FEATURE/From Coca-Cola to Low-Carbs, Guy Conte Named as Sunset COO.

Feature/Business Editors

FEATURE...

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 11, 2003

Low-carb pioneer Sunset Brands, Inc. (a subsidiary of Sunset Holdings International, Ltd. -- www.sunsetholdings.com) is pleased to announce the appointment of Guy Conte as the company's Chief Operating Officer (COO). "We're absolutely thrilled to be working with someone of Guy's caliber in consumer packaged goods (CPG)," said Sunset Brands CEO and Chairman Todd Sanders. "Guy's experience with industry giants such as Coca-Cola(R), Frito-Lay(R), and other Fortune 100 companies ensures our footing as the eminent industry leader in the low-carb CPG segment."

The brain child of Wall Street mogul Todd Sanders, newly created Sunset Brands, Inc. recently announced its plans to become the fastest growing supplier of great tasting, HONESTLY LABELED low-carb foods and beverages. "We're pursuing a classic roll-up strategy and expect to acquire between 1 to 3 companies and/or products PER MONTH over the next 12 to 18 months," said Conte. "Few companies have undertaken such an aggressive market approach. We're issuing an OPEN CALL: If any company or individual out there has a GREAT TASTING, TRULY LOW-CARB PRODUCT deserving national distribution and presence -- but doesn't have the resources Sunset Brands does -- then WE WANT TO TALK TO YOU!"

With the advent of the Atkins Diet and the world's most successful food and beverage companies -- such as Heinz, Anheuser-Busch, and Breyers, etc. -- seeking to capitalize on the low-carb craze, the low-carb diet marketplace has gained explosive notoriety. "What was once dismissed as a mere `fad' has now become a mainstream lifestyle, catching the attention of the nation's largest retailers," said Conte, "and Sunset Brands intends to emerge as the low-carb brand/market leader where one currently DOES NOT EXIST by supplying the national retail sector with a comprehensive strategic approach to exploit this massive market opportunity."

Conte brings 25 years' experience in retail CPG, starting his career at Procter & Gamble and later joining snack-food giant Frito-Lay. Following his tenure at Frito-Lay, Conte joined Coca-Cola, the world's largest bottling, distribution, and marketing company, and was responsible for over $250 million in annual Coca-Cola sales. Under Conte's leadership, Coca-Cola achieved record sales, market share, and profitability.

Conte has also held leadership roles at several successful start-up organizations, including PIA Merchandising Company, where, under his tutelage, PIA's sales grew from $2 million to over $145 million in under 6 years -- becoming the leading provider of outsourced retail merchandising services to Fortune 100 companies. He also served with ARS Consulting, where he directly assisted a myriad of start-up companies in the development, initial execution, and ongoing management of their sales & marketing strategies.

"While there are currently over 1,600 low-carb affiliated products and/or product lines in the marketplace, a vast majority are owned and managed by `mom and pop' operations which simply don't possess the resources or capabilities to scale distribution on a national level," said Conte. "Sunset Brands' strength lies in our ability to leverage our financial, merger/acquisition, sales/marketing, and operational expertise to exploit this emerging market opportunity."

As a subsidiary of Sunset Holdings International, Ltd., Sunset Brands, Inc. is the company's first investment initiative in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) space. "We're absolutely elated with the launch of Sunset Holdings International as a Los Angeles-based financial advisory and private investment firm," said Sanders. "Sunset Holdings' focus is on emerging growth investment opportunities in a variety of sectors. Our team of professionals has participated in over 30 transactions, with an aggregate value in excess of $5 billion."