Tropicana Products Promotes Rick Gomez to Chief Marketing Officer

In his new role, Gomez will build brand equity for the juiceleader and guide long-term innovation and marketing activity acrossthe Tropicana chilled portfolio. Gomez succeeds Ron Coughlin, who wasnamed to PepsiCo International's beverage brands group.

"Rick is a seasoned, results-oriented leader with a record ofdriving breakthrough results and developing exceptional people," saidShearson.

A 14-year PepsiCo veteran, Gomez in his most recent role asTropicana's vice president - Marketing, was the chief architect of thebrand's shelf-stable strategy and directed the recent launch ofTropicana Pure Premium Essentials with Fiber, a new fiber-enrichedorange juice with as much added fiber as a whole orange.

Prior to joining Tropicana, Gomez served as vice president -Marketing for the company's Quaker Oats business unit. Gomez began hiscareer at The Quaker Oats Co. in 1991 as a marketing associate beforeassuming a series of increasingly responsible marketing posts for itsQuaker Oats, Cap'n Crunch and Aunt Jemima businesses. In these roles,Gomez championed the company's entry into emerging retail channels.

Gomez serves as the executive sponsor of QTG's People of Color inMarketing group and is a board member for the AIDS Foundation ofChicago.

A native of Texas, Gomez earned a bachelor's degree from DartmouthCollege and is near completion of Harvard Business School's ExecutiveManagement Program.

Quaker Tropicana Gatorade (QTG, is a Chicago-based division ofPepsiCo, one of the world's largest consumer beverage and packagedgoods companies. QTG brands rank among some of the most highlyregarded and recognizable consumer products including: Quaker Oatmeal,Tropicana Pure Premium not-from-concentrate juices; Gatorade ThirstQuencher and Propel Fitness Water; Cap'n Crunch and Life ready-to-eatcereals; Rice-A-Roni and Near East side dishes; and Aunt Jemimapancake mixes and syrups.

Tropicana Products, Inc. is the leading producer and marketer ofbranded fruit juices. Tropicana markets its products in the U.S. undera variety of brand names including Tropicana Pure Premium(R)not-from-concentrate juices;, Dole(R) juices and juice blends;Tropicana FruitWise(TM) strips, bars and drinkable fruit; Tropicana(R)Juices and Pure Tropics(R) juices; Tropicana(R) Smoothies; andTropicana Twister(R) juice beverages. The Dole brand name is licensedfrom Dole Food Co., Inc. For more information about Tropicanaproducts, visit www.tropicana.com.