American Italian Pasta Company announces strategic alliance with DaVinci

21/02/05 American Italian Pasta Company has announced at its Annual Shareholder meeting, the formation of a multi-year Strategic Alliance with World Finer Foods, owners of the DaVinci brand of high quality Italian food products. DaVinci is the top selling imported pasta brand in the US.

The Companies have entered into an agreement whereby American Italian Pasta Company (AIPC) will become the supplier of the imported DaVinci pasta brand. In addition, World Finer Foods (WFF) will become the exclusive distributor of AIPC's portfolio of specialty and natural pastas, including the Eddie's and Mrs. Leeper's Brands, through its distribution network. World Finer Foods offers one of the country's premier direct store delivery (DSD) networks, which serves the specialty product needs of both traditional grocers as well as specialty and natural food stores. In addition, this agreement offers the opportunity for AIPC and WFF to partner together to offer an expanded portfolio of products (including future innovation) that will flow through either the distributor network or the warehouse delivered network.

AIPC is the largest producer and marketer of dry pasta in the US, and plans to leverage its extensive direct customer relationships to help expand the distribution of DaVinci branded pasta in the US.

AIPC currently sells the Eddie's brand of organic, whole wheat and soy pastas; and the Mrs. Leeper's brand of corn, rice, and gluten-free pastas through a broker network.

AIPC will begin supplying a portion of the DaVinci import volume in April 2005. The companies plan to transition the selling and marketing of the Eddie's and Mrs. Leeper's brands by April, 2005.

AIPC will be manufacturing the products at its state-of-the-art Pasta Lensi operation in Northern Italy. The completion of this agreement will enhance the original strategy for AIPC's Italian operation to profitably serve the import segment of the U.S. market.

Founded in 1988 and based in Kansas City, Missouri, American Italian Pasta Company is the largest producer and marketer of dry pasta in North America. The Company has five plants that are located in Excelsior Springs, Missouri; Columbia, South Carolina; Tolleson, Arizona; Kenosha, Wisconsin and Verolanuova, Italy. The Company has approximately 600 employees located in the United States and Italy.

Founded in 1960 and based in Bloomfield, New Jersey, World Finer Foods owns and represents many of the leading brands in specialty foods. The company has 42 employees located throughout the United States.

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