GLOBAL BRANDS GIVES KICK ENERGY SOME URBAN STREET 'FLAVA'

Manchester-based urban street dance outfit 'Hip-Notic' which comprises of talented youngsters from the city's large student population, received the sponsorship support from Global Brands to help it compete nationally on the university dance circuit, fresher events and in major UK dance competitions. And in a move to increase its visibility 'on the street', Global Brands is putting further investment into a Kick Energy taxi advertising deal.

40 branded Kick taxis will be seen by over eight million consumers heading into major UK cities to enjoy an evening out.

Global Brands has seen on-trade sales of Kick Energy increase by approximately 181% in the last six months, with uplifts month on month.

The street dance team sponsorship is just one of many initiatives planned to promote the brand during 2009, along with consumer events, taste testing, high profile motorsport sponsorships and via the Kick Energy rally team led by company chairman and former rally champion, Steve Perez.

Global Brands' Creative Manager, Andrew Bond commented: "The sponsorship of Hip-Notic and the taxi advertising campaign are just a few of a series of exciting deals planned for Kick Energy over the next 12 months.

Sales of the drink have exceeded our expectations, particularly in the on-trade, and so we want to continue this growth through substantial investment behind a major marketing push."