Essentia Water and Runa Partner for "Own the Winter" Promotional Photo Contest

BOTHELL, Wash. - Jan. 6, 2014 - PRLog -- Essentia® Water, the innovator of the first bottled functional water brand in the United States, is partnering with Runa®, the first company to bring the guayusa super-leaf to the U.S., to host the Own the Winter photo contest launching Monday, Jan. 6, 2014. The promotion that runs through Friday, February 28 offers a grand prize eight-day trip for two to the Ecuadorian Amazon, which includes round-trip airfare, accommodations, hiking, rafting, and participation in a guayusa ceremony. The contest is open to consumers over the age of 18 and will be hosted on both companies’ Facebook pages: www.facebook.com/essentiawater and www.facebook.com/drinkruna.

To enter, participants must “like” both the Essentia and Runa Facebook pages, complete a simple contest entry form, and upload a photo showing how they live winter to the fullest. The goal of the contest is to have consumers share how they get out and make the most of winter, ignoring the cold and dark to follow their passions and engage their interests. It is not necessary to show Essentia or Runa products in the photo entries. The grand prize winner will be selected by the two brands. Consumers can also engage friends and share photos of how they live winter to the fullest using the hashtag #bettercupoftea.

Each week, a winner will be selected to receive two cases of Essentia Water and four boxes of Runa. From the weekly winners, one grand prize winner will be chosen. Each contest entrant will also receive a printable $1 coupon for each brand redeemable at participating retailers.

“Essentia and Runa both have a commitment to providing health conscious consumers with innovative beverages that support active lifestyles,” said Paul Curhan, Essentia’s vice president of marketing & innovation. “Staying hydrated and energized during winter is an ideal way to promote good health and positive energy. The contest is designed to inspire consumers to share with one another how they conquer the winter doldrums, as well as to encourage them to enjoy the warm and energizing pick-me-up of sipping Runa’s guayusa made with Essentia.”

The Own the Winter partnership will also be promoted throughout natural food and grocery stores in key retail markets shared by Essentia and Runa, including the Northeast, Midwest, South, Northern California, Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain regions. Consumers can look for in-store coupons at participating Whole Foods Markets, Stop & Shops and Giant stores.

“We are pleased to partner with Essentia on this promotion, and we encourage consumers to beat the winter blues and live life to the fullest this winter and beyond,” said Tyler Gage, Runa’s co-founder and co-CEO. “Drinking Runa made with Essentia results in an electrolyte-enhanced warm winter beverage with double the antioxidant properties of green tea, leaving you fully alive and more focused on the things that make you tick. We look forward to seeing all of the contest entries and treating the winner to a memorable Amazonian adventure.”

About Runa
Founded in 2008 by Forbes "30 Under 30" entrepreneurs Tyler Gage and Dan MacCombie, Runa is a Brooklyn-based beverage company that has introduced guayusa (pronounced "gwhy-you-sa") to the U.S. via their line of loose leaf, bottle beverages and energy drink. When brewed, guayusa has as much caffeine as a cup of coffee and double the antioxidants of leading green tea products. Runa supports over 2,000 farming families and is pioneering a new way of doing business in the Amazon. Runa’s products are sold in over 4,500 stores across the country, and an effective alternative to the legions of artificial beverages and energy drinks on the market. The journey continues at www.runa.org.

About Essentia
EssentiaWater, Inc. launched its hydrating alkaline water in 1998. The innovator of the first functional bottled water, today it is the no. 1 selling bottled water brand in the natural channel and the fastest growing top 10 premium bottled water brand in the grocery channel. Headquartered in Bothell, Wash., Essentia’s proprietary process results in an electrolyte-enhanced water with optimum alkalinity and an ideal pH of 9.5 that is easily absorbed into the body. Essentia Water hydrates, restores and balances the body, promoting optimal health. Available at natural foods markets and grocers throughout the United States, Essentia is also available online at Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_9/180-5633893-01...). To learn more about Essentia, please visit www.essentiawater.com. Or connect with Essentia on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/EssentiaWater).