As the Tour de France arrived in Vittel yesterday, Nestlé Waters and the organizers of the Tour de France announced that their partnership has been renewed.

This new agreement covers the Tours of 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. It grants Nestlé Waters the status of main co-partner of the Tour and exclusivity on various rights and advantages connected with publicity, promotion and sales in the area of beverages and sports nutrition from which it will be possible for several brands in the Nestlé group to benefit, including: Vittel, PowerBar, Nesquik and Ricoré.

Started in 2001 with the Nestlé Aquarel brand, this agreement was renewed in 2004 after being regularly extended to other brands, clearly demonstrating Nestlé’s interest in the Tour.

For Jean-Etienne Amaury, Chairman and CEO of the ASO Group:
"The Tour is a unique event. It is popular, open to all the family and free. The renewal of the partnership with Nestlé Waters is a source of great satisfaction and bears testimony to the 'good health' of the Tour de France. Having the trust of a group like Nestlé, a leader in the areas of health and well-being, illustrates how an event like the Tour de France can be interesting for mass consumer brands wanting to get closer to the centres of interest of their consumers. It is an unparalleled communication platform for brands. Since 2001, the partnership with Nestlé Waters has been exemplary in every way. Nestlé Waters has always been faultlessly loyal to us and has without any doubt helped in many ways to make the event attractive to the general public who line the routes."

For Denis Cans, President and CEO of Nestlé Waters France:
"We are delighted to be renewing our partnership with the Tour de France. For a brand like Vittel, the Tour is a unique opportunity in the height of the summer to strengthen the bond with its consumers in addition to the traditional media communication. The Tour provides a very special interactive experience. Over the years, the Tour de France has come through some testing times without the loyalty and mobilisation of its many spectators being affected. This is proof of the strength of this event which is still, in France, a major social event that is so much more than the great international sporting event that it has become."

Media contacts :
For Nestlé Waters : Christelle Le Bonniec – + 33 (0)1 41 23 39 22 – christelle.lebonniec@waters.nestle.com
Downloadable high definition visuals available at www.nestle-waters.com

For ASO: Christophe MARCHADIER – + 33 (0)6 07 02 42 17 – cmarchadier@aso.fr