Del Monte Foods Bringing Major Soup Production to Its Mendota, Illinois Facility.

Business Editors

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 30, 2003

$25 Million Investment to Transform Mendota Plant into Key Year-Round Operation

Company Expects Significant Operating Synergies and Supply Chain Improvements

Del Monte Foods Company (NYSE: DLM) today announced plans to reconfigure its newly acquired Midwest soup operations to improve efficiencies, reduce costs and support growth.

The $25 million investment in its existing Mendota, Illinois facility will provide soup production capabilities that mirror those in Del Monte's plant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, giving the company two modern soup operations serving its trade customers. This investment will expand the capabilities of the Mendota seasonal vegetable facility, transforming it into a major year-round source of supply for private label soup products, and is expected to create 100 new jobs. Necessary plant and warehouse construction is now underway to achieve the targeted enhancements in customer service and production efficiencies by fall 2003.

"We expect this supply chain improvement to help us better serve our customers, reduce costs and provide support for the growth of the private label soup business," said Richard G. Wolford, Chairman and CEO of Del Monte Foods. "Locating this soup production in one of Del Monte's key facilities capitalizes on the excellent work force in the Mendota area as well as one of our key distribution centers in Rochelle, Illinois. Additional synergies will be realized at the Mendota plant as it builds on its long-standing role as a key seasonal operation.

"This move - initiated within the first month of closing our most recent acquisition - is representative of our aggressive approach to pursuing both the business and cost synergies the acquisition offers. Company-wide our integration is progressing well and we are sharply focused on maintaining this momentum."

The full line of soup products to be produced in Mendota will include those products under continuous USDA inspection. This full line of soup products is currently produced under a third party co-pack agreement.

Del Monte Foods

Del Monte Foods Company, with over $3 billion in pro forma sales, is one of the country's largest and most well-known producers, distributors and marketers of premium quality, branded, consumer products for the U.S. retail grocery market. With leading, nutritious food brands, packaged for the way we eat today, such as Del Monte(R), Contadina(R), StarKist(R), S&W(R), Nature's Goodness(TM), and College Inn(R) , and premier foods and snacks for pets, with brands including 9Lives(R), Kibbles'n Bits(R), Pup-Peroni(R), Snausages(R), and Naw Somes!(R), Del Monte products are sold nationwide in all channels serving retail markets, as well as to the U.S. military, certain export markets, the foodservice industry and food processors. The Company also is a major supplier of private label soup products. Headquartered in San Francisco, the Company operates 17 production facilities and 18 distribution centers in North America and has operating facilities in American Samoa, Ecuador and Venezuela. For more information on Del Monte Foods Company, visit the Company's website at www.delmonte.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements conveying management's expectations as to the future based on plans, estimates and projections at the time the Company makes the statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and the Company cautions you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any such forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements contained herein include statements related to the acquisition of certain H.J.Heinz businesses and future financial operating results.

Factors relating to the acquisition of the Heinz businesses that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described herein include, among others: the actions of the U.S., foreign and local governments; the success of the business integration in a timely and cost-effective manner; the risk that the Company may incur liabilities as a result of the transaction that are currently unknown; costs related to the transaction; and other economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting the transaction.

In addition to the factors mentioned above, factors relating to future financial operating results that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described herein include, among others: general economic and business conditions; weather conditions; energy costs and availability; crop yields; competition, including pricing and promotional spending levels by competitors; raw material costs and availability; high leverage; foreign currency exchange and interest rate fluctuations; the loss of significant customers or a substantial reduction in orders from these customers; market acceptance of new products; successful integration of acquired businesses; successful implementation of the Company's capability improvement program; consolidation of processing plants; changes in business strategy or development plans; availability, terms and deployment of capital; ability to increase prices; changes in, or the failure or inability to comply with, governmental regulations, including environmental regulations; industry trends, including changes in buying and inventory practices by customers; production capacity constraints and other factors.

These factors are described in more detail in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company does not undertake to update any of these statements in light of new information or future events.