Welch’s Names New Members to Board of Directors

March 3, 2008

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
For more information, please contact:
Teleia Farrell, corporate communications manager
978-371-3762, tfarrell@welchs.com
 
Welch’s Names New Members to Board of Directors
 
CONCORD, Mass. (March 3, 2008) – Welch’s, the world’s leading marketer of Concord and Niagara grape-based products, today announced five new members to its board of directors: Jerry A. Czebotar, Douglas R. Forraht, Thomas G. Wilkinson, Stephen Morris – an independent board member, and finally Joseph Falcone who replaces Randy Graham as president of National and will also act as chairman of the board of directors of Welch Foods Inc.
 
“In the next three to five years, Welch’s is going to move from being a good company to a great company.  That means we’ll be growing in terms of global reach, sales volume, profit and in value of the enterprise,” said David Lukiewski, president and CEO of Welch’s.  Lukiewski continued, “With the experience these new members bring to the board, we’re confident they can help guide us in achieving our goals.” 
 
New Directors
Jerry A. Czebotar, of Pasco, Wash., has been a National member for 17 years and a director on National’s board since 2002.  Czebotar operates a farm that includes both Concord and Niagara grapes.  Czebotar is a full-time farmer and a member of the Washington State Grape Society.  As well, he is a lifetime member of the Alpha Gamma Rho Agricultural Fraternity.  Czebotar attended Columbia Basin College and Washington State University.
 
Douglas R. Forraht, of Sodus, Mich., has held a National family membership for 36 years.  Forraht operates a farm in Berrien Springs as part of a family partnership. The farm includes Concords and Niagaras.  Forraht is a member and past director of the Berrien County Farm Bureau and a member of the Berrien County Farm Bureau Oil Company.  He is a past member of the Michigan Farm Bureau State Policy Development Committee and the State Young Farmer Committee.  Forraht is a graduate of Michigan State University.
 
Thomas G. Wilkinson, of North East, Pa.., has been a National member for 20 years.  Wilkinson operates a farm that includes Concord and Niagara grapes.  Wilkinson is the owner of Thomas Wilkinson Farms and president of Thomas Daniel Vineyards, Inc.  Prior to his current engagements, Wilkinson was director of engineering for Welch’s and also worked for Red Wing/Carriage House.  He holds a BSME from Valparaiso University and attended Western Michigan University’s MBA program.  Wilkinson attended Northwestern University-Kellogg Graduate School of Management – Finance for Executives and Boston University School of Management Implementing Manufacturing Strategy.
 
Joseph Falcone, of Silver Creek, N.Y., has held a National family membership for 54 years.  Falcone operates a farm that includes both Concord and Niagara grapes and 1,800 acres of processing vegetables.  Currently, he is the president of Falcone Farms, Inc. and is a standing member of Pro-Fac Cooperative Commodity Committee, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Farm Bureau, New York State Vegetable Growers Association, New York State Horticultural Society, Northeast Organic Farmers Association of New York, and New York Wine & Grape Foundation.  Falcone is a graduate of Alfred University and SUNY Fredonia.
 
Stephen Morris, of Katonah, N.Y., is the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Arbitron, Inc. (NYSE: ARB), an international media and marketing information firm serving radio broadcasters, radio networks, cable companies, advertisers, advertising agencies, outdoor advertising companies and the online radio industry in the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Europe. Morris has been functioning in a leadership role overseeing the profit and loss of the Arbitron business beginning in 1992.  Earlier in his career, Morris spent 18 years with General Foods/Kraft in a variety of marketing and general management roles.  Morris currently sits on the boards of Arbitron, Inc. and the John B. Stetson Company.  He holds an MBA from Harvard University and received his BA from Yale University.  

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About Welch’s
Headquartered in Concord, Massachusetts, Welch’s is the processing and marketing arm of the National Grape Cooperative Association whose Concord and Niagara grapes are harvested from vineyards in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Washington state, as well as the province of Ontario, Canada.  Since the inception of its “unfermented grape wine” in 1869, Welch’s now produces and markets grape juice and grape jelly plus more than 400 other fruit-based products from juices to dried fruit to frozen concentrates.  Welch’s is committed to researching and developing new products to meet the growing demand for products that address consumers’ health and wellness needs.   Welch’s products are sold throughout the United States and in some 50 countries around the globe.  For more information visit .
 
 

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