J.W. ALLEN & CO. MORRISTOWN, TN FROZEN BAKERY PRODUCTS MFR. FINDS COST REDUCTION, OTHER BENEFITS FROM CHEP USA PALLET PROGRAM.

WHEELING, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 1995--J.W. Allen & Co., Wheeling, one of the nation's leading manufacturers of bakery mixes, icings/fillings and frozen baked goods, announced participation in Chep USA's pallet pooling program at its Morristown, TN frozen facility.

"The decision by J.W. Allen & Co. to participate in the Chep program was based on a number of factors. Customer satisfaction is the number one reason. Our customers who participate in the Chep program are insured of top quality pallets flowing through their distribution system," explained Peter Hafner, Director of Branches. "Another advantage of the program is that there is no charge to our customers for using the program. The cost is incurred by J.W. Allen & Co. as long as the customer tracks the inbound pallets and returns them to a Chep depot."

Reducing total system costs and adding a new customer service feature were the primary considerations of executives at J. W. Allen & Co. in deciding to implement the Chep program. The Chep program offers additional benefits by assisting J.W. Allen & Co., its carriers and its customers to eliminate inefficient pallet exchange and product damage while increasing productivity. "The environmental attributes of pallet pooling are often overlooked, but where there is also an economic benefit the value to the entire supply chain shines through," stated Michael McCarthy, President and CEO of Chep USA, Park Ridge, NJ.

Chep USA operates a national pallet rental company serving grocery and food service manufacturers and distributors, mass merchandisers, warehouse clubs, and produce and frozen food sectors with high quality pallets from more than 165 depots located throughout the U.S. Chep pallets are shipped from more than 2,200 manufacturing/ shipping locations to more than 2,800 distributor receiving locations. Chep USA is part of the worldwide CHEP organization, which operates in 15 countries on four continents and controls more than 50 million pallets.

Founded in 1881 as a baking supply company, Wheeling-based J.W. Allen & Co. was rated as one of the fastest growing, privately-held companies by Crain's Chicago Business magazine in 1995. An industry leader in product development, J.W. Allen & Co. presently manufactures: mixes for cakes, donuts, breads and sweet goods; ready-to-use icings and fillings; and frozen baked goods. The company also offers complete support services to assist its In-Store and Food Service customers in running a successful, profitable bakery.

CONTACT: Pauline Russell

J.W. Allen & Co.

708-459-5400

or

Gary Garkowski

VP, Marketing

Chep, USA

201-391-8181

or

Ronald Margulis

Managing Director

RAM Communications

908-232-3230