Welch's Continues Half-Century Tradition With a 'Curious' Twist

Welch's Continues Half-Century Tradition With a 'Curious' Twist

Latest Jelly-Glass Launch Features Curious George

CONCORD, Mass., May 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Welch's announced today its agreement with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group to produce a series of decorated jelly glasses inspired by the classic children's tales, Curious George. What began in 1953 with the introduction of Howdy Doody jelly glasses continues 52 years later as kids of all ages enjoy their Welch's Grape Jelly, Grape Jam, and Strawberry Spread in fun 10-ounce collectible sizes. The six-glass series that features colorful scenes based on the Curious George stories will be on grocers' shelves May 1.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050502/CGM074 )

"Curious George is a tried and true character with a brand essence that embodies many of the same values as Welch's," says Denise Sencabaugh, assistant manager of Marketing Services at Welch's. "And he's a literary figure, which fits in well with our UPromise effort, by helping families save for college when they purchase products from Welch's and other participating companies."

Universal Studios first acquired the rights to Curious George in 1997. On Feb. 10, 2006, Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment will bring Curious George to the big screen in an animated feature film with the voices of Will Ferrell, Dick Van Dyke, Drew Barrymore, David Cross, Eugene Levy, and Joan Plowright. In addition, Universal Home Entertainment Productions (UHEP), in association with Imagine Entertainment and WGBH-TV Boston, are producing an animated Curious George preschool television series, with 30 half-hour episodes, scheduled to air on PBS KIDS beginning in fall 2006.

About Curious George books

Originally published in 1941, the book Curious George has never been out of print since. Authors H. A. Rey and his wife Margret, creative partners who fled Europe during the Nazi occupation and settled in Cambridge, Mass., wrote the original seven Curious George tales. In 1998, Houghton Mifflin began publishing new Curious George adventures and continues to release new titles and formats. Curious George titles have sold more than 27 million copies worldwide and have been published in 17 languages, making the little monkey who left the jungle with the man with the yellow hat one of the best-selling and most enduring characters in children's literature.

Curious George and related characters, created by Margret and H.A. Rey, are copyrighted and trademarked by Houghton Mifflin Company and used under license. Licensed Universal Studios Licensing LLLP. All rights reserved.

About Curious George film

Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment bring Curious George, the original "monkey see, monkey do" chimp, to the screen in an all-new animated adventure based upon the beloved tales that have been enchanting readers for more than 60 years. George, the inquisitive little guy with an insatiable taste for adventure, sets off in a brand new tale for the big screen, where his spunky and fun-loving nature endears him to new friends he meets along the way and (of course) lands him in a series of (mis-) adventures.

Produced by Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Jon Shapiro, and David Kirschner, Curious George is directed by Matt O'Callaghan. Will Ferrell (Elf, Old School) lends his voice to the man with the yellow hat. Dick Van Dyke, Drew Barrymore, David Cross, Eugene Levy, and Joan Plowright also are among the distinguished cast of voices.

This film has not yet been rated. Please consult http://www.filmratings.com/ or http://www.parentalguide.org/ for more information.

About Curious George TV

Universal Home Entertainment Productions (UHEP), Imagine Entertainment, and WGBH Boston, a leading public television producer, are producing an animated Curious George preschool television series based on the literary classic. Curious George will use George's insatiable curiosity as a way of acquainting preschoolers with key concepts in math, science, and design engineering technology. The series will encourage inquiry and curiosity, promote hands-on exploration, and show parents and caregivers how to support children's science and math-related play. George's memorable misadventures, from dismantling clocks to rounding up errant bunnies, will offer a perfect vehicle for motivating kids to expand their own investigations of the world. William H. Macy will narrate the series.

About Universal Studios Consumer Products Group

Universal Studios Consumer Products Group is responsible for global licensing and retail strategies, as well as building brand recognition of the extensive catalogue of NBC Universal properties. Universal Studios Consumer Products Group is a unit of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates the No. 1 television network, the fastest-growing Spanish-language network, a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.

About Welch's

Welch's is the world's leading marketer of Concord and Niagara grape-based products, including grape juice and jelly. The company produces a variety of other fruit-based products, including 100% juices, juice cocktails, and drinks in the following forms: single serve and multi-serve, bottles and cans, refrigerated, and frozen and shelf-stable concentrates. In addition, Welch's produces a number of fruit spread products under both the Welch's and BAMA brand names. Welch's and BAMA are trademarks of Welch Foods Inc., A Cooperative. All rights reserved. Welch's Web site can be found at http://www.welchs.com/ .

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050502/CGM074 AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN9 PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: Welch's

CONTACT: Suzanne Sherwood of Welch's, Marketing & Corporate Communications, +1-978-371-3698, ssherwood@welchs.com

Web site: http://www.welchs.com/

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