USA: Monterey Pasta Company adds Furr’s grocery chain

Monterey Pasta Company (Nasdaq:PSTA) has received approval for distribution of six pasta products and three pasta sauces to 35 stores of Furr’s Supermarkets of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Four of the Company’s Homestyle-Fresh soups will also be distributed through 15 stores initially.

The products are:
 
 Gorgonzola Roasted Walnut            Ravioli Monterey Clam Chowder
 Spinach and Cheese Ravioli           Old Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup
 Snow Crab Ravioli with Dill          Tuscan Minestrone Soup
 Fresh Alfredo Sauce with Herbs       Ripe Red Tomato with Basil Soup
 Pesto Sauce with Garlic and Basil    Linguini
 Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce         Garlic Basil Fettuccine
                   Angel Hair, Spinach-Sweet Red Pepper

The Monterey Pasta Sales Manager for the Furr’s account is Jim Pitkethley of Bend, Oregon.

R. Lance Hewitt, President/CEO of Monterey Pasta said, “Our new agreement with Furr’s Supermarkets is another important step in executing our strategy of building our retail grocery distribution nationally. Furr’s is a key part of the New Mexico and West Texas markets, and we at Monterey Pasta are pleased to be chosen as suppliers.”

Founded as a regional brand, Monterey Pasta now has national distribution in over 5,735 retail and club stores throughout the United States and selected regions of Canada. Monterey Pasta manufactures USDA inspected, healthy, fresh gourmet refrigerated fresh pasta, sauces, pizzas, and soups at an integrated corporate headquarters/ manufacturing facility in Salinas, (Monterey County) CA.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include risks associated with the retention of key personnel and retention of key management, the risks inherent in food production, and intense competition in the market in which the Company competes. Future projections are based on the assumption that we will continue to sell in existing retail and club stores and will continue to add new stores. For additional information on these and other risks, please read the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 1999, its Forms 10-Q for First Quarter 2000, second quarter 2000, and its 2000 Proxy.