Welch's Names Graham Packaging "Supplier of the Year"

Concord, MA, January 26, 1999

Welch's, the world's leading producer of Concord and Niagara grape-based products, has named Graham Packaging as the recipient of the "Welch's Supplier of the Year" award for 1998. A leading global plastic containers producer and the number-one supplier to the juice industry, Graham Packaging was presented with the award by Welch's President and CEO Dan Dillon last month at Welch's headquarters in Concord, Mass.

Selected from more than 200 suppliers, the winner was chosen for its service, pricing, quality and technological innovation. Graham supplies four sizes of PET plastic containers for Welch's bottled juices at three filling locations. Most recently, Graham Packaging played a key role in helping Welch's develop its newest packaging innovation, the patented plastic can. This new container, which marks the first packaging innovation for frozen juice concentrates since the introduction of the peel strip some 20 years ago, presents Welch's frozen concentrate consumers with convenience and affordability through the plastic can's microwaveability and competitive pricing. The cans are recyclable, easy to open and go from freezer to pitcher in less than two minutes.

"Graham is our leading supplier of juice packaging, and their values - especially in terms of quality -- closely parallel ours," said Drew Staniar, vice president of operations. "Announcing the winner in front of Graham and Welch's executives, along with a large number of Welch's employees, gave us the perfect opportunity to showcase Welch's achievements promoting the plastic can during 1998 while presenting rollout expectations for 1999."

"We are very excited to be the recipient of Welch's "Supplier of the Year" award," said Roger Prevot, senior vice president and general manager of the food & beverage unit for Graham Packaging. "The plastic can project, which led to a number of significant development breakthroughs involving package and lid design, is but one example of how well our two companies have worked together."

Both Welch's and Graham had an additional reason to smile at the award ceremony, having been just informed that Welch's and Graham's plastic can was cited by Refrigerated and Frozen Foods magazine as the "Best Overall Package" for 1998 in the refrigerated and frozen foods category.

Prevot accepted the award on behalf of Graham. Seven other Graham executives attended the award presentation. They were: Bob Cochran, director of sales; Ashok Sudan, vice president, operations of the food & beverage business unit; John Denner, director of PET package development; Dave Cargile, director of HDPE package development; Herb Davis, Welch's plastic can project leader; Bob Muesegaes, Bradford plant manager; and John Buttermore, vice president of market development.

Headquartered in York, Pa., Graham Packaging is a leading global producer of custom, blow-molded plastic containers. It operates a total of 49 facilities in 10 countries - Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. The company's U.S. Food and Beverage Unit is the number-one supplier of plastic containers to the juice industry.

Welch's is the world's leading marketer of Concord and Niagara grape-based products, including grape juice and jelly. The company produces a variety of other fruit-based products, including 100 percent juices and juice cocktails in the following forms: bottled, refrigerated, single-serve, and frozen and shelf-stable concentrates. In addition, Welch's produces a number of fruit spread products. The Welch's web site can be found at: www.welchs.com.

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