SunOpta Sponsors Key Note Address by Alice Waters, Celebrated Chef, Author & Humanitarian, at Natural Products Expo West
TORONTO--Feb. 7, 2007--SunOpta Inc. (SunOpta or the Company) (NASDAQ:STKL) (TSX:SOY). SunOpta is pleased to sponsor the keynote address by Alice Waters at the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California on March 8, 2007. Alice Waters is a celebrated chef, award-winning author and owner of Chez Panisse Restaurant in Berkeley, California. A champion of small, local, organic farms and ranches for more than three decades, Waters is credited for helping change the food landscape in America. Waters is also the Vice President of Slow Food, an international organization based in Italy that works to protect and preserve traditional foods and the communities that produce them. Her long list of prestigious awards includes Lifetime Achievement Award, James Beard Foundation, 2004; Force For Nature Award, Natural Resources Defense Council, 2004; Best Restaurant in America, Gourmet Magazine, 2001; Lifetime Achievement Award, Bon Appetit magazine 2000.
In addition to her work at Chez Panisse Restaurant and Slow Food, Waters is the founding director of the Edible Schoolyard, a model garden and kitchen program in Berkeley, which involves students in all aspects of growing, harvesting, and cooking food. Last year she helped launch the Edible Schoolyard in New Orleans, and is consulting on similar programs nationwide.
"SunOpta is fully committed to supporting local organic producers and honouring leading proponents of local food systems in the various regions that we operate," commented Steve Bromley, President and CEO of SunOpta Inc. He continued, "With this in mind, we are very pleased to sponsor Alice Waters and celebrate her work with local growers." SunOpta, too, enjoys strong relationships with organic producers through its extensive operations located across North America. Over 40% of SunOpta's food revenues are attributed to the organic market, of which a significant portion supports local organic production. In keeping with SunOpta's core values and that of the organic community, all of the products manufactured by SunOpta are organic and/or free of genetically engineered organisms.
Please visit SunOpta at the upcoming Natural Products Expo West Show in Anaheim, CA March, 9-11, 2007, at the SunOpta Booths #2380 and #2481.
About SunOpta Inc.
SunOpta Inc. is an operator of high-growth ethical businesses, focusing on integrated business models in the natural and organic food, supplements and health and beauty markets. The Company has three business units: the SunOpta Food Group, which specializes in sourcing, processing and distribution of natural and organic food products integrated from seed through packaged products; the Opta Minerals Group, a producer, distributor, and recycler of environmentally friendly industrial materials; and the SunOpta BioProcess Group which engineers and markets proprietary steam explosion technology systems for the pulp, bio-fuel and food processing industries. Each of these business units has proprietary products and services that give it a solid competitive advantage in its sector.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements included in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to references to business strategies, competitive strengths, goals, capital expenditure plans, business and operational growth plans and references to the future growth of the business. These forward looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and its interpretation of current conditions, historical trends and expected future developments as well as other factors that the Company believes are appropriate in the circumstance. However, whether actual results and developments will agree with expectations and predications of the Company is subject to many risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to; general economic, business or market risk conditions; competitive actions by other companies; changes in laws or regulations or policies of local governments, provinces and states as well as the governments of United States and Canada, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Consequently all forward-looking statements made herein are qualified by these cautionary statements and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by the Company will be realized.
CONTACT: SunOpta Inc.
Steve Bromley, President & CEO
John Dietrich, Vice President & CFO
Susan Wiekenkamp, Information Officer
Tel: 905-455-2528, ext 103
susan.wiekenkamp@sunopta.com
Website: www.sunopta.com
OR
Investment Community Inquiries:
Lytham Partners, LLC
Joe Diaz, Robert Blum, Joe Dorame, 602-889-9700
diaz@lythampartners.com
SOURCE: SunOpta Inc.