Weider Nutrition Appoints Food Industry Veteran President and Chief Executive Officer.

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 1999--

David J. Gustin was Most Recently President and COO of ConAgra's

$3 Billion Grocery Products Companies

Weider Nutrition International, Inc. (NYSE:WNI) today announced the appointment of David J. Gustin president and chief executive officer effective March 1, 1999.

Gustin joins Weider from ConAgra, Inc. where he was most recently president and chief operating officer of the ConAgra Grocery Products Companies. In this post, Gustin ran the Hunt-Wesson Companies, ConAgra's most profitable unit, with $3 billion in sales. At Weider Nutrition, Gustin will be responsible for all day-to-day operations, corporate development, sales and marketing, and long-term strategic planning.

Gustin will also join Weider Nutrition's board of directors, raising its current membership from eight to nine.

Eric Weider, chairman of Weider Nutrition, stated, "We welcome Dave to Weider and look forward to his immediate contributions. His strong background in running multibillion dollar, international branded food product divisions and companies is sure to be an asset to Weider Nutrition.

"His specific talent in building household name brands, such as Healthy Choice and Orville Redenbacher, has been evident throughout his 25 year career. Dave is a marketing visionary with strong operating experience and we have the utmost confidence in his ability to lead Weider to the next stage in the company's growth."

Gustin stated, "Weider Nutrition is a well established company in an industry that has tremendous opportunity. Weider has an excellent manufacturing infrastructure, strong brands, and a wide distribution channel for its products. The Company was founded on Joe Weider's passion for health and nutrition and I intend to build on that tradition."

As president and chief operating officer of ConAgra Grocery Products Companies from July 1996 to June 1998, Gustin was responsible for Hunt-Wesson Companies, which included the Hunt, Wesson, Peter Pan, and Knotts brands, as well as the Orville Redenbacher/Swiss Miss Companies, and the Golden Valley Co.

Gustin was also responsible for ConAgra Frozen Foods, which includes the Healthy Choice and Banquet brands. Gustin employed growth strategies that included portfolio innovation, supply chain management, re-organization of sales and marketing, installation of leading edge systems across the company, acquisitions, alliances, and joint ventures.

Gustin's seven year tenure at ConAgra/Hunt-Wesson was marked by two Marketing Excellence Awards for outstanding new products -- Reden Budders and Healthy Choice Soup. Prior to joining ConAgra/Hunt-Wesson, Gustin spent three years at Frito-Lay, Inc. and 16 years at General Foods Corp. He received an MBA from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College.

Weider Nutrition International, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of branded and private label nutritional supplements and is a leading marketer of multiple brands of nutritional supplements through multiple distribution channels. The company manufactures a broad range of capsules and tablets, powdered drink mixes, bottled beverages, and nutritional bars.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in the press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that are based on management's beliefs and assumptions, current expectations, estimates, and projections. Many of the factors that will determine the company's future results are beyond the ability of the company to control or predict. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and, therefore, actual results may differ materially. The company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Important factors that may affect future results include, but are not limited to: the impact of competitive products and pricing, product development, changes in laws and regulations, customer demand, litigation, availability of future financing, uncertainty of market acceptance of new products and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's SEC reports, copies of which are available upon request from the company's investor relations department.