ACNielsen Wins Contract Renewal From Hormel; Leading Multinational Food Products Company Cites Quality of ACNielsen Client Service Team and Information Tools.

Business Editors

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 3, 2001

ACNielsen U.S., an operating unit of ACNielsen, a VNU company, announced today that Hormel Foods Corporation has agreed to renew its contract with the market research leader. Hormel Foods, manufacturer of such well known brands as DINTY MOORE, JENNIE-O and SPAM, will continue to rely on ACNielsen as its preferred provider of syndicated market research and consumer insights.

"ACNielsen has proven that they can provide the research resources we need to drive our business forward," said Larry Vorphahl, Hormel Foods vice president of Grocery Products Marketing. "They possess superior data quality and a great team of people who understand our business and help us make the most out of their information. ACNielsen's extensive network of solid retailer relationships was another crucial factor in our decision to renew our contract. It is much easier for us to work with retailers who rely on ACNielsen information in running their own businesses."

"We are extremely pleased to have won the renewal of Hormel, a venerable company with a more than 100-year history of excellence in producing meat and other food products," said Steve Carroll, ACNielsen senior vice president, manufacturer client service. "The fact that Hormel did not put the contract up for bid is a strong testimony to the hard work of our client service team. All of us at ACNielsen look forward to helping Hormel build on the tremendous success it achieved in 2000."

Under the new contract, Hormel Foods will continue to utilize the ACNielsen SCANTRACK(R) syndicated retail measurement service for product sales information, as well as the ACNielsen Homescan(R) consumer panel for consumer insights. In addition, Hormel Foods will:

-- Increase its number of proprietary information databases from 17 to 20

-- Begin using the newly-developed ACNielsen Strategic Planner, a syndicated
database of product sales information that is accessed via the Internet

-- Increase its use of ACNielsen Account Level Services, a capability pioneered
by ACNielsen that enables Hormel Foods to view sales within a retailer's
trading area, both in terms of geography and channels of trade, exactly as the
retailer has defined it

The five-year agreement takes effect June 1, 2001.

ACNielsen, a company of VNU N.V., is the world's leading market research firm, offering measurement and analysis of marketplace dynamics, consumer attitudes and behavior, and new and traditional media in more than 100 countries. Clients include leading consumer product manufacturers and retailers, service firms, media and entertainment companies and the Internet community.

Note to Editors: Look for this press release and other ACNielsen news on the Internet at http://acnielsen.com/news