New Season Foods Acquired By Ajinomoto

Forest Grove, OR - New Season Foods, Inc. announces its acquisition by Knorr Foods Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Ajinomoto Co., Inc., on February 28, 2007. Ajinomoto is a Japan-based global food manufacturer. Ajinomoto acquired all shares of New Season Foods from company President & CEO Mark C. Frandsen.

With 30 full-time employees and up to 80 employees during peak season, New Season Foods produces sweet corn powder and other vegetable ingredients primarily for instant soups. The company sources agricultural products from the Willamette Valley and the Columbia River Basin, purchasing more than 25 million pounds in a year. New Season Foods has been a supplier of strategic ingredients to Ajinomoto since 1985. In the past year, the company supplied Ajinomoto with 1,000 metric tons of sweet corn powder. The acquisition provides New Season Foods and its employees exceptional opportunities for long-term growth and development. Mark Frandsen will continue to serve as the company's President & CEO.

The acquisition will strengthen one of Ajinomoto's core businesses by securing a stable supply of ingredients for soup manufactured and sold in Japan, China, Brazil and Southeast Asia. Ajinomoto also plans to develop new ingredients from Pacific Northwest agricultural products for production at New Season Foods.

SOURCE: Ajinomoto and New Season Foods Inc.