7-Eleven Drops Second Always Open x Ja'Marr Chase Merch Collection

7-Eleven, Inc. and pro wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase are teaming up once again to drop a new line of Always Open x Ja'Marr Chase merch, available now exclusively on 7Collection.com for a limited time. Fans can shop the latest collection and rep the "Always Open" mindset shared by the world's largest convenience retailer and the football superstar.

Chase is giving fans the first look at the new collection with his one-of-a-kind pre-game outfit, created by Dallas-based designer, Hance Taplin. The custom pieces feature details that tell a personal story, like a unique neon-inspired reflective jacket featuring a 7-Eleven receipt neck label with his career statistics and pockets with coordinates representing the 50-yard line of his high school's football field. He is also sporting bespoke gloves adorned with 2,860 hand-placed Swarovski® crystals in 7-Eleven's signature colors. While the jacket and gloves were designed exclusively for Chase, fans can get their hands on the rest of the items he is wearing – and more – on 7Collection.com.

Fans can expect to look and feel like a champ in the latest Always Open collection, featuring streetwear-inspired tees, crewnecks, snapbacks, and fitted caps. Plus, the collection features gameday accessories like koozies, stickers, and pins. "Creating this collection with 7-Eleven has been really special because it brings together my passion for both football and fashion. It was awesome to see how quickly the line came together last year, and this year we're making it even bigger and better," said Ja'Marr Chase. "The collaboration is a natural fit because 7-Eleven promises the same commitment to their customers that I promise my teammates and fans: we're both always open."

To give fans a taste of what it means to be Always Open, 7-Eleven has released a special edition 7-Select™ Replenish Orange Mango flavor of the private label sports drink, featuring Chase on the label. The limited-edition drink is now available at participating 7-Eleven, Speedway® and Stripes® stores nationwide.

"Ja'Marr Chase's work ethic and commitment to staying Always Open perfectly aligns with 7-Eleven's mission to provide the ultimate convenience for our customers," said Marissa Jarratt, Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing and Sustainability Officer at 7-Eleven. "Together, we've created something truly authentic that resonates with both our customers and his fans, and we can't wait to see all the Always Open merch in the stands this football season."

About 7-Eleven, Inc.

7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name in the U.S. convenience-retailing industry. Based in Irving, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 13,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada. In addition to 7-Eleven® stores, 7-Eleven, Inc. operates and franchises Speedway®, Stripes®, Laredo Taco Company® and Raise the Roost® Chicken and Biscuits locations. Known for its iconic brands such as Slurpee®, Big Bite® and Big Gulp®, 7-Eleven has expanded into high-quality sandwiches, salads, side dishes, cut fruit and protein boxes, as well as pizza, chicken wings and mini beef tacos. 7-Eleven offers customers industry-leading private brand products at outstanding value. Customers can earn and redeem points on various items in stores nationwide through its 7Rewards® and Speedy Rewards® loyalty programs with more than 80 million members, place an order in the 7NOW® delivery app in over 95% of the convenience retailer's footprint, or rely on 7-Eleven for other convenient services.

Source 7-Eleven, Inc.

Cooper Flagg And Sadie Engelhardt Named Gatorade Best Players Of The Year

Gatorade named Sadie Engelhardt and Cooper Flagg as the 2023-24 Gatorade Best Female and Best Male Players of the Year, distinguishing the duo as the best high school athletes in the nation. Former Gatorade Best Female Players of the Year Candace Parker and Paige Bueckers presented the honors live on stage at the 2024 ESPYs. With their selection, Flagg and Engelhardt join an elite alumni group forged over 20 years that includes Jayson Tatum, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Karl-Anthony Towns.

The Gatorade Best Player of the Year announcement is the culmination of an unparalleled Gatorade Player of the Year Awards experience that brought the 12 Gatorade National Players of the Year, the best of the best in high school sports, to Los Angeles for a week-long celebration. From photoshoots and first access to the latest Gatorade iD Drop to an exclusive celebration with a performance by Lil Yachty and their favorite pro athletes and opportunities to give back to the next generation, the immersive week is designed to recognize and celebrate their accomplishments in a way only Gatorade can.

"Our Gatorade Player of the Year class embodies the future of sport, so we're energized to celebrate their accomplishments and bright futures during this one-of-a-kind experience," said Gatorade president and general manager Mike Del Pozzo. "For decades Gatorade Players of the Year have gone on to have incredible success both on the field of play and in their communities, and we can't wait to see what these athletes do next."

Through Gatorade's Equity in Sports initiative, each year, Gatorade brings some of its Players of the Year to local sports organizations across Los Angeles to advance access to sport for young athletes in the city. As part of this year's experience, a few of Gatorade's Players of the Year stopped by Hollywood High School to surprise LA Rec&Parks and Girls Athletic Leadership School. 2022-23 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year and USC guard Juju Watkins was also in attendance to present each organization with a $25,000 donation that will cover the cost of their sports programming, equipment, and fees for the next year.

Additionally, as part of Gatorade's commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Gatorade Player of the Year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner. From there, each athlete may also submit a short video explaining why the organization they chose is deserving of a Spotlight Grant, which awards an additional $10,000 to give to the organization. This year's twelve Spotlight Grant recipients joined Gatorade in Los Angeles for the Player of the Year Awards celebration. To date, Gatorade Player of the Year winners' grants have totaled more than $4.9 million across more than 1,600 organizations.

The 12 National Players of the Year also received exclusive first-access to Gatorade's limited-edition Drop co-created with UNINTERRUPTED, with Engelhardt and Flagg as the first to model the collection. The Drop, made up of two capsules including a vintage-inspired Gatorade branded track jacket and towel and a t-shirt, limited-edition snapback and Gx bottle, will be available for sale on the brand's free membership platform, Gatorade iD, beginning on Friday, July 12 at 10 a.m. ET, with limited quantities available.

2023-24 GATORADE BEST PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

Sadie Engelhardt: California's three-time Gatorade Girls Track & Field Player of the Year, Engelhardt finished as the national leader in four events this past season and sparked the Cougars to a second-place team finish at the state meet. She crossed the line in 4:28.46 seconds to break the national high school record in the mile at the HOKA Festival of Miles, and clocked a 4:08.86 in the 1500-meter run while competing against pros at the Portland Track Festival—that time ranks No. 5 in U.S. girls prep history and qualified her for the U.S. Olympic Trials. Below are additional facts about Engelhardt: 

• Also the Gatorade State Girls Cross Country Player of the Year from 2022-24, she broke the California record in the 1600 with a 4:32.06 at the state meet, the fastest time ever in the event in a meet with high school-only competitors.
• Earlier in the season at the Azusa Pacific Meet of Champions, she broke the tape in the 800 in 2:03.46, which is the nation's No. 1 time by a prep girl in 2024.
• Volunteered locally on behalf of Runners For Public Lands, helping to clean trails and other places to run around Ventura County.
• Engelhardt has maintained a weighted 4.59 GPA in the classroom.
• Made a verbal commitment to compete on scholarship at NC State beginning in the fall of 2025.

Cooper Flagg: The nation's No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2024 by ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals, Flagg led the Montverde Eagles to a 34-0 record and the Chipotle Nationals title. Also the 2021-22 Gatorade Maine Player of the Year, Flagg is a McDonald's All-American Game selection, the 2024 Naismith Award National High School Player of the Year and a member of both Nike Hoop Summit Team USA and the Jordan Brand Classic squad. Below are additional facts about Flagg:

• The 2021-22 Gatorade Maine Player of the Year averaged 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.7 blocks and 1.6 steals this past season.
• In addition, he shot 55.1 percent from the field during the season.
• Participated in fundraisers for both the Ronald McDonald House and Donovan Kurt Memorial Cancer Fund, as well as volunteered at youth basketball camps and clinics in both Maine and Florida.
• Flagg has maintained a weighted 4.10 GPA in the classroom.
• Signed a national letter of intent to play basketball on scholarship at Duke University this fall.

About The Gatorade Portfolio 
The Gatorade Portfolio, a division of PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP), is a connected performance and wellness ecosystem built to fuel all athletes and exercisers. Bringing together Gatorade, Fast Twitch, Propel, Evolve and Muscle Milk, the Gatorade Portfolio is the most complete offering in the category today, with a broad range of personalized solutions at every stage of the athlete journey. This integrated system of brands is built on Gatorade's 59-year history of studying athletes and is fueling the future of athletic performance and wellness by delivering solutions across hydration, protein, energy and all-day nutrition to fuel consumers, no matter how or why they sweat.

About PepsiCo    
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $91 billion in net revenue in 2023, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people.

Source The Gatorade Company

 

 

Stonyfield Organic Drops a SWEET THREADS Back-to-School Apparel Collection

Stonyfield Organic Drops a SWEET THREADS Back-to-School Apparel Collection Made of... Sugarcane as they Celebrate First-Ever Kid's Zero Grams of Sugar Added Dairy Yogurt Pouch Offered in the Industry.

Stonyfield Organic, the country's leading organic yogurt maker, is launching Stonyfield Kids ZEROg Sugar Added Pouches just in time for back-to-school season. With the launch of their new Kids ZEROg Sugar Added Pouches, the only Kids' dairy yogurt pouch with zero grams of added sugar on the market, Stonyfield is releasing Sweet Threads, a limited-edition clothing collection made from sugarcane textile to emphasize that while your kid's back-to-school wardrobe may be made of sugarcane, your kids' lunch shouldn't be.

Stonyfield's Sweet Threads collection features four thoughtfully designed pieces for parents and kids made of 100% sugarcane textiles. The collection includes three kid's short sleeve tee shirts printed with colorful graphic designs and playful text, and an adult long sleeve tee shirt perfect to wear to school drop off. All pieces are created using sugarcane textile which is derived from sugarcane plants.

The limited-edition clothing collection is made of 100% polylactic acid (PLA), a plant-based bioplastic that can be made from renewable materials like sugarcane plants. The production process involves extracting cellulose from sugarcane stalks, which is then spun into fibers and woven into fabric, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional polyester.

Stonyfield's brand-new Kids' ZEROg Added Sugar Yogurt Pouches are a convenient, affordable, and nutritious option this back-to-school season. Perfect for on-the-go breakfasts, lunch boxes, or after-school snacks, parents can feel confident they are providing kids with a nutritious, organic yogurt without sacrificing taste, so even the pickiest of eaters will enjoy. The organic ZEROg Added Sugar Yogurt Pouches come in delicious flavors like Blueberry Apple Carrot and Banilla (Banana and Vanilla) and are available now at select grocery stores nationwide for $1.99 (single serve) and $6.99 (4-count pack).

"When August rolls around, you can expect to find Stonyfield pouches in kids' lunchboxes but this year, and we want to be an even bigger part of your back-to-school routines," said Elizabeth Conover, Stonyfield Brand Director. "With the launch of Sweet Threads, Stonyfield is calling attention to the importance of our nutritious, ZEROg Added Sugar offering in a fun, interactive way that both parents and kids can enjoy. Parents shouldn't have to worry about how much sugar is in their kid's yogurt. So, we put sugarcane in their clothes instead as a fun way to remind parents about our new zero grams of sugar added offering."

About Stonyfield Organic

As the country's leading organic yogurt maker, Stonyfield believes that taking care of organic farmers, cows, and their life's work will produce healthy food, healthy businesses, and a healthy planet. Stonyfield, a Certified B-Corp, is also making a difference by helping to protect and preserve the next generation of farmers and families through programs like its Direct Milk Supply and Wolfe's Neck Organic Training Program as well as #PlayFree, a nationwide, multi-year initiative to help keep families free from toxic persistent pesticides in outdoor spaces across the country.

Source Stonyfield Organic

Lafc And Pacsun Announce Second Collaborative Collection

The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) and California-based youth lifestyle retailer Pacsun will drop their second collaborative apparel collection on Wednesday, July 3.

The new four-piece unisex collection features a hoodie and three new T-shirt designs combining L.A. Streetwear and soccer culture. The pieces each feature fresh designs interweaving LAFC's crest and iconic black & gold colors.

The complete collection will be available to purchase online at pacsun.com and select Pacsun retail locations nationwide on July 3. Pricing ranges from $25 – $60 and the collection offers a gender-neutral fit in small – X-large sizes.

LAFC fans will be able to purchase the new collection at the July 4 rivalry matchup vs. the Galaxy at the historic Rose Bowl Stadium, including a special edition tee designed exclusively for the game.

"LAFC and Pacsun are both known for delivering authentic styles that merge culture, lifestyle and sport," said LAFC Co-President & CBO Larry Freedman. "We are excited to continue inspiring our community and the next generation of youth together and I can't wait to see the new LAFC x Pacsun collaborative collection on fans and creators nationwide."

Fans will also be able to shop the collection at LAFC HQ at BMO Stadium starting July 13.

Pacsun also plans to host an LAFC player appearance on July 14 at the Glendale Pacsun store.

Building on the success of the partnership in 2023, LAFC and Pacsun officially announced the continuation of their community outreach partnership last month. Reinforcing the joint commitment to community engagement, the partners will continue their support of the Bresee Youth Center, providing Los Angeles students with necessary apparel and school supplies. Pacsun will also participate in LAFC's pre-game Fan Fest activations, starting at the game vs Columbus Crew on July 13.

"Our collaboration with LAFC perfectly mixes Los Angeles streetwear and soccer culture. This collection, especially the special edition tee featuring roses for the July 4th match at the Rose Bowl, highlights our dedication to providing unique and meaningful apparel fans want to wear. We're excited to give our communities new styles to represent their favorite team," said Richard Cox, VP of Men's and Global Partnerships at Pacsun.

LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB (LAFC)

The 2022 MLS Cup Champion Los Angeles Football Club has represented the greater Los Angeles area in Major League Soccer since 2018. The two-time Supporters' Shield Champions, LAFC is dedicated to building a world-class soccer Club that represents the diversity of Los Angeles and is committed to delivering an unrivaled experience for fans. LAFC's ownership group comprises local leaders and industry innovators with intellectual capital, financial prowess, operations expertise, and success in entertainment, sports, technology, and media. LAFC is invested in the world's game and Los Angeles, constructing, and developing the 22,000-seat BMO Stadium and a top-flight training center on the campus of Cal State Los Angeles.

ABOUT PACSUN

Pacsun is a purpose-driven, leading specialty retailer offering a cross section of emerging brands and trending fashion through the lens of youth culture. Delivering the latest contemporary, streetwear, and activewear, Pacsun partners with the best brands at the intersection of fashion, music, art, and sport to offer curated collections, rare and exclusive products, and creative collaborations on every level to inspire the next generation. Founded in 1980 in Newport, CA, Pacsun is now co-created in Los Angeles.

Source Pacsun