MINNEAPOLIS (Dec. 7, 2004) — 7 UP announced Tuesday two new additions to its 2005 professional angling team. The new members are Chris McCall and J.T. Kenney, both successful FLW Tour and EverStart Series anglers. The 2005 7 UP team now includes Shad Schenck of Waynetown, Ind., McCall of Jasper, Texas, and Kenney of Frostburg, Md.
Last month, 7 UP, a leading brand of Plano, Texas-based Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages, announced a renewal of its partnership with FLW Outdoors, the world’s leading marketer of competitive fishing. Through its partnership with FLW Outdoors, 7 UP will sponsor the three-member angling team that will compete from 7 UP-branded Ranger boats along various FLW Outdoors tournament trails.
Schenck has been fishing for the 7 UP team since 2003 and has participated in a total of 61 FLW Outdoors events since 1996, earning more than $159,000. He has fished the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, EverStart Series, Wal-Mart BFL and Ranger M1. Proving his elite status on the tour, Schenck has qualified for the Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship three times in his young career. Schenck’s excited about the new 7 UP team. “All three anglers have a reputation of success at both the EverStart Series and the FLW Tour. We’ll make sure 7 UP is well represented in the 2005 season,” he said.
McCall is a veteran of FLW Outdoors tournaments, having fished the Wal-Mart FLW Tour the past two seasons and the EverStart Series the past seven years. McCall also fishes the Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail and has fished the Wal-Mart BFL in the past. Overall, he has competed in 43 FLW Outdoors tournaments since 1996, earning more than $130,000 along the way. He has finished in the top 10 eight times in his career. McCall’s happy to be a 7 UP team angler. “Having a sponsor such as 7 UP gives me a great sense of accomplishment,” he said.
Kenney is also no stranger to success on the water. He has fished in 66 FLW Outdoors tournaments since 1998, spanning the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, EverStart Series and the Wal-Mart BFL. On Jan. 23, 2002, Kenney’s fishing career changed forever when he took first place in the Wal-Mart FLW Tour event on Lake Okeechobee, earning him $110,000. “I can’t wait to get back on Lake Okeechobee as part of the 7 UP team,” Kenney said.
“The new 7 UP team consists of a group of anglers that have a proven track record of success. We look forward to watching them compete on the water and interact with fans at the Family Fun Zone,” said Frances Knipp, brand manager for 7 UP. “We expect our professional angling team to continue to be a vital component of our marketing efforts.”
The 7 UP brand will be visible on the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, EverStart Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour and Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League.
“Having a successful angling team has been an integral component of 7 UP’s sponsorship program the past two years,” said Bill Petrowiak, vice president of marketing for FLW Outdoors. “The two new additions to the 7 UP team are successful anglers who care about their sport. We are confident they will continue to exhibit a high level of dedication to the sport of fishing and the 7 UP team.”
FLW Outdoors is the industry’s premier provider of sport-fishing tournaments, including the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, the world’s most lucrative bass-fishing circuit; the EverStart Series, known as the gateway to the FLW Tour; the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League for weekend anglers; the Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail; the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, the world’s most lucrative walleye-fishing circuit; the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League for weekend anglers; the Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour, the world’s most lucrative kingfish series; and the Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series.
7 UP (7UP.com) is a leading brand in the beverage portfolio of Plano, Texas-based Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages (CSAB), a subsidiary division of Cadbury Schweppes plc (NYSE: CSG). CSAB is one of the largest producers of soft drinks and premium beverages in the Americas. In addition to 7 UP, CSAB’s brand portfolio includes Dr Pepper, Hawaiian Punch, Snapple, Mott’s Apple Juice, RC Cola, A&W Root Beer, Sunkist Soda, Canada Dry, Schweppes, Diet Rite, Slush Puppie frozen drinks, Clamato, Mr & Mrs Ts Mixers, Holland House Mixers, Rose’s, Mistic, Yoo-hoo, Orangina, Stewart’s, Nantucket Nectars and other well-known consumer brands.
Wal-Mart and many of America’s most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart has been the title sponsor of FLW Outdoors since 1997. For a complete list of FLW Outdoors sponsors and for more information about the premier products and services they offer, please visit FLWOutdoors.com’s sponsor page.
For more information about Dr Pepper/Seven Up Inc., visit DPSU.com. For more information about FLW Outdoors, browse the organization’s Web site or call (270) 252-1000.
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