Barrington, Illinois The ZipVac Portable Food Storage System is a new, unique vacuum-packing product for edibles or other items that need protection. It utilizes reusable, freezable, boilable ZipVac bags and a portable, rechargeable electric vacuum pump that fits the patent-pending valve system built into the ZipVac bags. A compact manual hand pump is also included.

“The ZipVac system is so simple. Other vacuum-packing products use big machines, open-ended bags and heat welding. With ZipVac you just load and zip the bag, then suck the air out with the pump,” said Babe Winkelman who has enthusiastically endorsed the product.

Babe has been a fixture in outdoor television for nearly 30 years, as the host of two nationally-syndicated programs: “Good Fishing” and “Outdoor Secrets.” Every episode of Babe’s shows features a cooking segment hosted by Babe’s wife Kris Winkelman.

“We are very pleased that Babe and Kris Winkelman have agreed to endorse and promote our ZipVac product,” said John Schwan, Chairman of CTI, parent company of the ZipVac brand. “They are icons in the outdoor marketplace and, we believe, will be an important factor in raising consumer awareness and interest in the brand.”

Babe Winkelman airs on the Versus network, FSN North & Midwest, Comcast Southeast, Wild TV, WFN, Pursuit Channel and on local network broadcasts in 36 markets. The combined universe of all networks exceeds 114 million homes, and according to A.C. Nielsen, Babe’s shows DELIVER more than one million households every week, making him the most-watched outdoorsman on television today. Also according to A.C. Nielsen: Babe Winkelman’s programs are among the top-5 highest-rated shows on Versus.

Cooking segment host Kris Winkelman, who has also published cookbooks and writes syndicated recipe columns, says “the advantages of ZipVac for food preservation and preparation are obvious. You can re-use the bags, use them for soups and stews, use them to marinate meats, and even take the portable system to the most remote camp. Try doing that with a plug-in vacuum packer with one-time-use bags.”

Babe and Kris Winkelman will help promote ZipVac in a variety of different ways. In addition to producing and airing commercials on “Good Fishing” and “Outdoor Secrets,” Babe Winkelman Productions has granted ZipVac the sponsorship to the “Kris’ Kitchen” recipe segment.

In the print editorial arena, both Babe and Kris will include ZipVac information in their syndicated columns when applicable. The columns are distributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and tabloids with a total circulation of more than 21 million readers. Babe Winkelman Productions will also orchestrate a public relations effort to raise ZipVac awareness among consumers and outdoor journalists.

ZipVac gains the license for Babe and Kris Winkelman, which allows the use of their names, images and testimonies to extend instant credibility and acceptance to the ZipVac product. The husband/wife outdoor team will be included in packaging, advertising (print and broadcast), on-line and in other promotional materials. The Winkelmans will also make personal appearances on behalf of ZipVac at trade shows, writer conferences and other events to be determined.

The ZipVac brand is owned by CTI Industries in Barrington, IL. It is distributed through Sportco Marketing in Ohio. For more information about the ZipVac/Winkelman marketing partnership, contact John Galida at Sportco Marketing, 614-433-7006 or Greg Arens at Babe Winkelman Productions at 218-822-4144.