Dogs Will Sit, Shake and Roll over for New Del Monte Pet Products; Company Drives Category Innovation With Highest Percentage of Sales from New Items.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Building on last year's successful new pet product introductions, Del Monte Pet Products today announced that it has launched major new product introductions across the dog food and dog snacks categories -- solidifying Del Monte Pet Products' position as a leader in innovation and new product introductions. New products include: Kibbles 'n Bits(R) wet dog food; new Meaty Bone(R) Chew-Lotta(TM) dog snacks; and Snausages(R) to Go!, Pup-Peroni(R) to Go! and Meaty Bone(R) to Go! dog treats.

"Innovation is a core commitment, and we believe, a core competency of Del Monte Foods," said Richard G. Wolford, chairman and chief executive officer of Del Monte Foods. "This broad-based launch of new products across the spectrum of pet products exemplifies that commitment."

According to Del Monte Foods Company (NYSE:DLM), these exciting, new products and line extensions will continue to play an integral role in driving top-line company and category growth. Leveraging its strong brands in dog food and building upon its dog snacks leadership, over the past three years the company has had the highest percentage of sales from new items of any other manufacturer. Last year the Company successfully launched four new products including Kibbles 'n Bits(R) HomeStyle dog food, Pup-Peroni(R) NawSomes! (R) Mini's and Scooby Snacks "Far Out Snacks(TM)"; and Pounce(R) Caribbean Catch(TM) cat snacks.

"We're proud of the role that our pet products play in the Del Monte Foods family and in families across the nation," said Todd Lachman, managing director, Del Monte Pet Products. "With last year's successful product launches and this year's exciting new product introductions, we continue to have a heritage of bringing exciting, new products to our famous table of brands, providing pets with great taste and nutrition, and enhancing the pet-owner relationship."

As the number of dogs and dog-owning households across the U.S. continues to climb, Del Monte's new and existing products will continue to play a starring role in strengthening the pet-owner relationship. In fact, by the year 2006, the Pet Food Institute projects that the U.S. canine population will increase to 74 billion and that 42 percent of households will own a dog.

Each of the following new products is expected to be available on grocer's shelves this summer:

--  Kibbles 'n Bits(R) Wet Dog Food

        After last year's successful introduction of Kibbles 'n Bits
        HomeStyle dog food, Del Monte is introducing a new product to
        the $1.4 billion wet dog food category. This true innovation
        expects to inject life into the somewhat dormant category.
        Celebrating the great taste dogs and their owners have come to
        expect from Kibbles 'n Bits, the new product, in canned
        varieties, is one of the best-looking products in the category
        with unsurpassed taste. The product boasts intensely aromatic,
        hearty cuts made from real beef and chicken along with
        wholesome vegetable chunks and for added convenience, the
        product features an easy-open lid -- supporting Kibbles 'n
        Bits slogan More Taste. More Joy.

        Kibbles 'n Bits wet dog food also lets owners give their dogs
        the kind of food they'll love while providing all the
        nutrition they need - it meets AAFCO standards for 100 percent
        complete and balanced nutrition. The product is available in
        eight great-tasting flavors, including Burger Dinner with Real
        Bacon and Cheese Bits in Gravy; Tender Slices with Real Beef
        and Vegetables in Gravy; Hearty Cuts with Real Beef, Chicken
        and Vegetables in Gravy; Tender Cuts with Real Turkey, Bacon
        and Vegetables in Gravy; Tender Cuts with Real Beef and
        Vegetables in Gravy; Tender Cuts with Real Lamb, Rice and
        Vegetables in Gravy; Tender Slices with Real Beef, Chicken and
        Vegetables in Gravy; and Ground Dinner with Real Beef Chunks
        and Vegetables. Kibbles 'n Bits wet dog food is available in
        13.2-ounce cans that retail for around $.69-$.79 and 22-ounce
        cans that retail for around $1.09-$1.19. The 13.2-ounce can
        size is also available in a convenient 12-can variety pack.

    --  Meaty Bone(R) Chew-Lotta(TM)

        New Chew-Lotta dog snacks extends the success of the popular
        Meaty Bone brand in the dog snacks category and is a
        deliciously long-lasting, gnawable dog snack available in
        varieties for both large and small dogs. Chew-Lotta dog snacks
        features a delicious baked-in meaty taste and a plastic tray
        that gives a "butcher fresh" appearance to the product. The
        product is available in a one-bone, 6.3-ounce package for
        medium to large dogs, which retails for $2.99. The product is
        also available in a two-bone, 5.0-ounce package for small to
        medium dogs, which retails for $2.99.

    --  Snausages(R)to Go!, Pup-Peroni(R) to Go! and Meaty Bone(R) to
        Go! Treats

        With new products called Snausages to Go!, Pup-Peroni to Go!
        and Meaty Bone to Go! dog treats, Del Monte Pet Products is
        poised to continue to drive innovation in the $1.75 billion
        dog snacks category. Great for training and perfect for
        on-the-go treating or snacking, these dog treats are delicious
        miniature versions of Pup-Peroni, Snausages and Meaty Bone
        treats packaged in portable, pocket-sized containers that
        feature a clip for easy attachment to a belt or leash. The
        miniature snacks provide full-sized taste and are packaged in
        a resealable container to keep the product fresh. The product,
        available in select markets, features a 2.0-2.5-ounce package,
        which retails for around $1.99.

"Looking ahead," Lachman added, "Del Monte Pet Products is a business with very strong brands, which competes in one of the fastest growing consumer goods categories, and we are excited about these new products and the prospect of continuing to delight pets and their owners in the coming year."

Del Monte Foods is one of the country's largest and most well-known producers, distributors and marketers of premium quality, branded and private label food and pet products for the U.S. retail market, generating over $3 billion in pro forma net sales in fiscal 2003. With a powerful portfolio of brands including Del Monte(R), Contadina(R), StarKist(R), S&W(R), Nature's Goodness(TM), College Inn(R), 9Lives(R), Kibbles' n Bits(R), Pup-Peroni(R), Snausages(R), and NawSomes! (R), Del Monte products are found in nine out of 10 American households. For more information on Del Monte Foods Company, visit the Company's Web site 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 such statements are made. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release include statements related to expected performance of new and existing products in our Pet Products reportable segment. 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, including offerings by competitors, failure to achieve expected sales and other factors. 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.