North Central Texans Take Steps to Fight Hunger in Dallas/Fort Worth During the Hormel Hunger Walk.

Business Editors

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 27, 2003

Hormel Hunger Walk(TM) raises funds for two area America's Second

Harvest food banks, and will provide 14,600 meals for hungry

people in need in North Central Texas

Families and friends from the Dallas/Fort Worth area gathered at the North East Mall in Hurst, Texas, Thanksgiving morning to walk together to fight hunger in the Metroplex. The Hormel(TM) Hunger Walk, which raised enough funds for two area America's Second Harvest affiliates, Tarrant Area Food Bank in Fort Worth and the North Texas Food Bank in Dallas, to provide 14,600 meals for hungry people in North Central Texas.

Money raised at the Hormel Hunger Walk, which was presented by the Hormel(R) Hams for Hunger(TM) program, will be distributed throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex by the two food banks. Together, the food banks provide hundreds of thousands of meals to people in need every month.

"We are pleased people came together on Thanksgiving Day to truly make an impact on the issue of hunger in Dallas/Fort Worth," said Bo Soderbergh, executive director of Tarrant Area Food Bank. "Every one dollar raised during the Hormel Hunger Walk will provide a quality meal for five hungry people in central north Texas. The money generated will help more than 14,000 people in need."

Julie Craven, director of corporate communications for Hormel Foods, echoed that sentiment. "We share the passionate commitment by the food banks to fighting hunger throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, she said. The Hormel Hunger Walk allowed us to contribute to that cause, while providing a fun and meaningful event for families and friends."

Additional sponsors of the Hormel Hunger Walk included: Alan Young Pontiac-Buick-GMC; Sona Laser Hair Removal; Comcast; Persidea, Inc.; Fort Worth Child; The Courier News of Colleyville, Grapevine and Southlake; 96.3 KSCS; 96.7 The Twister; and Radio Disney AM 620.

About the North Texas Food Bank

The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a nonprofit center for food distribution. NTFB is a member of America's Second Harvest and was recognized by America's Second Harvest as Food Bank of the Year in 2001. The food bank procures donated surplus food and transfers it in usable quantities to 13 counties in north Texas to more than 400 nonprofit agencies, including Kids Cafes, after-school programs, residential treatment programs, food pantries, emergency shelters, soup kitchens, senior citizen centers, low-income daycare centers and other social service centers.

During the past fiscal year, NTFB agency food pantries distributed food to more than 64,000 families per month, and on-site feeding programs served over 540,000 meals and snacks per month. Every dollar donated to the North Texas Food Bank provides $12 worth of grocery products for the hungry. The North Texas Food Bank has distributed more than 233 million pounds of food since it was formed in 1982. For more information, visit www.ntxfoodbank.org.

About Tarrant Area Food Bank

Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB) works to break the cycle of hunger in Fort Worth and 13 surrounding counties in partnership with their community and network of agencies.

Founded in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1982, TAFB is a nonprofit, regional distributor of donated food and non-food items. TAFB distributes food to more than 280 agencies such as food pantries, senior citizen centers, soup kitchens, emergency shelters and low-income child care centers. This network feeds anyone at risk of hunger, including abuse victims, low-income senior citizens, and the chronically ill, severely disabled, working poor and unemployed. Of the clients served, 37 percent are children and 14 percent are elderly. Of the households assisted, 54 percent have monthly incomes of less than $1,000.

Each month, the network distributes food to partner agencies for more than 30,000 families and almost 500,000 meals and snacks. For more information, please visit www.tafb.org.

About Hormel Foods

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer-branded food and meat products, many of which are among the best known and trusted in the food industry. The company leverages its extensive expertise, innovation and high competencies in pork and turkey processing and marketing to bring quality, value-added brands to the global marketplace. In 2001, 2002 and 2003, Hormel Foods was named one of "The 400 Best Big Companies in America" by Forbes magazine. The company enjoys a strong reputation among consumers, retail grocers, and foodservice and industrial customers for products highly regarded for quality, taste, nutrition, convenience and value. For more information, visit www.hormel.com.

About the Hormel(R) Hams for Hunger(TM) Program

To make it easy for consumers to join in the fight against hunger, Hormel Foods Corporation and America's Second Harvest have partnered to provide premium Hormel(R) Cure 81(R) hams to hungry people nationwide. Through the Hormel(R) Hams for Hunger(TM) program, Hormel Foods, America's Second Harvest, grocers and consumers across the country can join forces to ensure that millions of hungry people receive high-quality, protein-rich Cure 81(R) hams this holiday season and beyond. Now in its 14th year, the Hormel(R) Hams for Hunger(TM) program is part of a longstanding commitment by Hormel Foods to fight hunger in America. In 2002, approximately 135,000 Cure 81(R) hams, with a retail value of more than $1.6 million, were given to people in need. Since the Hormel(R) Hams for Hunger(TM) program's inception in 1989, Hormel Foods has donated more than $9.5 million in premium hams. For more information, visit www.hormel.com.