The Kettle Brand Breaks the Flavor Barrier with New, Reduced Fat Baked Potato Chips; Kettle(TM) Bakes Lives Up to Namesake Original, Sets New Flavor Standard.

SALEM, Ore. -- After a full year in development, Kettle Foods' new collection of 'Better For You' snacks debuts this winter with a fresh interpretation of baked potato chips. Heavy on flavor but light on fat and calories, Kettle(TM) brand Bakes debuts in rich Aged White Cheddar, spicy-sweet Hickory Honey Barbeque, and Lightly Salted.

All-natural Kettle(TM) brand Bakes defy convention. First, they're made with fresh, Russet potato slices, instead of the compressed potato flakes other brands use. Secondly, Kettle(TM) brand Bakes potato chips deliver on the Kettle brand's reputation for flavor, with 65% percent less fat than regular potato chips. An individual serving (one ounce) of 20 potato chips -- more than 50 percent larger than other baked brands -- is only 125 calories and 3 grams of fat. Plus, there are no trans fats, cholesterol or MSG.

"Consumers deserve -- and are demanding -- great flavor. Yet, for a lot of people 'low fat' equals low taste expectations, and that just won't do for Kettle Foods," said Carolyn Richards, chief flavor architect of Kettle Foods. "With Kettle(TM) brand Bakes we've set a new flavor standard. We've crafted a reduced fat potato chip that delivers on Kettle Foods' reputation for great flavor, and that's a pretty significant development in this category."

In keeping with the company's deep roots in the natural food industry, Kettle(TM) brand Bakes are made with all-natural seasonings carefully blended to complement the rich taste of the sliced Russet potato. Aged cheddar, parmesan, and blue cheeses combine to make the decadent Aged White Cheddar flavor, while Hickory Honey Barbeque is seasoned with natural honey, paprika, chili peppers, garlic and hickory smoke flavor for a delicious balance of sweet and savory.

Kettle(TM) brand Bakes are lightly misted with only the finest expeller-pressed safflower oil, which is naturally trans fat-free, non-hydrogenated, high monounsaturated and contains no more than 10 percent saturated fat. Unlike peanut, canola, or olive oils, safflower oil is neutral in taste so the true flavor of both the potato and seasonings shines through.

The growing market for better-tasting, more healthful, or "Better For You," products fits into trends identified in the 2004 Hartman Group study "Obesity in America" which found that consumers are changing the way they approach dieting. According to Laurie Demeritt, president and COO of The Hartman Group, consumers place a premium on having choices. "They want healthy food options, but they also want indulgent options. They do not want to feel they have to accept one or the other. As such, they are looking for products that achieve a balance of taste and health."

Available in supermarkets and natural food stores in four ounce bags in early 2006, Kettle(TM) brand Bakes will retail for $2.99-$3.29. Kettle Foods' revamped its existing line of Kettle(TM) brand Krisps Baked Potato Chips into a new 'better for you' collection of healthier, better tasting snacks. Next year, new Kettle(TM) brand Bakes will be included in Stonyfield Farm's vending machines (replacing Kettle(TM) Krisps) which provide healthier snack options in schools. Next in development for the Kettle(TM) brand Bakes line are all-natural, certified organic baked pretzels which Kettle Foods plans to make available to consumers in early 2006.

About Kettle Foods

Founded in 1978, Oregon-based Kettle Foods is a privately owned company committed to producing great tasting, all-natural snacks with a caring commitment to its employees, craft and community. In doing so, it leads the industry as the No. 1 salty snack brand in natural supermarkets according to SPINS, with distribution throughout North America, Japan, Guam and Western Europe. Its manufacturing sites in Salem, Ore., and Norwich, United Kingdom produce more than 20 flavors and four varieties of potato chip offerings, eight flavors of organic tortilla chips and a variety of nut butters and trail mixes. Visit www.kettlefoods.com for more information.