Stake Technology Announces Debra Boyle's Selection as Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year
TORONTO--Oct. 28, 2003--Stake Technology Ltd. (To
become "SunOpta Inc." effective October 31, 2003)
(Nasdaq:STKL)(TSX:SOY) announced today that Debra Boyle, President and
CEO of Pro Organics, a company recently acquired by Stake Technology
Ltd., has been chosen as the 2003 Rotman Canadian Woman Entrepreneur
of the Year in the category Impact on The Local Economy.
Debra began her distribution business by purchasing organic
produce from local farmers and selling them to natural food retailers.
Through the years, Pro Organics prospered, achieving double-digit
sales growth year after year. In 1996, Debra realized her dream of
becoming Canada's first national organic food distributor with the
opening of a second warehouse in Toronto. In 2000, Pro Organics
established a third distribution facility near Montreal. Under Debra's
leadership, Pro Organics became recognized as the organic foods market
leader in Canada. Debra and her staff of 120 have helped move organic
foods into the "mainstream", creating opportunities for organic
farmers and generating new business for Canadian food retailers, food
service and home delivery companies.
Jeremy Kendall, Chairman and CEO of Stake, commented that, "All of
us at Stake acknowledge Debra as a leader and innovator in the organic
foods market and are proud to be associated with her and Pro
Organics."
Stake Technology Ltd., to become SunOpta Inc. effective October
31, 2003, is an owner/operator of high-growth ethical businesses,
focusing on integrated business models in the natural and organic food
markets. For the last five consecutive years, Stake was included in
Profit magazine's 'Profit 100' list of the 100 fastest growing
companies in Canada. The company has three business units: the Food
Group, which specializes in sourcing, processing and distribution of
natural and organic food products; integrated from seed through
packaged products; the Environmental Industrial Group; a producer,
distributor, and recycler of environmentally friendly industrial
materials; and the Steam Explosion Technology Group who engineer and
market clean pulping systems using patented steam explosion
technology. Each of these business units has proprietary products and
services that give it a solid competitive advantage in its sector.
Websites: www.staketech.com or www.sunopta.com www.sunrich.com
www.bei.ca www.steamexplosion.com www.sunrichvalley.com
www.organickitchen.ca www.wildwestorganicharvest.com
www.kettlevalley.net www.opta-food.com www.proorganics.com
CONTACT: Stake Technology Ltd.
Jeremy N. Kendall, Steve Bromley, Susan Wiekenkamp
Tel: 905-455-2528, ext 103
info@staketech.com
or
Investor Relations Counsel
The Equity Group Inc.
Linda Latman, 212-836-9609
www.theequitygroup.com
SOURCE: Stake Technology Ltd.