Albertson's, Inc. and Hormel Foods Donate 36,000 Pounds of Ham to Help Feed America's Hungry; 110,000 Individuals to Benefit From The $108,000 Donation.

Business Editors & Lifestyle Writers

BOISE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 20, 2001

The holidays will be more cheerful for thousands of families this year, thanks to the help of Albertson's, Inc., (NYSE:ABS) and Jewel-Osco customers who participated in the HORMEL(R) Hams for the Holidays(TM) hunger-relief campaign. By purchasing qualifying HORMEL(R) products, customers helped the Company donate 36,000 pounds of HORMEL(R) CURE 81(R) Ham - enough to feed nearly 110,000 people -- to hunger oriented nonprofit organizations nationwide.

Albertson's has partnered with Hormel Foods since the program's inception 12 years ago. This year's donation of 9,000 hams is valued at more than $108,000.

"With the depressed economy and drop in food donations nationwide, we are acutely aware of the need which exists across America this holiday season," said Jenny Enochson, Albertson's corporate director, media & community relations. "This donation helps put a delicious holiday dinner in front of thousands of Americans who might not otherwise have one."

Every year, millions of Americans live with - and suffer from - hunger. To help fight hunger, the HORMEL(R) Hams for the Holidays(TM) program has fed more than 16 million people since it began in 1989. Last year, the program provided more than $1.1 million in premium CURE 81(R) Hams to nonprofit organizations across the country.

"Hams for the Holidays(TM) is a way for us to give back to the community," said Tom Byom, customer development manager, Hormel Foods. "For more than a decade, it has provided people across the country with a chance to help the less fortunate simply by putting HORMEL(R) meat products on their shopping list."

More than sixty years ago, Albertson's founder Joe Albertson established a legacy of giving that remains at the core of the Company's business philosophy. Last year, Albertson's donated more than 22-million pounds of food and household goods to food banks and hunger-relief charities nationwide.

Albertson's is one of the world's largest food and drug retailers, with annual revenues of approximately $37 billion. Based in Boise, Idaho, the Company operates more than 2,500 retail stores in 36 states across the United States, under banners including Albertson's, Jewel-Osco, Acme, Sav-on Drugs, Max Foods, Super Saver, and Seessel's by Albertson's.

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer-branded food and meat products, many of which are among the best known and trusted in the food industry. The company leverages its extensive expertise, innovation and high competencies in pork and turkey processing and marketing to bring quality, value-added brands to the global marketplace. In January 2001, Hormel Foods was named one of "The 400 Best Companies in America" by Forbes magazine. The company enjoys a strong reputation among consumers, retail grocers, foodservice and industrial consumers for products regarded for quality, taste, nutrition, convenience and value.