Dec. 6, 2006 — Balloon Time has announced that approximately 200 Kroger stores in the Great Lakes region are now carrying the brand’s flagship product, Balloon Time 30 Helium Balloon Kit. Balloon Time is a product of Worthington Cylinders, a Worthington Industries company.

Balloon Time is a leading brand of consumer helium balloon kits in the United States. The Balloon Time line features portable, disposable helium balloon kits that include a helium-filled tank, balloons and ribbon so consumers can decorate for a party or have a rainy day activity in the comfort of their own home.

“Kroger’s desire to carry the product speaks not only to its quality but also its sales track record and the integrated national marketing support it receives,” said Greg Shakley, Director of Retail Sales for Balloon Time. “Our year-to-date sales are up 25% from 2005 throughout the product line.”

Worthington attributes Balloon Time’s success to its increased retail network as well as increased marketing support. The brand is reaching out to consumers in new ways through national print and online advertising, in-store demonstrations, paid search with Google and Yahoo! Search, event marketing and public relations efforts. New advertising initiatives include a partnership with Nick Jr. Family Magazine, NickJr.com and Paramount Parks.

“To complement our advertising, we have a strong retail partnership program that provides both live and video product demonstrations throughout the year with several of our retailers,” said Natalie Bunevich, Marketing Manager for Balloon Time.

The brand’s public relations support has focused on reaching out to consumers through earned editorial in consumer-focused media outlets and recognition through award programs. Since the start of the year, public relations initiatives have resulted in the Balloon Time 30 Helium Balloon Kit receiving a Preferred Choice Award from Creative Child magazine and a Silver Award from the Family Review Center.

As Balloon Time moves toward its silver anniversary, the brand plans to continue offering consumers more options within the product line to fit their party planning needs. Balloon Time’s introduction of the Balloon Time Party™ Foil Helium Balloon Kit—which offers consumers a new party planning option in foil balloons with the same convenience and low price of traditional Balloon Time helium balloon kits—will help to define the company’s future direction.

Balloon Time is a leading brand of helium balloon kits for consumers in the United States, with a family of products that includes a range of Balloon Time kits and ancillary equipment. Balloon Time products are manufactured by Worthington Cylinders, a Worthington Industries company.

Worthington Cylinders is a leading global supplier of pressure cylinders, offering a complete line of pressure cylinders. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, the company operates eight ISO 9001-certified facilities in the United States, Austria, Canada, Portugal and Czech Republic supplying to more than 70 countries worldwide. Worthington Cylinders is a Worthington Industries company.

Worthington Industries is a leading diversified metal processing company with annual sales of nearly $3 billion. The Columbus, Ohio-based company is a premier North American value-added steel processor and a leader in manufactured products such as automotive aftermarket stampings, pressure cylinders, metal framing, metal ceiling grid systems and laser-welded blanks.

Founded in 1955, the company operates under a long-standing corporate philosophy rooted in the golden rule, with earning money for its shareholders as the first corporate goal. This philosophy, an unwavering commitment to the customer, and one of the strongest employee/employer relationships in American industry serves as the company’s foundation. Worthington Industries is listed as one of America’s Most Admired Companies and one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America by Fortune magazine.