THE BOTTLE-O & METCASH COMMIT FUTURE TO V8 SUPERCARS
Saturday, November 19th, 2011
Rod Nash Racing (RNR) has agreed terms with Australian Liquor Marketing (ALM) subsidiary The Bottle-O to remain the naming-rights sponsor of its V8 Supercars Championship team until the end of 2015.
The deal highlights the belief ALM parent company Metcash Limited, Australia’s leading wholesale liquor distribution and marketing company, has in the category and the team’s ties with Ford and Prodrive.
RNR’s entry will remain The Bottle-O Racing Team until at least the end of 2015.
Nash has also extended his relationship with Ford Performance Racing (FPR) and parent company Prodrive to continue preparing and running his team’s #55 The Bottle-O FPR Falcon race car until at least the end of 2015.
Team Principal Rod Nash commended The Bottle-O for its commitment to his team and V8 Supercars.
“It is almost unprecedented to have a company the size of ALM extend a sponsorship agreement for such a long period when there is still more than a year left on its existing deal,” Nash said.
“The close relationship my team has forged with ALM and specifically The Bottle-O brand and its growing network has been central to us not only agreeing terms for a further three years, but also extending our FPR arrangement for the same period.
“To join great companies like Metcash through ALM, Ford and Prodrive is not only very positive news for me as a team owner, but it ensures the future of what I believe to be one of the strongest commercial and technical turn-key operations in V8 Supercars.”
IBA General Manager Merchandise and Marketing, Scott Marshall said The Bottle-O brand has significantly boosted its presence in the market since signing on with RNR.
“We are very excited to extend our successful relationship with RNR, FPR and V8 Supercars,” Mr Marshall said.
“From this ongoing association and sponsorship, The Bottle-O brand has gained greater exposure by boosting our visibility and our consumer profile in the market. This has provided us with access to a large and broader national consumer audience at track, along with increased national TV, print and digital media coverage.
“This has also resulted in increased foot traffic into our stores and in turn, improved sales. Of the 250 The Bottle-O retail liquor stores we have across Australia, our business is up on last year, which is a great result and growing ahead of market.
“We look forward to working closely with the RNR, FPR and V8 Supercars now and into the future.”
The continuation of the RNR and The Bottle-O relationship is also good news for the V8 Supercars Championship as it highlights the value non-automotive sector consumer brands now place on the series.
“V8 Supercars is a brand that is enormously appealing to all sectors, an appeal that has not budged and in fact increased substantially despite the recent economic times,” V8 Supercars Chairman Tony Cochrane said.
“As a sport and a brand we are continuing to grow our sponsorship portfolio at a great rate as companies and businesses understand the massive reach and broad public appeal of the sport.
“Across V8 Supercars and our teams I would suggest our sponsorship attraction and retention is as good as any major sport in the country at attracting blue chip companies – and indeed Metcash through their The Bottle-O franchise is right up there with the top operators in Australia.”
RNR announced the extension of it’s The Bottle-O relationship at the Norton 360 Sandown Challenge, the very place the team recorded its first victory and pole position exactly one year prior.
Visit www.metcash.com for further information and financial results on Metcash Limited.