houtte, www.vanhoutte.com