Teen Delivers New Song for Wonka's Oompa Loompas

2008-10-28 16:33:03 -

- For Willy Wonka Candy Factory Whitney Foote, 617-939-8361 wfoote@coneinc.com or Jennifer Newberg, 617-939-8359 jnewberg@coneinc.com When Willy Wonka calls, teens nationwide listen--and sing! Today, Wonka revealed the winner of Loss for Lyrics, a national contest and song search launched in July, 2008 to help the Oompa Loompas sing about new Giant Chewy NERDS. Akeem Denny, 15, of Columbus, OH, came to the rescue, winning the contest, with the most creative song, embodying the wondrous spirit of Willy Wonka and his latest candy creation.

"Thanks to all of the talented young ladies and gentleman who submitted tantalizingly tangy tunes about my new tasty treat," Willy Wonka exclaimed. "Ever since Akeem Denny helped the Oompa Loompas recover their rhymes, they can't stop singing about Giant Chewy NERDS!"

New Wonka Giant Chewy NERDS deliver a kaleidoscope of colors and flavors. There's the bumpy, crunchy, tangy NERDS candy shell and a flavorful, yummy, gummy, chewy, jelly bean inside. Every pouch smacks of both sour and sweet combinations in five fruity flavors: Strawberry, Grape, Watermelon, Lemon and Orange. Eat them one at a time or in different combinations for ultimate taste-bud tantalization.

Denny, a member of Kids on Broadway and frequent participant in school plays, entered the Wonka Loss for Lyrics contest for the opportunity to record with his idol, Raven-Symone, and to experience the entertainment business, his life-long dream.

"I screamed for hours when I found out I won," said Denny, an honor-roll student and volunteer at Columbus-based nursing home. "I am Raven-Symone's biggest fan ever and I have been dying for a chance to meet her. I'm just so grateful for everyone behind Wonka's Loss for Lyrics contest for helping me reach my dreams."

As the grand-prize winner, Denny will join actress/musician Raven-Symone for a professional recording session at LA Studios, frequented by other recording artists including Justin Timberlake, Cameron Diaz and Avril Lavigne. Raven-Symone is one of Hollywood's most talented young performers. She was most recently seen starring in "College Road Trip" opposite Martin Lawrence, and released her fourth solo album earlier this year. Raven-Symone also created a lifestyle DVD based on her Website ravensymonepresents.com and is most well known for her Emmy-nominated comedy series "That's So Raven" on the Disney Channel.

"Akeem Denny has a sound all his own and I'm excited to help him record Wonka's official Giant Chewy NERDS song," Raven-Symone said. "His confidence, talent, and fun lyric choices proved the right recipe to help the Oompa Loompa's sing about new Giant Chewy NERDS."

In addition to the grand prize winner, other teens and tweens won weekly sweepstakes prizes, including Wonka t-shirts and Wonka candy for rating the contestants' videos on wonka.com. The grand prize sweepstakes winner will also receive a year's supply of Wonkalicious Wonka candy. Videos of all the contestants can be seen at www.wonka.com. Wonka's Giant Chewy NERDS are available nationwide wherever candy is sold.

BACKGROUND

About WONKA

The Willy Wonka Candy Factory company opened its doors in 1983. Since that time, Wonka has been dedicated to the art of producing fun, innovative, high-quality candies for kids of all ages. WONKA(R) candies include well-known favorites such as: NERDS(R), NERDS(R) Rope, Giant Chewy NERDS(R), SWEETARTS(R), SWEETARTS(R) SQUEEZ, SHOCKERS, LAFFY TAFFY(R), RUNTS(R), EVERLASTING GOBSTOPPER(R), LIK-M-AID(R) FUN DIP, PIXY STIX(R), BOTTLE CAPS(R) and the WONKA(R) Bar.

About Nestle USA

Named one of "America's Most Admired Food Companies" in Fortune magazine for the ninth consecutive year, Nestle USA provides quality brands and products that bring flavor to life every day. From nutritious meals with STOUFFER'S(R) LEAN CUISINE(R) to baking traditions with NESTLE (R) TOLL HOUSE(R), Nestle USA makes delicious, convenient and nutritious food and beverage products that enrich the very experience of life itself. That's what "Nestle. Good Food, Good Life" is all about. Nestle USA, with 2005 sales of $8.1 billion (includes Nestle Nutrition), is part of Nestle S.A. in Vevey, Switzerland the world's largest food company with sales of $73 billion. For product news and information, visit Nestleusa.com or NestleNewsroom.com.

Actress/Musician Raven-Symone to Coach Recording

--Wonka Announces Winner of National Loss for Lyrics Song
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