Alvin Peabody
Washington Informer
06-08-1994
Safeway To Sell New Black-Owned Sports Drink: SPIKE USA To Go Against. Gatorade, All Sports
By Alvin Peabody
Safeway, Inc. and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People have reached a historic agreement to sell the sports beverage SPIKE USA in its Washington and Baltimore grocery stores.
Founded last year by NBA stars Terry Cummings, Alex English and Paul Pressey, the first minority-owned sports drink was officially introduced to the nation's capital last Friday at the Safeway, located at 6500 Piney Branch Road, N.W.
'The sport drink world is very competitive and challenging for small independent businesses,' said Clifton Taulbert, president of the new company. 'However, with the support of the entire community, our product will now be available to consumers in the Washington, D.C. area.'
SPIKE USA will now also compete against other sport drinks such as Gatorade, Power Ade and All Sports. But Taulbert said he welcome the competition. 'Look, this is the fastest growing segment of beverage in this country and I'm convinced that we bring to the public a very good product,' he said.
'The success of this company will inspire African American children to set goals for business ownership, because the owners of this company looks like them,' said Dr. Benjamin Chavis, executive director of the NAACP. 'This is a clear example of what is possible with hard work, dedication and equal opportunity.'
The marriage between Safeway and the NAACP is the result of a fair share agreement signed between the two entities several years ago. Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, president of the United Black Fund and D.C. Councilmember Charlene Drew Jarvis, who also chairs the Council's Economic Development, also praised the new agreement reached between Safeway and the NAACP.
Ethnic NewsWatch SoftLine Information, Inc., Stamford, CT
Washington Informer
06-08-1994
Safeway To Sell New Black-Owned Sports Drink: SPIKE USA To Go Against. Gatorade, All Sports
By Alvin Peabody
Safeway, Inc. and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People have reached a historic agreement to sell the sports beverage SPIKE USA in its Washington and Baltimore grocery stores.
Founded last year by NBA stars Terry Cummings, Alex English and Paul Pressey, the first minority-owned sports drink was officially introduced to the nation's capital last Friday at the Safeway, located at 6500 Piney Branch Road, N.W.
'The sport drink world is very competitive and challenging for small independent businesses,' said Clifton Taulbert, president of the new company. 'However, with the support of the entire community, our product will now be available to consumers in the Washington, D.C. area.'
SPIKE USA will now also compete against other sport drinks such as Gatorade, Power Ade and All Sports. But Taulbert said he welcome the competition. 'Look, this is the fastest growing segment of beverage in this country and I'm convinced that we bring to the public a very good product,' he said.
'The success of this company will inspire African American children to set goals for business ownership, because the owners of this company looks like them,' said Dr. Benjamin Chavis, executive director of the NAACP. 'This is a clear example of what is possible with hard work, dedication and equal opportunity.'
The marriage between Safeway and the NAACP is the result of a fair share agreement signed between the two entities several years ago. Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, president of the United Black Fund and D.C. Councilmember Charlene Drew Jarvis, who also chairs the Council's Economic Development, also praised the new agreement reached between Safeway and the NAACP.
Ethnic NewsWatch SoftLine Information, Inc., Stamford, CT
