Exhibit 99.1
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CONTACT: Bari Seiden or Jennifer Teitler
M Booth & Associates
(212) 481-7000
June 22, 2000
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EMERIL LAGASSE SIGNS CONTRACT WITH B&G(R) FOODS
TO MARKET HIS OWN LINE OF FOOD PRODUCTS
PARSIPPANY, NJ (June 20, 2000) - B&G(R) Foods, Inc. is "kicking it up a notch"
in the food aisle by partnering with celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse to create
Emeril's(R) Original, a signature line of seasonings, salad dressings, basting
sauce marinades and pepper sauces. The new mouthwatering line, set to debut at
The Fancy Food Show in New York on July 10, features products personally
developed by Emeril.
Founded in 1889, B&G is a multi-brand company manufacturing and
marketing a variety of leading brands to all channels of the food industry. Most
are #1 or #2 in their categories. Brands include Polaner(R) Fruit Spreads,
B&M(R) Beans, Ac'cent(R) Flavor Enhancer, Maple Grove Farms(R) of Vermont Syrups
and Dressings, Regina(R) Vinegars, Underwood(R) Meat Spreads and B&G pickles and
condiments. Annual sales exceed $350 million.
"Emeril is America's favorite chef and the most exciting food
personality today" says Dave Wenner, CEO, B&G Foods, Inc. "We're thrilled at the
opportunity to work with him."
Emeril Lagasse consistently wins praise and top ratings for delivering
a world-class dining experience at his six restaurants including well-known
Emeril's, Nola, and Delmonico in New Orleans. Millions of food-loving Americans
love hearing his signature lingo - "BAM(TM)" and "Kick it up a notch(TM)" -
daily on his popular TV Food Network shows Emeril Live and Essence of Emeril.
With a weekly appearance on Good Morning America and five cookbooks selling in
excess of two million copies to his credit, Emeril is perhaps the most
recognizable name in cooking today.
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"I'm very excited about the opportunity to share these
specially-created recipes with at-home cooks across America," says Emeril. "B&G
is a great company with some of the finest brands in the food industry. I'm
proud to be partnering with such food experts."
Emeril's(R) Original seasonings, salad dressings, basting sauce
marinades and pepper sauces will be available at specialty, gourmet, grocery,
mass merchants and warehouse club outlets throughout the U.S., Canada and Puerto
Rico beginning September 2000.
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