Western University students awarded the opportunity of a lifetime

- Winners given tuition, paid internship

TORONTO, May 7, 2012 /CNW/ - Following six months of fierce competition, Team Rockit! from Western University was crowned winner of NESTEA® The Recruit®.  In addition to a year's tuition, all three team members will receive the opportunity of a lifetime - a paid internship with Coca-Cola Ltd. or one of its partner agencies.   NESTEA The Recruit was launched to find the best and brightest students in Canada and while all of the teams worked very hard, Team Rockit! came out on top.

The competition began with 24 university teams and the members of Team Rockit! consistently proved they had what it took to win. During the first challenge, each team was given a paper clip and asked to complete a series of trades until they received something of value.  The Western University team used their keen business sense, trading until they secured a piano valued at $2,000. The team also showed their creativity during the final challenge when they built working musical instruments from NESTEA cans and performed in the heart of Toronto at Dundas Square.

"Team Rockit! was chosen for their creativity and passion. We were very impressed by their professionalism and drive to get results," said Helen Gushue, Senior Marketing Manager, NESTEA. "NESTEA The Recruit encourages students to experience "The Start of Something Different" and gives them the chance to gain real life business experience through both the challenges and also the internships."

Beginning in May, the winning team members will be placed in a highly coveted internship. John Glynn, from Toronto, ON, and Katrina Lat, from Unionville, ON, will be working at Coca-Cola Ltd., and Tyler Rochwerg, from Richmond Hill, ON, will work with experiential marketing agency Inventa.  For four months, the students will be mentored and given the opportunity to gain hands-on business experience.

For more information on NESTEA The Recruit, please visit facebook.com/NESTEAtheRecruit.

About NESTEA® The Recruit®
Executed in selected universities across Canada over the course of the fall and winter semesters, participants gained unique hands-on experience and learned relevant marketing skills across numerous disciplines including public relations, promotional marketing, experiential marketing, creative concept development, and ever-important social media marketing.

Teams of three competed for coveted spots at each of the eight selected universities and the chosen teams face three levels of elimination-style marketing and business challenges.

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® ready-to-drink iced teas.

In Canada, BPW products are marketed and distributed by Coca-Cola Canada.  Coca-Cola in Canada operates in all ten provinces employing 6,300 people in more than 50 facilities, including seven production facilities across Canada.  We offer a wide variety of sparkling and still brands, many of which come in no-calorie and low-calorie options.  These include three of Canada's top non-alcoholic sparkling beverage brands, Coca-Cola, Diet Coke and Sprite. In addition to being the largest juice and juice drink company with Minute Maid, Five Alive and Fruitopia, Coca-Cola Canada also markets DASANI, PowerAde, vitaminwater® and other cold beverages. Coca-Cola in Canada is represented by Coca-Cola Refreshments Canada and Coca-Cola Ltd. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at www.livepositively.ca or www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

Jessica McGraw
Harbinger Communications
[email protected]
416-960-5100 ext. 277