New Zealand food manufacturer Hansells Food Group today announced a three-year partnership between its Vitasport beverage brand and the SKYCITY Mystics.

Vitasport is a specially formulated isotonic sports and lifestyle drink containing electrolytes which restore levels of essential minerals and provide carbohydrates to help enhance performance. The brand is already associated with a number of high performance athletes.

SKYCITY Mystics Chief Executive Officer, Julie Paterson, welcomed the partnership and said it was heartening to see a reputable New Zealand brand supporting the country’s second-biggest sport.

“It’s heartening to have another strong, New Zealand corporate brand rightfully backing women’s sport and I commend the company for seizing a great opportunity. But it’s mutually beneficial because the Vitasport brand, in turn, will be superbly exposed to consumers at all levels of the game.”

The Vitasport brand will appear on the SKYCITY Mystics’ new dress design, launched earlier this month, as well as their training gear and drink bottles.

Vitasport Brand Manager, Jane Bennett, says Hansells is not only proud to be tangibly supporting high level women’s sport but is also delighted with the opportunity to be involved with community netball at a grassroots level throughout New Zealand.

“We have plans to work with community centres in the wider Auckland region, as well as nationally in the longer term. With access to 45,000 players in the Northern region, and all the coaches, administrators, friends, family and supporters, we are confident, via our Vitasport brand, that we have a real chance to make a difference beyond the sponsorship dollars.”

The Vitasport drink brand joins the Mystics’ sponsorship team including principal sponsor SKYCITY, Barfoot & Thompson, The Hits, West City Holden, Benefitz, The Trusts Arena and Crowe Horwath.

The ANZ Netball Championship team covers the Northern region from Bombay to Cape Reinga and includes high profile current and ex New Zealand players such as Maria Tutaia, Cathrine Latu, Laura Langman, Kayla Cullen, Camilla Lees, Paula Griffin, alongside newcomer Temalisi Fakahokotau and English import Serena Guthrie.