Dole has been appointed as the Tournament Supplier of Fresh and Canned Fruit to Rugby World Cup 2011.
Steve Barton, New Zealand market representative for Dole Asia Ltd, said the company is supplying the prestigious Tournament with Dole bananas, a natural and nutritious food for the players and supporters.
He said Dole's involvement with RWC 2011 includes offering fans the chance to win tickets to matches, including the Final in Auckland.
"Bananas are a source of energy and good health and are ideally suited for promoting top performance and sporting excellence".
"As the largest banana supplier to New Zealand consumers for 15 years, it is fitting we align with the biggest sporting event in New Zealand's history".
"Dole's market for fruit is worldwide and this is in keeping with the global stature of this Tournament," Mr Barton said.
Rugby World Cup Limited Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "Rugby World Cup Limited is delighted that Dole has joined the impressive portfolio of sponsors and suppliers for Rugby World Cup 2011.
"The creation of this partnership with one of the world's most recognisable brands further enhances the enormous prestige and attraction of Rugby World Cup in the global market place.
"Rugby World Cup shares similar brand values with Dole and we are committed to Rugby being a vehicle for the promotion of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
"We look forward to working closely with Dole to promote Rugby and healthy living around the world as sporting community counts down to the start of Rugby World Cup 2011 and a Tournament that looks set to be a resounding success."
Dole joins Canterbury of New Zealand, Gilbert, Russel McVeagh, KPMG and Coca-Cola as Tournament Suppliers of Rugby World Cup 2011.
For more information contact:
Steve Barton, Dole NZ Market Representative Tel +64 21 989 237.
Dole Fresh Fruit International is the world's largest producer and marketer of fresh vegetables and fruit, supplying more than 300 food products to 90 countries.
The Dole Asia division supplies bananas to the Asia-Pacific region sourced from Mindanao in the South Philippines under a stringent environmental and social programme, detailed at www.dolenz.co.nz
New Zealanders are among the world's biggest consumers of bananas, each year eating more than 18.7kg per person on average.
In addition to bananas, Dole supplies New Zealanders with fresh fruit including pineapples, pawpaw, grapes and mangoes, as well as canned fruit.
Rugby World Cup has provided the financial platform for investment and growth in the Game.
The net RWC 2007 surplus of £122.4 million has underwritten a range of major funding initiatives, including annual national Union grants and Strategic Investments via the £48 million programme between 2009-2012 focusing on increasing competition across the global Game.
The total invested by the IRB during the period will be £150 million.
Rugby World Cup 2011 in Zealand will be attended by over 1.6 million spectators and watched by a global TV audience of well over four billion in more than 200 countries.
Visit rugbyworldcup.com
