HOT TAMALES(R) Brand Candies Know What's Hot!

HOT TAMALES(R) Brand Candies Know What's Hot!

BETHLEHEM, Pa., March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- America's favorite cinnamon- charged candy HOT TAMALES(R) has the hottest hand as it introduces the HOT TAMALES(R) Hold 'Em Instant win game and its report on "What is Hot in America."

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060310/PHF022 )

HOT TAMALES(R) Hot Game ...

Fans can now play the popular HOT TAMALES(R) Hold 'Em game inside specially marked HOT TAMALES(R) 2.12 oz. bags. Printed on the inside of the package, are five "House Cards" and two "Your Cards." Consumers are dealt a hand every time they purchase a pack of HOT TAMALES(R) 2.12 oz. brand candies giving them a chance to get a winning hand. Along with the grand prize winning hand, a royal flush, consumers may be dealt a straight flush, a straight, 3 of a kind, or a pair to win great prizes. The grand prize is a trip to Las Vegas. Other prizes include $1,000 cash, iPods, HOT TAMALES(R) Playing Cards, and HOT TAMALES(R) brand candies.

Kara Metzler, Assistant Brand Manager, commented, "Poker is the hottest game for 21-39 year-olds and World Poker Tour officials estimate that 100 million people play poker. HOT TAMALES(R) is the hottest candy and we believe most of our fans will enjoy playing Hold 'Em while eating our refreshing cinnamon candy. We are betting on it!"

This spring, the HOT TAMALES(R) brand will run radio spots and on-air promotional programs in 10 markets nationwide. Various on-air promotions and live event contests will be executed by the local DJs. Over 250,000 samples will be distributed.

Also HOT TAMALES(R) Hot ...

This spring, HOT TAMALES(R) brand issued its first "HOT TAMALES(R) Report on What is Hot in America." From hot stars to hot issues, HOT TAMALES(R) has read the pulse of America.

Brand Manager Donald Houston commented, "We are excited to issue our first 'HOT TAMALES(R) Report on What is Hot in America.' As the maker of HOT TAMALES(R) brand candies for over 50 years, we are well aware that HOT TAMALES(R) is an everyday phrase. Our brand will be the source on 'What is HOT TAMALES(R) hot' in American culture. We look forward to sharing these results with fans of our candy and to taking the country's pulse periodically on what people and issues are hot."

HOT TAMALES(R) FEMALE CELEBRITIES ...

Pregnant mothers can be hot with Angelina Jolie receiving 32.6% of respondents' votes as the hottest female celebrity. Halle Berry came in second with 14.1% followed by Jennifer Aniston who drew 11.2% of the hot votes.

HOT TAMALES(R) MALE CELEBRITIES ...

Brad Pitt is America's choice as the hottest male celebrity with 15.1%, but watch out because Jamie Foxx is hot on his heels with 12.2%. Matthew McConaughey is a serious third place HOT TAMALES(R) hot contender with 11.7%.

HOT TAMALES(R) MUSICAL ARTISTS ...

It's no surprise that Mariah Carey was voted the hottest HOT TAMALES(R) musical artist with 9.3% of the votes followed in hot pursuit by Kanye West and 50 Cent, both with 8.6%.

HOT TAMALES(R) FAMILIES ...

This is the hardest category to win since a whole family needs to be HOT TAMALES(R) hot! In a resounding first place victory were Ozzy, Sharon, Kelly and Jack Osbourne with 21.2% of respondents' votes. In second place was the Douglas clan including Catherine Zeta-Jones with 11.7% of votes and in third place for HOT TAMALES(R) hot families were the Hiltons with 10.3%.

HOT TAMALES(R) POLITICIANS ...

Former President Bill Clinton is the hottest politician with 19.6% of respondents' votes. President Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger are hot too with 16.3% and 15.3%, respectively. In a close fourth position is Hillary Clinton with 12.3%. Tied in fifth place are Condoleezza Rice and Barack Obama.

HOT TAMALES(R) HOT BUTTONS ...

When asked what HOT TAMALES(R) hot buttons cause Americans to lose their tempers, "stupid people" won hands down with 51% of respondents. Also pushing buttons are "bad drivers" with 38.3% and "bills" with 22.1% of those surveyed.

HOT TAMALES(R) ISSUES ...

What are the HOT TAMALES(R) hot issues on Americans' minds? "Money" is a hot issue nationally with 21.6% of respondents. Concerns about money reach as high as 30.1% in the North central region and dip as low as 12.8% in the Northeast, where perhaps people are feeling the most confident financially.

HOT TAMALES(R) PURSUITS ...

When Americans have free time, 24% choose to spend it with "friends and family." Ranking second is "sports/exercise" with 12.8% of respondents. Not surprisingly, "video games and online pursuits" come in third with 10.7% of those surveyed.

ABOUT HOT TAMALES(R) BRAND CANDIES ...

HOT TAMALES(R) brand candies are America's favorite cinnamon charged candy with HOT TAMALES FIRE(R) as the newest addition to the HOT TAMALES(R) brand line. Each chewy candy piece has only 7.3 calories and zero grams of fat. HOT TAMALES(R) brand candies are kosher.

Many celebrities enjoy the HOT TAMALES(R) candy brand such as Madonna, Lindsay Lohan, Marcia Cross, Lara Flynn Boyle, and Mariah Carey, who even calls her fans "HOT TAMALES."

ABOUT JUST BORN, INC ...

Candy maker Just Born, Inc. is a privately owned company founded in 1923 and located in Bethlehem, PA. Just Born also makes PEEPS(R) brand marshmallow candies, MIKE AND IKE(R) brand chewy fruit flavored candies, ZOURS(R) chewy sour candies, PEANUT CHEWS(R) candies, and TEENEE BEANEE(R) jellybeans. The company employs over 600 associates and markets its candy in over 50 countries.

Visit http://www.hottamales.com/ for more Hold 'Em Instant win game and "What is Hot in America" survey information

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060310/PHF022
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN3
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Just Born, Inc.

CONTACT: Ellie Deardorff, +1-609-279-0977, edeardorff@justborn.com, or
Milena DeLuca, +1-609-448-3636, mdeluca@justborn.com, both of Just Born

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

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