December 17, 2003

OLD ORCHARD GIVES EARLY HOLIDAY GIFT VALUED AT $1.5 MILLION TO SPARTA SCHOOLS

SPARTA, Mich., December 17, 2003 -- The holiday spirit was in the air here today as the Sparta, Michigan community received a huge gift toward building a brighter and more prosperous future in Sparta. Old Orchard Brands provided Randy Neelis, superintendent of Sparta Schools the deed to 88.5 acres of land adjacent to Old Orchard's headquarters at a press conference at the company's facility. The $1.5 million land donation will allow the Sparta School District to build a new high school and it will make way for additional restructuring and improvements in the school district.

Howard Veltman, vice president, chief financial officer and general counsel for Old Orchard Brands, presented the land deed to Neelis in front of local community leaders, school board officials and Michigan State Representative Doug Hart.

Old Orchard and Sparta community schools began talks five years ago about either the sale and purchase of the land adjacent to existing Sparta schools' owned land and Old Orchard's facility or a possible donation of the land.

"Old Orchard said it would donate the land to the school district once we had a solid plan for the land's use," said Neelis. "Two years ago, we initiated a facility study committee with 30 community leaders. Building a new high school was at the forefront of the results of that committee's recommendation."

Michigan State Representative Doug Hart, R-Rockford, attended the event and provided brief remarks applauding Old Orchard's generosity in support of the community.

"Old Orchard has provided the Sparta community with a gift that will keep on giving for years to come!" said Representative Hart. "The families of Northwest Kent County have just been blessed beyond belief. I commend Old Orchard for their selfless generosity and willingness to invest greatly in good quality education for our area's kids! Now this is what I call the 'ultimate' Christmas present."

Sen. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland, oversees the 30 th district in Michigan, which includes Sparta Township. While the senator could not attend the press conference because the Michigan Senate was in session, he was extremely pleased and excited to learn of Old Orchard's land donation to Sparta.

"I would like to express my sincere praise and gratitude to Old Orchard Brands for making such a laudable contribution to the Sparta School District," said Sen. Kuipers. "The land donated by Old Orchard Brands will offer continuous benefits to the parents and children of the Sparta community."

Old Orchard Brands is providing the 88.5 acres to the Sparta Education Foundation, a 503C non-profit organization which will oversee the use of the land for the Sparta School District. In June 2004, Sparta will ask its voters for a millage increase to raise $35 million in funds to build the new high school and make improvements to the existing schools. With passage of the millage, construction for the new high school could begin as early as Spring 2005.

"Supporting education and our community was the driving decision behind this donation," said Veltman of Old Orchard Brands. "The Alpine corridor is bustling with growth and is a key conduit to the Greater Grand Rapids area. We didn't want Sparta to be left out of the growth and economic opportunities that exist when a community has a strong school system. A new high school will help Sparta and the surrounding area continue the positive growth that we've been witnessing in the Grand Rapids area."

Sparta, Michigan-based Old Orchard Brands is one of the fastest growing fruit juice brands in the United States. The privately held company started operations in 1978 and offers consumers 29 frozen concentrate flavors and 36 bottled flavors in a variety of 100 percent fruit juices, blends and low-carbohydrate fruit juice cocktails. For more information visit www.oldorchardjuice.com.