SunOpta Profits Up in Q1

First quarter 2008 results include professional fees of $1,368,000 related to the Company's investigation and related activities into the write-down in the SunOpta Fruit Group Berry Operations and the resulting delay in filing Annual Report 10-K.

30/07/08 SunOpta Inc. has achieved its highest ever quarterly revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008, realizing its 42nd consecutive quarter of increased revenue growth versus the same quarter in the previous year. Revenues in the first quarter increased by 25.6% to $230,444,000 as compared to $183,500,000 in the first quarter of 2007. First quarter revenues in the SunOpta Food Group increased 25.6% to $208,942,000 versus $166,322,000 in Q1 2007, including internal revenue growth of 21.9%. Revenues in Opta Minerals Inc. increased 29.8% to $21,370,000 for the quarter and revenues in the SunOpta BioProcess Group declined 81.5% to $132,000 versus $715,000 in 2007. Consolidated internal revenue growth for the quarter was 20.9%.

Earnings for the quarter were $1,486,000 or $0.02 per diluted common share as compared to 2007 first quarter earnings of $1,055,000 or $0.02 per diluted common share. First quarter 2008 results include professional fees of $1,368,000 related to the Company's investigation and related activities into the write-down in the SunOpta Fruit Group Berry Operations and the resulting delay in filing Annual Report 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Without these professional fees, adjusted earnings for the quarter would have been $2,423,000, representing an increase in earnings of approximately 130% versus Q1 2007. Without the impact of both the one time professional fees and the segment operating loss of ($3,974,000) incurred within the SunOpta Fruit Group Berry Operations, 2008 adjusted earnings would have been $4,847,000 versus $3,041,000 in Q1 2007, an increase of approximately 59%.

Operating income for the quarter increased by 41.2% to $5,398,000 as compared to $3,822,000 in Q1 2007. Segment operating income within the SunOpta Food Group increased 64.7% to $6,228,000 and segment operating income in Opta Minerals Inc. increased 38.5%. Offsetting these increases were operating losses in the combined BioProcess & Corporate segment, largely driven by an increase in costs in this segment of $1,428,000, which includes the impact of the incremental professional fees as noted above. Excluding these professional fees, adjusted operating income would have increased approximately 77% reflecting strong results in the Company's operations.

The SunOpta Food Group reported segment operating income of $6,228,000 versus $3,781,000 in Q1 2007, an increase of 64.7%; these results include the impact of $879,000 in increased corporate cost allocations. The improved segment operating income was driven by strong results in the SunOpta Grains and Foods Group which realized an 86.9% increase in segment operating income due to strong sales and margins of non-GMO and organic grains and grains based ingredients and continued growth in packaged soymilk products. The SunOpta Ingredients Group realized an increase in segment operating income of 45.4% or $318,000 due in most part to stable revenues and margins offset by reduced administrative costs. The SunOpta Distribution Group realized an increase in segment operating income of 24.1%, due primarily to continued strong demand for natural and organic grocery and natural health products as well as the impact of cost rationalization initiatives. Offsetting these improvements was decreased segment operating income in the SunOpta Fruit Group of $1,109,000, of which $718,000 relates to lower results in the Berry Operations as the Group focuses on turnaround efforts resulting from the significant issues in 2007. On a consolidated basis the SunOpta Fruit Group realized a segment operating loss of ($3,808,000) versus ($2,699,000) in 2007. The Company expects results in the SunOpta Fruit Group's Berry Operations to show continued improvement over the course of the year as inventories that were written down in 2007 to net realizable value are sold through and improved pricing and reduced storage costs are realized in hand with the benefits of the new management team and improved internal processes which have been put in place.

Opta Minerals realized segment operating income in the first quarter of $2,004,000 as compared to $1,447,000 in Q1 2007, an increase of 38.5%, driven by strong sales of abrasive products in the U.S. combined with increased sales of magnesium desulphurization products and the 2007 acquisition of Newco, the Company's industrial minerals operation located in Slovakia. Opta Minerals continues to pursue strategic transactions and new product development to complement its existing product portfolio, and on July 10, 2008 announced the acquisition of 67% of MCP Mg-Serbian SAS ("MCP") of France. MCP sells ground magnesium products to a variety of industries in Europe and further expands the Company's European operating platform.

There continues to be a strong interest in the SunOpta BioProcess Group's technology and equipment for the pre-treatment of biomass for the production of cellulosic ethanol. Segment operating results for the first quarter reflect continued investment and development spending as the group works on a number of projects that are expected to utilize its technology in the production of cellulosic ethanol.

At March 31, 2008, the Company's balance sheet reflects a current working capital ratio of 1.89 to 1.00, long term debt to equity ratio of 0.40 to 1.00 and total debt to equity ratio of 0.65 to 1.00. The Company has total assets of $578,295,000 and a net book value of $3.98 per outstanding share. The Company has obtained a waiver from its lending syndicate for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 and amendments to certain covenants for the fiscal quarters ended June 30, 2008, September 30, 2008, December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2009.

The Company plans to file its Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2008 by no later than July 30, 2008 and anticipates filing results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2008 by August 11, 2008. An update regarding timing of the release of the second quarter results and subsequent shareholder conference call will be provided in advance.

Steve Bromley, President and Chief Executive Officer of SunOpta commented, "The completion of our 2007 year end and related internal investigation precipitated the delay in the filing of our first quarter 2008 financial results. We are now pleased to report these financial results and, with the planned filing of our Q1 2008 10-Q, we will be up to date with our financial filings. The results of the first quarter reflect strong growth and operating earnings in the Company's core operations and incorporate the impact of the turnaround efforts in the Berry Operations and the costs to date of the Company's independent investigation. These results are consistent with our expectations for the first quarter and based on this we reconfirm our preliminary annual revenue guidance for 2008 of in excess of $1 billion and preliminary net earnings guidance in the range of $0.25 to $0.30 per diluted common share, before the impact of one time professional fees and severance costs related to the independent investigation and related recommendations and legal costs to defend the class action lawsuits."