Skillet Sensations by Stouffer's and Stouffer's Lean Cuisine; New Product Line Puts Convenience on the Stovetop.

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 15, 1998--Nestle USA -- Food Group, Inc. announces the introduction of Stouffer's(R) and Stouffer's(R) Lean Cuisine(R) Skillet Sensations(tm), a new line of all-in-one frozen meals designed for skillet preparation.

Skillet Sensations meals contain chicken, beef or turkey, as well as starch and a hearty serving of vegetables for two 12- or 12.5-oz. portions. The line features 14 varieties with ingredient and flavor combinations reminiscent of homestyle cooking. Meals such as Chicken Alfredo and Roasted Beef & Potatoes give consumers the chance to eat dinners that would be difficult or time-consuming to prepare from scratch. Unlike meal starters or kits, Skillet Sensations is one-step skillet preparation that takes just 15 minutes to complete.

The line utilizes Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) technology, which preserves the integrity of ingredients by freezing each component separately. This process delivers superior flavor and texture for an overall fresher-tasting meal. Nestle USA is believed to be the first food company to apply IQF technology to the manufacturing and freezing of sauces. For Skillet Sensations, Stouffer's hallmark sauces are frozen into disks just larger than the size of quarters, providing a saucy, portionable product.

A national cooking study just released by Nestle USA showed that working women strongly prefer stovetop cooking, and 80 percent of those surveyed feel that a meal prepared in the skillet is "closer to homemade." Skillet Sensations offers consumers the chance to be conveniently involved in the part of cooking they enjoy the most, stirring and serving, while eliminating ingredient shopping and chopping.

"Complete skillet meals are the most significant innovation in the frozen food category in years," said Angelo Iantosca, Vice President of Marketing for Nestle's Frozen Food Division. "Our national study found that, during the week, nearly 50 percent of working women plan dinner after 4:00 p.m., and about half think 6:00 p.m. is too late to start preparing a meal using fresh ingredients. Skillet Sensations is designed for these consumers, who need a balance between convenience and fresh taste."

For consumers seeking meals on the lighter side, Stouffer's Lean Cuisine Skillet Sensations delivers exceptional taste at lower fat and calorie levels. These meals average 280 calories, 4 grams of fat and 770 mg of sodium per 12-oz. serving. Lean Cuisine Skillet Sensations meals also contain a full-serving of vegetables, which is of increasing importance to consumers trying to meet the National 5 A Day recommendations for better health.

Stouffer's and Stouffer's Lean Cuisine Skillet Sensations are available nationally beginning November 1, 1998. Each 24- or 25-oz. package carries a suggested retail price of $4.69, which equals just $2.35 per serving.

The Frozen Food Division is one of nine Nestle USA business divisions. Nestle USA is a part of Nestle S.A. of Vevey, Switzerland -- the world's largest food company.