11/10/02 :: Energy Lollipop scoops two Food Awards and lands export order.

Epop, the New Zealand developed energy lollipop launched earlier this year, has won two top awards at the prestigious Massey University Food Awards, held on Monday October 7 at North Harbour Stadium. As well as this, an initial shipment of 20,000 epops has been dispatched to a Sydney-based distributor, with further orders to follow in coming months.

Epop, which provides the user with a rapid energy boost, was named winner of the Trade New Zealand Snacks and Confectionery category, while food technologist Torben Sorensen won the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology Speciality Award for his work in developing epop.

In choosing epop as winner of the Trade New Zealand Snacks and Confectionery category Judges stated "epops represent entertainment in food. Well-researched, this product shows a clear understanding of the market." The judges "loved epop's glow-in-the-dark stick" and described these energy lollipops as "really innovative for this type of food."

The New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology Award recognises those scientists or technologists who have made an important contribution to the successful development of a new food product. Judges acknowledged that Mr Sorensen's contribution "involved sourcing new ingredients for the initial concept, and development of the formulations and preparation of samples for market research." Judges further commented that "in addition to the technical issues, a strong element of entertainment was included in the final delivery."

Robert Hamlin and Gerard Anselmi, co-developers of the epop concept, commented they where overjoyed with the win. "After 11 months of developing epop on a limited budget, then having to establish distribution and generate sales with just two people, to have your efforts acknowledged at this level is just fantastic," explained Anselmi. "To confirm and dispatch our first export order in the same week as winning the awards means it's been an exceptional week," added Hamlin. More than 60,000 epops have been sold on the New Zealand market since launch, and the first export order of 20,000 was recently shipped to Sydney.

Background :: Epop was developed and is marketed by Vivesco Limited, a New Zealand-owned company based in Auckland. Each epop contains guarana, taurine, 7 B vitamins and caffeine.

Epop can be consumed on its own or with a drink, and tastes particularly good with alcoholic beverages mixed with soft drinks and fruit juice. It also goes very well with RTD's and beer. The bright lime-green stick has been specially designed to glow under blue lights common in nightclubs, and is made of plastic so it wonÕt disintegrate in the user's mouth like a paper stick.

Convenient and compact, epop is ideal for slipping into a pocket for an on-hand energy boost any time of the night (or the next morning). Dance aficionados, students, office workers and sports people benefit from the unique energy formulation that provides 60% of the recommended daily allowance of B vitamins.

Epop is not suitable for children, pregnant women and those sensitive to caffeine. Recommended daily maximum is three epops per day.

For further press information and product samples, please contact:
Robert Hamlin, Mob: +64 21 379 591
Email: robert@vivesco.co.nz

Gerard Anselmi, Mob: +64 25 2787 095
Email: gerard@vivesco.co.nz

Massey Food Awards:
http://foodawards.massey.ac.nz

17/5/02 :: Game Cube Launch

The Gamesman, a computer game retail outlet with 8 stores throughout New Zealand, stayed open until midnight on the eve of the much-awaited launch of the Nintendo Game Cube on 17 May.

Stores were buzzing as fans eager to be amongst the first to try out the Game Cube queued for their chance to take it for a spin. Turn-out was impressive and every punter who picked up a game cube also scored a bag of goodies, including epops - just the thing to keep you alert for those late-night game sessions.

The Gamesman have stores in Auckland, Napier, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Wellington central, Lower Hutt, with two further stores in Christchurch. You can also purchase heaps of wicked games on line at www.gamesman.co.nz

:: Firm Records

Wellington record store Firm Records now have epops available. You'll find Firm Records at Shop 6, 120 Victoria Street, Wellington Central.