With "Backover" Accidents On The Rise, A New Program, Back-up To School Safely, Offers Tips And Technology To Keep Los Angeles Children Safe

Southland Fixture Al & Ed's Autosound To Team Up With Cadbury Schweppes And Ralphs Grocery Company To Hold 10 Community Events Showcasing New Technology And Offering Shoppers A Chance To Win One Of 50 Rearview Back-Up Safety Systems

VAN NUYS, CA (Monday, August 29, 2005) - In response to the increasing number of school-aged children injured and killed each year due to "backover" car accidents, mobile electronics leader Al & Ed's Autosound, in conjunction with Cadbury Schweppes, Ralphs Grocery Company and local Police and Fire officials, will present a series of safety demonstrations throughout the Southland during the back-to-school month of September. The initiative, titled Back-up to School Safely will offer safety tips, "rear view" technology demonstrations and a special "Swipe-stakes," giving Ralphs customers the opportunity to win one of 50 Al & Ed's Autosound Rearview Back-Up Safety Systems, when they use their Ralphs Club Card to purchase a Cadbury Schweppes 7-UP product.

"Backover" accidents injure or kill over 2,500 children each year with over 60% of these incidents involving an immediate family member, according to the national non-profit organization Kids and Cars. Moreover, 55 children have been killed so far this year due to these types of preventable accidents, and the figure is undoubtedly much higher, as there is no federal or state agency collecting information on injuries and deaths that occur as non-traffic incidents on private property.

From August 24th through September 27, 2005, customers using their Ralphs Club Card to purchase selected 7-UP products will be automatically entered into the Back-up to School Safely "Swipe-stakes," where 50 randomly selected winners will receive an Al & Ed's Autosound Rearview Back-Up Safety System with free installation. The safety package includes a small video camera inconspicuously mounted on the rear end of the vehicle and a high-resolution monitor that provides visual clarity and a wide field of vision, day or night.

In addition, customers can redeem 10% off their next purchase at all Southern California Al & Ed's Autosound locations with certificates available at 7-UP products displays or by showing their Ralphs Club Card.

"As a parent that drives an SUV, I have always insisted that my wife and I have Rearview Back-Up Safety Systems to keep our children safe with the greatest rear view possible," says Gabi Mashal, President of Al & Ed's Autosound. "At Al & Ed's Autosound, we're thrilled to work with Ralphs and 7-UP on Back-up to School Safely, knowing that fifty families will be safer due to the video safety systems we are providing and that we can help bring greater awareness to Los Angeles drivers and parents."

Respected magazine Consumer Reports now lists "Blind Zones", the area behind a vehicle that a person can't see from the driver's seat, in all new car reviews and recent technology such as wide-angle lens video cameras and ultrasonic sonar sensing devices are quickly becoming standard features in many new cars and trucks. These safety breakthroughs have proven to be highly effective and to date, there has yet to be a reported back-up fatality involving a vehicle equipped with these devices.

With the increased popularity of high-profile vehicles such as SUV's, back-up accidents are on the rise and various lobbying groups and organizations are appealing the government for new safety legislation while continuing to raise public awareness.

Event dates, times and Ralphs Grocery Company locations

September 10th
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 655 Grand Ave. at Route 66 Glendora
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 9470 Las Tunas Dr. at Cloverly Ave. Temple City

September 11th
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 6348 Foothill Blvd. at Lowell Ave. Tujunga
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 1416 E. Colorado St at S. Verdugo Rd. Glendale

September 17th
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 14049 Ventura Blvd. at Hazeltine Ave. Sherman Oaks
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 17840 Ventura Blvd. at Whiteoak Ave. Encino

September 18th
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 2250 E. Carson St. at Cherry Ave. Long Beach
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 5951 Del Amo Blvd. at Woodruff Ave. Lakewood

September 24th
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 5241 Warner Ave. at Bolsa Chica St. Huntington Beach
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 6942 Warner Ave. at Goldenwest St. Huntington Beach

The "Swipe-stakes" runs until September 27, 2005 and the prize drawing will take place on or about October 1st, 2005 with prize redemption administered through Cadbury Schweppes. Winners will be posted on the Al & Ed's Autosound website upon completion of the drawing.

The 10% off certificate and Ralphs Club Card offer cannot be combined with any other offer and is not valued for special orders. The certificate does not have a cash value and is good until September 27, 2005.




About Al & Ed’s Autosound
Founded in 1954, Al & Ed's Autosound has grown to become the largest mobile electronics and communications specialist with more than 26 Southern California stores. As a recognized leader in the mobile electronics industry, Al & Ed's Autosound has been an instrumental partner in the pioneering of innovations such as FM radio for cars, cassette players for cars and the first car alarms, and is viewed within the mobile electronics industry as a barometer for the industry in Southern California. For more information, visit www.al-eds.com.


About Ralphs Grocery Company
Ralphs Grocery Company was founded in 1873 and currently operates more than 460 conventional and warehouse-style supermarkets in California and southern Nevada, from its headquarters in Los Angeles. With a long record of community involvement, Ralphs is pleased to offer 10 store locations for the "Back-up to Safety" events in addition to incorporating their popular Ralphs Club Card into the Back-Up To School Safely "swipe-stakes."

The company is a division of The Kroger Co., (NYSE:KR), one of the nation's largest food retailers, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Additional information about Ralphs can be found at www.ralphs.com


About Cadbury Schweppes
Cadbury Schweppes is a major international company that manufactures, markets and sells confectionery and beverage treats and refreshments. With origins stretching back over 200 years, Cadbury Schweppes' brands are enjoyed today in almost every nation in the world and included such favorites as Cadbury, Trident, Dr. Pepper, Halls, Schweppes, Dentyne, Snapple and 7-Up. Cadbury Schweppes employs over 50,000 people with manufacturing operations in more that 35 countries and is the world's third largest soft drink company. Additional information on Cadbury Schweppes can be found at www.cadburyschweppes.com.

For More Infromation Please contact:
Todd Fraser
The Pollack PR Marketing Group
Phone: 310-556-4443
Email: tfraser@ppmgcorp.com

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