May 13, 2005 - For Immediate Release (for Feature Editors)

GRAPETTE INTERNATIONAL, INC AND WAL-MART TEAM UP TO BRING BACK A NOSTALGIC FAVORITE
Contact: Thoma Thoma Public Relations Department (501) 664-5672 or TTPR@thomathoma.com

Malvern, Ark. - The smell of mom's apple pie, keyhole window Thunderbird cars and the cool taste of a Grapette soda. Aaaaah, the memories. But for years all we could do WAS remember. Without a trace, an American icon - Grapette soda - had strangely vanished from American grocery stores and soft drink machines. But now, thanks to the vision of the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart, Grapette is back.

Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton wanted this soda in his stores as early as the mid-1980s. Now through the innovative efforts of Wal-Mart executives following in his footsteps, the vintage taste of Grapette and Orangette soda will be re-introduced to the masses of 1950s baby boomers who remember it well. To today's "retro-geared" public it is now known as Sam's Choice Grapette and Sam's Choice Orangette and is available at all Wal-Mart locations in cans and two liter bottles. The same Grapette and Orangette names - the same great tastes customers grew to love years ago.

The story of the soft drinks' incredible path from a tiny Arkansas town to the Wal-Mart shelves is a nostalgic pursuit and a great case study of the enduring value of a brand.

"To this day, we get e-mails with wonderful stories about childhood memories associated with Grapette," said Paul Rice, president of Grapette International, Inc.

Rice shared a few classic e-mail quotes below:

• "My husband would talk over and over about how wonderful it was to drink this product when he was a child. I found it on the shelves of Wal-Mart…I was the star of the world for a few days due to my find." Frann Maple, Kansas
• "When I was a little girl, my Dad would take my brother [and me] with him to get gas at a little service station in town. At the station there was one of those old ice chests filled with big chunks of ice and soft drinks. My favorite was Grapette. I am now in my sixties and I can still taste the grape flavor." Lillian Huston, Delaware
• "One of the best treats I can remember is my friend's dad taking us by the local train station every Sunday after church and we would get a Grapette." Diana Van Huss, Tennessee

"Now with U.S. distribution exclusively through Wal-Mart stores, the 1940s brand will be re-introduced to a whole new generation of teens and younger consumers who love anything vintage," said Rice. "We've seen this 'retro' interest in cars, clothes, music and now soft drinks."

"Bringing our customers quality selections is the focus of the Sam's Choice brand," said DeDe Priest, Wal-Mart vice president of Supercenter food division. "The history of Grapette and Orangette shows us there's a demand for these items and we're proud to offer them to Wal-Mart customers to enjoy and share with a new generation who may have missed these offerings the first time around."

So what's the deeply entwined story behind this "retro" product making it to your local Wal-Mart?

The Grapette Company was sold in the 1970s and through a series of acquisitions became controlled by the manufacturer of a rival grape drink. Although the company continued to sell its products overseas, sadly the soda beloved by so many kids and adults from the 40s, 50s and 60s essentially vanished from the U.S. market. But the great news is that Grapette and Orangette are back.

The rest is history. And for Grapette soft drink, that's history spanning more than 65 years.

For more information about Grapette International, Inc. visit www.grapette.com.