CoolBrands Acquires Business and Assets of Fruit-a-Freeze, Incorporated.Business Editors CoolBrands International Inc. (TSX TSX Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE before April, 2002) TSX Transfer from Stack Pointer to Index TSX True Space Extension :COB.A) announced today that it has purchased the business and assets of Fruit-a-Freeze, Incorporated, the Norwalk, CA based frozen fruit bar manufacturer. Fruit-a-Freeze, Incorporated began making frozen fruit bars in 1977, and since then has been a pioneer in establishing the market for frozen novelties made from whole fruit and all natural ingredients. In its home market in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, , Fruit-a-Freeze products are consistently top ranked sellers among frozen novelties. Overall, Fruit-a-Freeze products are sold in supermarkets in 16 states, club stores in 21 states and South Korea and Taiwan, and convenience stores The following is a list of convenience stores organized by geographical location. Stores are grouped by the lowest heading that contains all locales in which the brands have significant presence. and impulse outlets in 7 states. The acquisition, closed on June 30, 2002, includes the Fruit-a-Freeze frozen novelty manufacturing facility in Norwalk, CA, and Fruit-a-Freeze's frozen distribution center and direct store delivery route distribution system, operated out of a 1,000 pallet frozen storage warehouse located at the Norwalk facility. The Fruit-a-Freeze distribution system services supermarket chains, club stores, independent grocers, convenience stores and independent distributors throughout Southern California. Commenting on the acquisition, CoolBrands International's President and Co-CEO, David J David J. Haskins (b. April 24, 1957, in Northampton, England) is a British alternative rock musician. He was the bassist for the seminal gothic rock band Bauhaus. Life and work . Stein, stated, "By acquiring Fruit-a-Freeze, CoolBrands is positioned to develop a national presence in the growing frozen fruit bar segment. In addition, Fruit-a-Freeze's frozen novelty factory and frozen distribution system, located in the heart of the largest U.S. market, bring synergies to our consumer products and foodservice divisions." Mr. Stein further commented, "The frozen novelty plant provides additional capacity needed to meet demand for the Company's frozen novelty products. Also, the down-stream distribution system, which includes approximately 1,000 owned novelty freezers dedicated to the Company's products, as well as Haagen-Dazs pints and novelties and other Nestle products which the Company will also distribute, offers enhanced penetration of the impulse market for all CoolBrands novelty products. This includes foodservice products, such as the recently introduced Weight Watchers Smart Ones nonfat non·fat adj. Lacking fat solids or having the fat content removed. soft ice cream mix." Mr. Stein concluded, "The Fruit-a-Freeze acquisition advances three strategic initiatives for CoolBrands. First, Fruit-a-Freeze enhances our portfolio of products in an increasingly consolidated category. Second, the frozen novelty plant secures additional production capacity to support increasing demand for key CoolBrands products. Third, the down-stream distribution system, aligning Eskimo Pie Eskimo Pie is a brand name for a chocolate-covered vanilla ice cream bar wrapped in foil, the first such dessert sold in the United States. Danish immigrant Christian Kent Nelson, a schoolteacher and candy store owner, claimed to have received the inspiration for the Eskimo and other CoolBrands offerings with Nestle/Haagen-Dazs products, provides a solid footing for expansion in the impulse segment. In all, the Fruit-a-Freeze acquisition furthers the Company's long term strategic interests, while being accretive to earnings in the near term." Coolbrands markets Eskimo Pie(R) branded frozen novelties and frozen dessert products. Eskimo Pie(R) created the frozen novelty industry in 1921 when its founder, Christian K. Nelson, invented the chocolate-coated ice cream bar An ice cream bar is a frozen dessert on a stick or a candy bar that has ice cream in it. The coating is usually a thin layer of chocolate. Sometimes there is some crunchy goodness on the outside too. . Today, more than 80 years later, Eskimo Pie(R) remains one of the best-known and most widely distributed Adj. 1. widely distributed - growing or occurring in many parts of the world; "a cosmopolitan herb"; "cosmopolitan in distribution" cosmopolitan bionomics, environmental science, ecology - the branch of biology concerned with the relations between organisms of all frozen novelty brands. The Company also markets a broad range of frozen novelties and frozen dessert products under the Tropicana(R), Welch's(R), Weight Watchers(R) Smart Ones(R), Betty Crocker Betty Crocker, an invented persona and mascot, is a brand name and trademark of American food company General Mills. The name was first developed by the Washburn Crosby Company in 1921 as a way to give a personalized response to consumer product questions. (R), Trix(R), Yoplait(R), Colombo(R) and Yoo Hoo(R) brand names pursuant to long-term licensing agreements. In addition, Coolbrands franchises and licenses frozen dessert outlets operated under a Family of Brands including Yogen Fruz Yogen Fruz is a world-wide chain of frozen yogurt stores. Yogen Fruz serves a variety of other treats focusing on healthier alternatives. In 1986, two young brothers opened their first retail outlet at the Promenade Mall in Toronto, Canada. (R), I Can't Believe It's Yogurt(R), Bresler's(R), Swensen's(R), Golden Swirl(R), Ice Cream Churn(R), and Java Coast(R) Fine Coffees, with company-owned, franchised and non-traditional partnership locations in approximately 80 countries around the world. Coolbrands' Foodservice Division is a leading manufacturer and supplier of premium soft serve ice cream, frozen yogurt, custard and smoothies to the foodservice industry. The Company also manufactures and sells a full line of quality flavors, chocolate coatings, fudge sauces, powders for chocolate milk, egg nog A drink make from eggs beaten with milk, cream, and sugar, often spiked with rum or other alcoholic liquor, and sometimes seasoned with cinnamon; usually spelled eggnog sp>. It is a traditional drink served at social gatherings during the Christmas season. See also: Nog bases and other ingredients and flexible packaging products for use in private label dairy products in addition to the Company's brands. "Safe Harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. " Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995: Information in this release relating to the Company's future plans and performance are "forward looking statements" and, as such, involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (1) the highly competitive nature of the frozen dessert market and the level of consumer interest in the Company's products, (2) product costing, (3) the weather, (4) the performance of management, including management's ability to implement its plans as contemplated, (5) the Company's relationships with its customers, franchisees, licensees and licensors, and (6) government regulation. |
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