CLIFFSTAR CORPORATION WINS 
AMERICAN TASTE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE 

Dunkirk, New York, January 11, 2001--- Cliffstar Corporation, Inc. is pleased to announce that it is the winner of the American Tasting Institute's American Taste Award and recipient of the Award of Excellence for White Grape Juice, Red Grape Juice and (Purple) Grape Juice. 

“We are very pleased with this award as it reflects Cliffstar's continuing dedication to providing our corporate brand customers the highest standards of product excellence," explains Janice Barton, Vice President of Marketing, Cliffstar. “We have doubled our business in the last five years and, as a leader in private label juices, we continually seek ways to secure our position and product profiles within the grape segment." 

Cliffstar recently executed a marketing agreement with Westfield Maid Cooperative, Inc. whereby all Concord grapes contracted with Westfield Maid Cooperative grower members will be delivered to the Cliffstar Corporation.  "This agreement will help ensure Cliffstar's supply to its customer base", said Janice Barton.  The shelf stable bottled juice category has grown 14% during the last five years, with grape up 46% and private label grape up 220% with Cliffstar dominating the private label segment.  With the health benefits associated with grapes, Cliffstar expects continued growth of this market segment. 

Cliffstar Corporation, whose sales have doubled in the last five years and has over 1000 employees, manufacturers more than
145 quality corporate brand label fruit juices and drinks for leading grocery customers throughout North America.  Cliffstar is the nation's largest independent private label juice company. 

During the last year, Cliffstar has acquired Northland's private label division, purchased Carolina Products in Greer, SC, completed a marketing agreement with Westfield Maid Cooperative, Inc., creative a marketing alliance with Leading Brands, completed construction of a 126,000 square foot warehouse in Dunkirk, NY and a new $3.5 million Schmalbach-Lubeca bottle-making facility and added a production line in Fontana, California.  

Cliffstar also buys fruit from over 500 growers—grape, cranberry and apple—which ensures Cliffstar's high quality product standards.  The company operates manufacturing facilities in Dunkirk, NY, Joplin, MO, Fontana, CA and Greer, SC with processing plants in Warrens, WI, East Freetown, MA and Fredonia, NY.  Corporate headquarters are based in Dunkirk, NY 45 miles southwest of Buffalo, New York. 

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