Governor Doyle Welcomes Nature’s Path Foods, Inc. to Wisconsin

July 16, 2008

Contacts: Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608-267-9661

Carla Vigue, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162

Maria Emmer-Aanes, Nature’s Path, (604) 248-8856

Governor Doyle Welcomes Nature’s Path Foods, Inc. to Wisconsin

Project to create 159 jobs

SUSSEX, WI – Governor Jim Doyle today announced that Nature’s Path Foods, Inc., North America’s number one organic cereal manufacturer, is establishing a manufacturing facility in Sussex, Wisconsin, and will receive a $250,000 training grant to assist the project. On behalf of the Governor, Department of Commerce (Commerce) Secretary Jack. L. Fischer, AIA, joined Nature’s Path’s Founder and CEO Arran Stephens at a press conference held July 16 to officially open the new facility.

"I’m pleased to welcome Nature’s Path to Wisconsin," Governor Doyle said. "This entrepreneurial company has forged a reputation for fine products over the past 30 years, and I look forward to building a mutually beneficial partnership. The plant will create a minimum of 159 new jobs over the next year."

"We are thrilled become a part of the Sussex community and bring the spirit of our family-run business to the families that live and work here," said Stephens. "Building our plant in Sussex is not only about making cereal, it is about doing business in a socially responsible and more environmentally sustainable way. This new plant will help us to better serve the US market east of the Rockies, as we save precious resources and limit the miles our products need to travel."

This plant is the latest way in which Nature’s Path is acting on its commitment to move toward sustainability. The company supports hundreds of organic farmers in the USA and Canada and has recently purchased 2,400 acres of prime grain-growing Saskatchewan farmland, which is being crop-shared by adjoining organic farmers. This is part of Nature’s Path’s larger program to help increase organic cropland and maintain sustainable family farms.

Nature’s Path is headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada and operates organic processing plants in British Columbia, Ontario, Canada and Blaine, WA. The company has acquired the former Kraft Tombstone Pizza facility in Sussex and is converting it into an organic cereal manufacturing facility. It will use its grant to train at least 100 employees on new equipment and processes. The training funds will leverage $250,000 in private investment. Over the next year and a half, Nature’s Path will invest approximately $25,000,000 into the Sussex facility.

Founded in 1985, Nature’s Path Organic Foods is headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia and employs over 350 people at its four facilities in Canada and the United States. The privately held, family-owned company produces organic breakfast foods, toaster pastries, granola bars and frozen waffles sold in club, grocery, natural food and cooperative stores in 40 countries around the world. The company’s innovative brands include Nature’s Path®, Flax Plus®, Hemp Plus®, EnviroKidz® and Optimum®. Visit Nature’s Path online at www.naturespath.com. For more information on Commerce programs and services, contact the Commerce area development manager at http://commerce.wi.gov/BD/BD-AreaDevManagers.html

-30-