Sixth Annual Supplier Diversity Program Offers Unmatched Opportunities for Women and Minority Entrepreneurs at the 2003 FMI Show; Over 30 Companies Exhibiting

WASHINGTON, DC — April 25, 2003 — The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) announced today that over 30 minority- and women-owned businesses are participating in the Sixth Annual Supplier Diversity Program at the 2003 FMI Show. The show will be held May 4-6 at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago.

“With American demographics and consumer preferences changing so rapidly, food retailers and wholesalers are continually seeking a broader range of suppliers to satisfy new product and service demands,” said FMI President and CEO Tim Hammonds. “FMI’s Supplier Diversity Program provides an outstanding, cost-effective opportunity for minority- and women-owned businesses to gain exposure for their goods and services, and it is a great forum for retailers to learn more about market-specific product lines.”

Show attendees are encouraged to visit these exhibiting companies — many of whom are exhibiting for the first time —to view an extensive array of new products and services at the following booth locations:

     

Food Products Alicita-Salsa Aunt Minnie’s Southern – Style Entrees B3R Country Meats LP BF Distributors, Inc. Glory Foods Inc. Golden Beach, Inc. The Hip Hop Beverage Corp. Interex Corporation (Cia Topo Chico) La Criolla, Inc. Lifeway Foods Lt. Blender’s Frozen Concoctions Michele Foods, Inc. Omnipotent, Inc. Pan American Grain Patty King Pure Farms – Pure Food Reggio's Pizza Inc. Snackie Jack’s Sylvia’s A Minority Owned Business Tennessee Mountain Pure Uncle Wiley’s, Inc. YHS Trading (USA), Inc. Nonfood Products Applied Concepts (also has food products) Baby Gourmet LLC Characters Unlimited, Inc. Minority Business Entrepreneur Magazine Paraiso Publishers PCI Security & Automation Inc. PHI Enterprises, Inc. Prodew, Inc. Misting & Humidification Tronex Company Walong Marketing, Inc. (also has food products) Weitron, Inc.

Booth Number S1865 S975 S367 S974 S1875 S1274 S1675 S176 S2075 S1975 N8738 S366 S1575 S1864 S267 S2347 S2380 S1577 S251 S1474 S1280 S1974 S4240 S1275 N8841 S1074 S276 S4336 S1673 S5225 S1874 N8941 S4238

FMI introduced the Supplier Diversity Program in 1998 to expand opportunities for minority business enterprises (MBEs) and women-owned business enterprises (WBEs) throughout the food distribution industry.   Participants receive a substantial discount on the exhibitor fee for the convention, recognized as one of the largest food trade events in the world, and other special benefits.

For more information about the Supplier Diversity Program, contact Lorena Jordan 202-220-0838 or ljordan@fmi.org) or Silvia De Paz-Johns (202-220-0664 or sdepaz@fmi.org). For additional information about the convention, please contact FMI’s automated show Infoline at 1-800-890-SHOW (7469), or visit FMI’s Web site at (www.fmi.org).