JBR Gourmet Foods, Inc. Purchases Organic Coffee Co.; Acquisition expands share of growing "organic" coffee market.

SAN LEANDRO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 28, 1998--JBR Gourmet Foods, Inc. - one of the nation's leaders in the "quality" gourmet coffee and tea industry - today announced it has acquired the Organic Coffee Co.

The acquisition of Boulder, Colo.-based Organic Coffee Co. will substantially expand JBR's share of the rapidly growing organic coffee market.

With the acquisition, JBR adds eight organic coffee varieties to its already extensive product line, which includes San Francisco Bay Gourmet Coffee, Cunningham's Coffee and East India Coffee and Tea.

"The acquisition of the Organic Coffee Co. catapults JBR ahead of the other coffee companies in this potentially large segment of the specialty coffee business," said Jon B. Rogers, president and CEO of JBR Gourmet Foods, Inc. "The fit between Organic Coffee Co.'s very high quality organic coffees and JBR's top-of-the-line regular coffees solidifies JBR's position as the quality coffee leader."

"This acquisition continues our philosophy to provide the best quality product at an appropriate, reasonable price and thereby provide the best value to customers," added Rogers.

The Organic Coffee Co.'s distribution network includes approximately 800 grocery stores across the country. The Organic Coffee Co. operations will move to JBR's San Leandro facility, which produces more than 50,000 pounds of coffee each day.

The acquisition also reflects JBR's 20-year commitment to help protect the environment. Organic coffees are more than just chemical-free; the term "organic" refers to the overall environmentally "friendly" agricultural profile. Prior to purchasing Organic Coffee Co., JBR was roasting several organically grown coffees, which are among the few designated "ECO-OK" by independent monitoring agencies.

"We've advocated and established environmentally-sound growing and processing practices for many years," said Rogers, "not because it's a clever marketing ploy but because it's the right thing to do for the world community."

For example, Rogers said "we have even gone so far as to find a totally natural organic fertilizer for use on coffee farms that is safe to apply and grows bigger, healthier coffee trees."

JBR Gourmet Foods, Inc. - one of the nation's few remaining family-owned gourmet roasters - is based in San Leandro, Calif. JBR, whose lines include the award-winning San Francisco Bay Gourmet Coffee, has led the quality gourmet coffee business since 1981 and supplies millions of pounds of coffee and tea each year to outlets ranging from small gourmet stores to large supermarket chains and wholesale clubs.

For more information on JBR Gourmet Foods, Inc., please visit its website: www.gourmet-coffee.com.