Among More than 217,000 Entrants, Ohio Toddler to Become Gerber’s Newest Ad Star

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., Jan. 31, 2011
/PRNewswire/ — Upon reviewing hundreds of thousands of the cutest
smiles, most adorable poses and irresistibly squeezable cheeks, Gerber
has announced the winner of its Gerber Generation Photo Search!
Two-year-old Mercy Townsend of Toledo, Ohio is the grand prize winner of a $25,000 scholarship and will star in a Gerber print advertisement beginning in May 2011.

“I didn’t believe it at first,” says Mercy’s mom, Tahisha Williams-Townsend,
when she was notified that her daughter had won. “Our family is
ecstatic to see Mercy in a magazine ad and then to receive such a
generous scholarship is really awesome.  Mercy doesn’t understand the
extent of what she’s just won, but she’s excited and goes around saying,
‘thank you, thank you.'”

At the
beginning of the six month online contest, Gerber judges set out to find
children from birth to preschool who demonstrate visual appeal,
expressiveness and consistency with Gerber’s heritage and its Start Healthy, Stay Healthy™
mission to nourish a healthier generation one baby at a time. The child
who best fit these criteria would be selected to star in a Gerber
Generation advertisement that advocates a healthier future for children
through good nutrition. Parents could enter their child by uploading
their picture onto Gerber’s website.

Mercy’s mom
entered the contest after seeing it featured on her friend’s Facebook
page. She uploaded the winning photo, which was taken right after bath
time when Mercy was very happy and her curls where extra full and
bouncy. Mercy’s candid expression and adorable features stood out among
more than 217,000 applicants and perfectly represented the
healthy-looking, happy-looking child in which the brand was seeking.

“We are thrilled to have seen such an overwhelming response to the Gerber Generation photo contest,” says Christina Lawrence,
Vice President, Integrated Marketing and Communications, Nestle Infant
Nutrition. “With so many adorable ‘Gerber babies’ to choose from, it was
hard for the judges to pick just one. We look forward to working with
Mercy, as she will play an important role in helping us communicate our
commitment to early childhood nutrition through our successful Gerber
Generation marketing campaign.”

In mid February, Mercy will travel to New York City
for her modeling debut photo shoot. How does Mom think she’ll do? “As
the youngest of four, Mercy can be shy. But when she hears music she
loves to sing and dance – she really gets into it. I can’t wait to see
how she does at the photo shoot, I’m sure her personality will really
shine through.”

To view photos of all Gerber Generation Photo Search entrants, visit www.Gerber.com/photo

About the Gerber Generation

The Gerber
Generation marketing campaign was born to give a voice to today’s
children and their desire to live healthier lives.  The Gerber
Generation can take advantage of the Start Healthy, Stay Healthy™ Nutrition System of products and resources from birth to preschool that will help put them on the path to healthy eating.  

About Nestle Nutrition and Gerber

Nestle
Nutrition, part of Nestle S.A., a world leader in nutrition, health and
wellness and is dedicated to infant, healthcare and performance
nutrition, and weight management. Gerber Products Company, founded in
1928, officially joined the Nestle family on September 1, 2007.
Nestle and Gerber’s combined resources and scientific research
expertise have enabled the company to become a worldwide leader in early
childhood nutrition. Gerber produces more than 200 food products, all
of which are a part of Nestle’s proprietary Start Healthy, Stay Healthy™
integrated nutrition system. Start Healthy, Stay Healthy™ combines
products, educational resources and services that are designed to
encourage the early establishment of healthy eating habits in children
from birth to preschool.

For more information on Nestle Nutrition and Gerber, visit www.gerber.com.

Gerber