California Selected For Major Recycling Movement; Inland Empire First in the World to Experience rePLANET Centers.

RIVERSIDE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 15, 1999--

The world's first rePLANET Centers are now open in the Inland Empire, the result of a global movement being introduced this month by TOMRA, a world leader in recycling technology and solutions.

The new concept, called rePLANET, is a unique idea designed to incorporate speed and convenience for area residents and families redeeming their cans, glass bottles, PET plastic bottles and newsprint. Each of the 10 rePLANET centers are located adjacent to Stater Bros. Markets, will be staffed during daytime hours, and feature automated recycling machines, which will be available from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily.

Ten New RePlanet Centers: Grand Opening

During today's grand opening celebration, Greg Garvey, CEO of TOMRA of North America, Inc., announced the company's plans to reward the recycling efforts of community members by donating approximately 250 trees in the Inland Empire during 1999. TOMRA has established a partnership with Keep America Beautiful and Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful to conduct the tree plantings, and a neighborhood cleanup project undertaken by Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful along with the children of the Jefferson House and Cole Vocational Services.

"We think it is important that people who visit our centers can see the results of their efforts in their own communities," said Greg Garvey, CEO of TOMRA of North America, Inc. "We are committed to helping people get involved in the recycling process and understand the difference their contribution can make."

According to Jack H. Brown, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Stater Bros. Markets, "Our shoppers and over 13,000 members of the Stater Bros. `family' of employees will enjoy this new, convenient way to redeem their cans and bottles and at the same time improve our environment. We're happy to provide our valued customers with yet another service that will make their shopping experience more enjoyable and help keep California a beautiful place to live."

rePLANET Selects California

TOMRA officials selected California for the unveiling of the new rePLANET centers to take recycling "beyond the process," and provide a new experience that is fast, convenient and has a real environmental impact in their own community.

"Now consumers can do more than recycle...they can rePLANET by visiting our state-of-the-art centers located throughout the Inland Empire," said Randy Gusikoski, president, TOMRA Pacific. "By offering a conveniently located, well-lit, stand-alone facility with a trained staff, we hope to provide the kind of positive experience that makes it easy for people everywhere to join the recycling movement."

According to Greg Garvey, California was a natural choice for the launch of rePLANET. "Californians buy more than 12 billion carbonated drinks in aluminum, glass, plastic and bi-metal containers each year. Nearly 8 out of 10 of these beverage containers are recycled, saving natural resources, conserving energy and extending the life of landfills. Californians are well informed about environmental issues and are interested in new concepts and technology. In fact, we believe these factors provide a perfect environment to begin our recycling movement."

About rePLANET Centers

Visitors to rePLANET Recycling Centers will be greeted by specially trained rePLANET specialists who will be on hand from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Specialists will distribute free seed packets, offer timely eco-friendly tips about recycling and assist in making their experience convenient and easy. For added convenience, consumers will be able to use the automated recycling machines from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. The centers, located adjacent to Stater Bros. Markets, will provide a receipt for cash, which can be redeemed in the supermarket.

"An environmentally successful community begins with widespread participation. TOMRA's assistance in our beautification efforts and desire to change consumer's attitudes and behaviors toward recycling will help us continue to make Riverside a vibrant community," said Robin Lang, chairwoman of Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful.

About TOMRA Recycling Technology

Each rePLANET Center will feature the fastest recycling machines in the world, capable of accepting unsorted cans and bottles at the rate of 60 units per minute. Powered by electro-optical recognition technology, the TOMRA machines house internal cameras that take pictures at the rate of 25 per second to recognize and count each container and compute the redemption value.

About Stater Bros. Markets

Stater Bros. Markets currently operates 155 Supermarket locations, with 46 in San Bernadino County, 40 in Riverside County, 30 in Orange County, 27 in Los Angeles County, 10 in Northern San Diego County and 2 in Kern County. Headquartered in Colton, California, Stater Bros. has been serving Southern California customers since 1936.

About TOMRA

rePLANET was created by TOMRA, the world's leading provider of technology, services and solutions that help the world recycle. Customers in the United States and around the world utilize TOMRA's recycling solutions, which include automated Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs), that receive containers from consumers and provide a printed receipt that can be exchanged for the cash value of the redemption. Today, more than 36,000 TOMRA machines, which are synonymous with recycling in many countries, are in action around the world. TOMRA Systems ASA is headquartered in Akser, Norway and its North American headquarters are in Stratford, Connecticut. The company's products are marketed in 34 countries on four continents.