Piggly Wiggly and Dick's Supermarkets to Sell SureBeam(R) Processed Fresh Ground Beef Throughout Wisconsin, Northern Illinois

4 December 2002| Source:

Technology Effectively Eliminates Threat of E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella in Foods

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SureBeam Corporation (NASDAQ: SURE) announced today that consumers can now buy SureBeam(R) processed fresh ground beef at Fresh Brands, Inc. supermarkets throughout Wisconsin and northern Illinois. With 101 stores operating as Piggly Wiggly and Dick's Supermarkets, Fresh Brands, Inc., begins offering case-ready fresh ground beef processed with SureBeam Corporation's revolutionary electron beam technology, a process that uses ordinary electricity to safely eliminate the threat of dangerous bacteria from food products.


"By offering SureBeam processed fresh ground beef, Fresh Brands continues its tradition of providing a quality product to its customers," said Michael Houser, vice chairman and executive vice president/chief marketing officer of Fresh Brands, Inc. "Consumers can now be assured that the product they purchase also provides them with an added measure of safety in addition to giving them great tasting ground beef."


Piggly Wiggly and Dick's Supermarkets are selling SureBeam processed fresh ground beef products in one-pound case-ready packages of 93-percent and 85-percent lean.


"I'm pleased to have Fresh Brands join the growing list of leading supermarkets selling SureBeam processed ground beef," stated Larry Oberkfell, SureBeam Chairman, President and CEO. "By offering SureBeam processed ground beef, Fresh Brands continues to define the Piggly Wiggly and Dick's Supermarkets as quality brands."


Similar to a microwave oven, SureBeam technology uses electricity as an energy source to irradiate harmful bacteria such as E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella. The SureBeam patented system is based on proven electron beam technology that destroys dangerous bacteria, much like thermal pasteurization does to milk.


Fresh Brands entry into the market brings to over 1,200 the total number of stores in the Midwest, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States offering SureBeam processed fresh ground beef. This is in addition to the thousands of supermarkets providing SureBeam processed frozen hamburger patties, which are also provided through home delivery, direct mail and food service.


Fresh Brands, Inc. is a supermarket retailer and grocery wholesaler through corporate-owned retail, franchised and independent supermarkets. The corporate-owned and franchised retail supermarkets currently operate under the Piggly Wiggly and Dick's Supermarkets brands. Fresh Brands currently has 74 franchised Piggly Wiggly supermarkets, 27 corporate-owned Piggly Wiggly and Dick's Supermarkets, two distribution centers and a centralized bakery/deli production facility. The company controls nearly one billion dollars in retail grocery sales. Stores are located throughout Wisconsin and northern Illinois.


Headquartered in San Diego, California, SureBeam Corporation is a leading provider of electron beam food safety systems and services for the food industry. SureBeam's technology significantly improves food quality, extends product freshness, and provides disinfestation that helps to protect the environment. The SureBeam patented system is based on proven electron beam and x-ray technology that destroys harmful food-borne bacteria much like thermal pasteurization does to milk. This technology can also eliminate the need for toxic chemical fumigants used in pest control that may be harmful to the earth's ozone layer. For its "great step" into food safety, SureBeam's revolutionary technology is the winner of Food Processing Magazine's "Innovation Award" for 2001. SureBeam is also ranked by Deloitte & Touche as the 37th fastest growing technology company in the Orange County/San Diego region for 2002.


"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The statements contained in this release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Examples of such forward-looking statements include the expected processing for and sales of product related to this announcement. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include the risks associated with the Company's entry into new commercial food markets that require the company to develop demand for its product, its ability to access the capital markets and other risks described in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

• Latest industry announcements
• Report in focus

Search News Research Briefings Blog Membership Jobs Forums Events E-mail Alerts Your Account