Advanced Retail Services Implements State-of-the-art Web-based System Linking Independent Retailers and Manufacturers.

Business Editors

LAFAYETTE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 30, 2003

Major National Manufacturers Join Enterprise Serving Thousands of

Independent Grocery Retailers

Advanced Retail Services, www.advancedretailservices.com (formerly Mr. Independent Co., Inc.) has successfully implemented and expanded the first of its kind web-based solution bringing together national brand manufacturers, sales agents, major wholesalers and independent grocery retailers that fall outside of traditional retail coverage.

"Advanced Retail Services (ARS) literally brings together in one place on the web thousands of independent retailers, manufacturers and sales agents to transact incremental business", said Claude S. Weiller, CEO, Advanced Retail Services. We do this through a combination of our state-of-the-art web-based system and commissioned retail sales force. Similar to a chain store environment, manufacturers and sales agents can now efficiently manage this under-served segment of their business through a single point of contact -- ARS," added Weiller.

The two pillars of the company are its state-of-the-art web-based system and its solid experience in traditional 'face-to-face' selling. The Company's system was built specifically to provide ARS clients complete and customized order information, sales reporting, and funds management capabilities in real-time. Whether it is executing against a manufacturer new item sales drive, issuing billback checks to retailers, providing timely orders to wholesalers or reporting sales results to dispersed manufacturer clients, ARS delivers answers to the full range of its clients in seconds.

ARS Web Solution - Key Functional Areas

-- "One-To-Many" Sales Services - Enabling any manufacturer or sales agent to easily reach thousands of independent retailers not in coverage with incremental sales opportunities through a single point of contact, sales force, and website.

-- Annual Planning Made Easy - ARS routinely conducts annual business planning with its manufacturer clients across multiple wholesalers typically in half a day or less.

-- Reporting - Real-time online reporting of sales results and applicable funds.

-- Fully Automated Funds Management - The ability to view, allocate, cap, or otherwise direct funds by brand, operating division, wholesaler division and/or retailer.

-- 100% Variable Cost - There are no fixed costs or set-up fees associated with the ARS service. Clients only pay once a sale is made and then based on a previously agreed to rate per case, per shipper, per new placement, or per module sold.

-- One Single Payment To ARS - Manufacturers issue a single reimbursement to ARS. Advanced Retail Services then issues individual payments to hundreds of retailers across the country on their behalf.

-- Order Processing And Fulfillment - ARS provides retail orders directly to wholesalers either online or via paper. Wholesalers then perform their traditional fulfillment service.

ARS operates as one point of contact for thousands of dispersed stores serving over 150 national brand manufacturer clients including, Nestle; USA, Quaker, ConAgra, Unilever, Hormel, and Nissin Foods. "Through Advanced Retail Services' online reporting tool, each of our sales and marketing managers can quickly and easily monitor results across any wholesaler or geography," said Matt Talle of Nissin Foods (USA) Co. "ARS gives us access to a wealth of information about our independent business that we simply could not access any other way," added Talle. The company's primary wholesale clients include Fleming Companies, Unified Western Grocers, Grocers Supply, Associated Grocers, and Gourmet Specialties.

About Advanced Retail Services

ARS was originally founded in 1993 in Pleasanton, California as the Mr. Independent Company of Northern California. From its inception, ARS has focused exclusively on delivering value-added comprehensive sales and information services to independent grocery retailers, wholesalers, and CPG manufacturers. Through the new ARS web-based system the company provides its clients access to a totally incremental sales channel as well as accurate funds management, real-time comprehensive business reporting and advertising services to retail customers.

ARS calls on nearly 2,500 independent grocers in the west, southwest and mid-western regions of the U.S. The company operates regional sales offices in Northern and Southern California, and Kansas City and is not affiliated in any way with Mr. Independent Companies in Washington, Oregon, or Southern California. ARS plans to open two additional sales offices to serve the Chicago and Minneapolis markets before the end of 2003. Further expansion into eastern U.S. markets is also planned.