LIPTON Tea Congratulates Kristin Armstrong and TEAm LIPTON on Their 2006 VeloNews Award Wins

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Jan. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- LIPTON(R) Tea congratulates Kristin Armstrong of Boise, Idaho and TEAm LIPTON for winning the 2006 VeloNews Awards for 'Female Roadie of the Year' and 'Best Women's Road team.' VeloNews: The Journal of Competitive Cycling, has been providing domestic and international race reports, training tips, athlete interviews, and a calendar of events for nearly 30 years.

As Time Trial World Road Race Champion, TEAm LIPTON's Armstrong once again led the field in 2006, earning her second national time-trial and road titles, as well as wins at the Tour of the Gila, Nature Valley Grand Prix, Wells Fargo Twilight Criterium, and the Tour de 'Toona. The endurance specialist earned the biggest result of her career just over three months ago when she captured a rainbow jersey in the elite women's time trial in Salzburg, Austria with a win over two-time defending champion Karen Thurig of Switzerland.

With the help of Armstrong, TEAm LIPTON also had an excellent 2006, taking the National Racing Calendar (NRC) team rankings by more than 1200 points ahead of the Colavita Olive Oil team. Joining Armstrong on the winners' podium were TEAmmates Laura Van Gilder and lead-out rider Kori Seehafer, who finished third and seventh respectively in the NRC rankings.

LIPTON(R) took its commitment to health and vitality to a new level last January with the addition of top-ranked cyclist, Olympian and National Champion Kristin Armstrong to the 2006 TEAm LIPTON women's pro cycling and triathlon team.

"We're extremely proud of the accomplishments of both the TEAm LIPTON and Kristin Armstrong," says Christine Durkin, Unilever Marketing Director, LIPTON(R) US. "These women represent perfectly our brand, by exemplifying good health, vitality and teamwork for all Americans. We celebrate their achievements in 2006 and look forward to future TEAm LIPTON successes."

About Lipton(R) Tea

Lipton(R) Tea, the world's leading tea brand, is available in more than 180 countries worldwide. With more than 100 years of tasting, buying, and blending expertise, Lipton(R) Tea provides today's health-conscious consumer with a variety of convenient, great-tasting, healthy tea products -- from hot tea to ready to drink to ice tea mixes. Lipton(R) Tea employs expert tea- tasters, masters in the harvesting, production, purchase, transport and blending of the more than 3,000 types of tea, who source its teas from as many as 25-35 countries to ensure tea leaf integrity, quality and freshness. Lipton(R) Tea is one of the only brands to operate its own tea estates and research facilities, which are located around the globe. Lipton(R) Teas are made from real tea leaves, and most feature the brand's proprietary AOXTM Seal, indicating the product contains a substantial level of flavonoid antioxidants. Dietary antioxidants are thought to help protect the body from the damaging effects of free radicals. Lipton(R) Tea is owned by Unilever , one of the world's largest consumer products companies.

About Unilever

Unilever , one of the world's largest consumer products companies, aims to add vitality to life by meeting everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care. Each day, around the world, consumers make 150 million decisions to purchase Unilever products. The company has a portfolio of brands that make people feel good, look good and get more out of life.

In the United States these brands include recognized names such as: Axe, "all," Ben & Jerry's, Bertolli, Breyers, Caress, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Hellmann's, Lipton, Knorr, Popsicle, Promise, Q-Tips, Skippy, Slim-Fast, Snuggle, Suave, Sunsilk and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies. Dedicated to serving consumers and the communities where we live, work and play, Unilever in the United States employs approximately 15,000 people in 66 office and manufacturing sites in 24 states and Puerto Rico- generating more than $9 billion in sales in 2005. For more information visit http://www.unileverusa.com/.