Limited-edition CLIF Bar Inspired by Cycling Trips in Italy Thanks Fans for 20 Years of Adventure
EMERYVILLE, Calif., May 15, 2012 -In celebration of the company‘s 20th anniversary, Clif Bar & Company Founder and Co-CEO Gary Erickson created GARY’s PANFORTE, a limited-edition CLIF® Bar full of fruits, nuts and spices that was inspired by his early cycling adventures over Northern Italy‘s Passo di Gé via. (Watch Erickson tell the story behind GARY‘s PANFORTE at www.clifbar.com/adventures).
CLIF Bar, the original energy bar made with organic ingredients, was also born on a bike -in 1990 during a 175-mile ride in Northern California on which Erickson had “the epiphany” that he could make a better tasting energy bar. Two years later the first CLIF Bars hit the market and Clif Bar & Company was off and running.
Now, 20 years later, Erickson wanted to create GARY’s PANFORTE, embodying the flavors of a traditional Italian Panforte, which is full of fruits, nuts, spices and citrus notes, and has been a staple in Italy for hundreds of years. The bar delights taste buds with a flavorful blend of 23 ingredients, including many new to CLIF Bar but typical in Italian Panforte, including crunchy hazelnuts and pistachios, sweet figs and pears, citrus peel and hints of cinnamon, ginger and coriander.
“GARY‘s PANFORTE is our way of acknowledging the people who have celebrated 20 years of adventures with us,” Erickson said. “I never could have imagined that an idea on a bike ride with a friend 20 years ago would take us on such an incredible journey. I am appreciative every single day of what we have created and want to thank all the people who have helped us along the way.”
Made with organic ingredients, GARY’s PANFORTE is nutritious, delicious and convenient -good for you and for the planet. It‘s a good source of protein and fiber, which help the body digest carbohydrates slowly to deliver sustained energy. GARY‘s PANFORTE will debut on store shelves nationwide beginning in June and remain available while supplies last (SRP: $1.39).
To add even more spice to its 20th anniversary, Clif Bar & Company also announced the “Share Your Epiphany” contest to celebrate the fans who have contributed so much to the company‘s success. All fans are invited to share their own epiphanies, big and small, that have changed their lives for the better. Five grand prize winners will have $5,000 donated to a nonprofit of their choice by Clif Bar. In addition, all “Share Your Epiphany” contestants will be entered in a random drawing to become one of 20 winners of a month‘s supply of CLIF Bars. “Share Your Epiphany” runs May 15 – June 11, 2012. Entries can be made online at www.clifbar.com/
CLIF Bar is the market‘s best-selling energy bar in grocery and natural food stores, according to The Nielsen Company and SPINS.
About Clif Bar & Company
Clif Bar & Company is a leading maker of nutritious, organic foods and drinks, including CLIF® BAR energy bar, LUNA®, The Whole Nutrition Bar for Women®; and CLIF Kid®, Nourishing Kids in Motion®. Focused on sports nutrition and healthy snacks, the employee and family-owned company is committed to sustaining its business, brands, people, community and the planet. For more information on Clif Bar & Company, please visit www.clifbar.com, check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/clifbar and follow us on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/clifbar.