Duracell Named The Official Battery of North Pole

BETHEL, Conn., Nov. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- With street names like Holiday Road, St. Nicholas Drive and Snowman Lane, one city knows just how to prepare for the holidays, even in the most extreme conditions. In North Pole, Alaska, it's Christmas 365 days a year, with holiday preparations heating up as December 25th draws near. This year, Duracell(R) will become the official battery of North Pole, helping the city prepare for the festivities of the season -- whether lighting the way for local postal workers to deliver thousands of letters to Santa, or powering the tools and toys in Santa's workshop.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061115/NYW163-a http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061115/NYW163-b )

As a trusted partner in helping families prepare for the holidays and a source of power that brings toys and gadgets to life, Duracell will help North Pole prepare for the holidays under the extreme conditions that have defined the city for more than 50 years. With December temperatures averaging -15 Degrees Fahrenheit and falling as low as -62 Degrees Fahrenheit, combined with 13.8 inches of snow in December alone, the residents of North Pole (Santa included) take their holidays seriously. And this year, they're sharing their best-kept secrets on holiday planning with the rest of the country -- including the best way to string holiday lights, how to wrap presents by flashlight and how to make sure your holiday party is a winner.

"The excitement in North Pole at this time of year is truly unique and magical. The genuine spirit of the city and its people is something everyone should experience," said Mark Bertolami, vice president, global marketing and general manager, North America - Duracell. "Duracell is proud to be a part of their celebratory spirit by powering everyday devices in North Pole and bringing the city's holiday expertise to the rest of the country."

As part of the partnership, all North Pole city officials, including police, fire officials, and Santa himself, will be equipped with Duracell flashlights and batteries. Additionally, Duracell will provide all residents of North Pole with a supply of Duracell batteries and flashlights for the holiday season. In order to meet a range of battery needs, Duracell will supply a variety of products including: Duracell CopperTop batteries for household devices, gadgets and toys; Duracell PowerPix batteries for moderate digital camera users; Duracell Rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) chargers and batteries for frequent users of high-drain devices; and Duracell Voyager flashlights.

"When you're dealing with the extreme conditions that characterize North Pole -- everything from snowstorms to blackouts -- flashlights and radios filled with dependable batteries are not only a convenience, but an absolute necessity," said North Pole Mayor, Doug Isaacson. "And, as you can imagine, we use even more batteries during the holiday season, so we are delighted that Duracell has agreed to celebrate the spirit of the season with us."

Duracell will bring the magic of North Pole to life by giving people a sneak-peek into how residents get ready, while reminding families across the country how to better prepare for their own holiday celebrations. As North Pole experts provide helpful tips to keep the holidays frustration-free, an important reminder is to have batteries on hand for battery-powered gifts -- something that's all too often forgotten in the holiday rush.

In fact, according to a recent survey from Duracell, one in two people admit to having forgotten to give batteries along with a battery-powered gift. In addition, a staggering 62 percent of people have received a battery-powered gift without batteries and have been unable to use it right away.

The same survey shows that a lack of batteries can quickly turn holiday smiles to holiday frowns; approximately 60 percent of respondents have witnessed the disappointment of an adult or child at not being able to use a gift right away because the right batteries weren't on hand.

Duracell, North Pole city planners and even Santa himself have created a variety of tips and tools to help people get ready for the holidays, which will be available online at http://www.duracell.com/ throughout the holiday season. Online visitors have the opportunity to upload a photo of their own house decorated in festive lights for a chance to see it in North Pole in December. As the holidays near, the site will offer a glimpse of how the residents of North Pole and the Santa Claus House are preparing, sharing more holiday advice and providing a downloadable "Dear Santa" letter template to help families complete their very own holiday wish lists.

About Duracell

Part of the Procter & Gamble Company , Duracell is the world's leading manufacturer of high-performance alkaline batteries. Duracell also sells various other types of batteries including lithium and zinc air batteries, as well as rechargeable Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries and chargers. The company also markets general purpose flashlights. Visit http://www.duracell.com/ for more information about Duracell batteries.

About Procter & Gamble

Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers(R), Tide(R), Ariel(R), Always(R), Whisper(R), Pantene(R), Mach3(R), Bounty(R), Dawn(R), Pringles(R), Folgers(R), Charmin(R), Downy(R), Lenor(R), Iams(R), Crest(R), Oral-B(R), Actonel(R), Duracell(R), Olay(R), Head & Shoulders(R), Wella, Gillette(R) and Braun. The P&G community consists of more than 135,000 employees working in more than 80 countries worldwide. Please visit www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.