ADVO Expands Joint Advertising Program With Detroit Newspapers To Meet Client Demand.

Business Editors

WINDSOR, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 21, 2002

ADVO, Inc. (NYSE: AD) announced today a second major expansion of its weekend mailing program in Detroit known as Detroit Weekend Direct.

This initiative is a partnership with Detroit Newspapers, an affiliation of both the Detroit Free Press (a Knight-Ridder newspaper) and The Detroit News (a Gannett newspaper) and is distributed in addition to ADVO's strong mid-week program in that market. Beginning in June, distribution will increase to cover an additional 600,000 households for a total reach of 1.5 million households or approximately 90% coverage of the Detroit market.

Gary Mulloy, ADVO's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said, "We are pleased to satisfy the growing targeted advertising needs of some of our major clients in this market by expanding the coverage of our additional mailing initiative. The program's success proves its value as an advertising vehicle for both retailers and consumers." Mr. Mulloy continued, "In addition, this single initiative represents a 2.2% expansion of our core network and is consistent with our strategy of developing new revenue streams for ADVO through additional mailing programs, newspaper partnerships and acquisitions."

ADVO is the largest full-service targeted direct mail marketing services company in the United States, with annual revenues of over $1.1 billion. The Company's shared mail advertising programs are distributed weekly and cover up to 100 million U.S. households. This includes its core ShopWise(TM) branded programs distributed on a weekly and monthly basis as well as the reach of its ADVO National Network Extension (A.N.N.E.) programs. Additionally, the Company's consumer web site, ShopWise.com, provides targeted Internet access to consumers. ADVO's subsidiary, MailCoups, Inc., produces SuperCoups(R), an advertising solution for local neighborhood businesses. ADVO launched the America's Looking For Its Missing Children(R) program in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the United States Postal Service in 1985, and ADVO's missing child cards are responsible for safely recovering 116 children. ADVO has 22 mail processing facilities and 60 sales offices nationwide. ADVO's corporate headquarters are located at One Univac Lane, Windsor, Connecticut 06095. The Company can be visited at its Web site at www.advo.com.

This report contains certain forward looking statements regarding the Company's results of operations and financial position within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements are based on current information and expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties in ADVO's operations and business environment. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: changes in customer demand and pricing; the possibility of consolidation throughout the retail sector; the impact of economic and political conditions on retail advertising spending and our distribution system; postal and paper prices; possible governmental regulation or legislation affecting aspects of the Company's business; the efficiencies achieved with technology upgrades; and other general economic factors.