DECEMBER 10, 2002
 
 
AGREEMENT WITH GELSON'S PUTS NEWHALL COFFEE IN 20 LOCATIONS

 
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 10, 2002--Newhall Coffee Roasting Co., Southern California's original micro-roaster of premium gourmet coffees, today announced a distribution agreement with Gelson's that makes its gourmet coffees available in 18 Gelson's and Mayfair Markets in Southern California.

Gelson's is a premium grocery chain that specializes in quality products, cleanliness, and exceptional customer service, including valet parking at some locations.

Newhall Coffee products are currently available in more than 200 regional stores: Costco, Pavilions, Smart & Final; and more than 300 Bi-Lo supermarkets on the East coast. "Gelson's is widely considered the premier grocery store chain in California," said Mitch McMullen, CEO, Newhall Coffee Roasting. "Our presence on their shelves is an honor, and reinforces Gelson's commitment to quality."

Kyle McMullen, brother and president of the six-year-old firm said:, "With Newhall Coffee, Gelson's customers will be able to enjoy a gourmet coffee of unparalleled freshness. Thanks to our highest-grade, Class 1 AA Arabica beans, our commitment to small batch micro-roasting, and our ability to deliver our coffees within days of being roasted, Newhall Coffee has never lost a taste test.
"Starting this month, Gelson's customers will find out why."

Beginning in mid-September, 2002, Gelson's customers will be able to purchase several Newhall Coffee products, including 12-ounce bags of Newhall Coffee's signature Newhall Blend, 12-ounce bags of its popular French Roast, 12-ounce bags of Vanilla Nut and 12-ounce bags of their popular Decaf Colombian Supremo. Both whole bean and pre-ground products will be available.

Chris Fromm, coffee buyer for Gelson's said: "We are excited about the addition of Newhall Coffee Roasting Company's products to our shelves. We feel that their premium coffees, roasted locally within days of delivery to our stores, will be a great addition to our already extensive line-up of bagged coffees."

A percentage of per-bag sales of Newhall Coffee sold through Gelson's will be donated to the Corey McMullen Leukemia Fund. The fund was established by Newhall Coffee's founders, brothers Mitch and Kyle McMullen, in honor and memory of their older brother Corey who died several years ago from leukemia. Newhall Coffee has pledged to raise $1 million for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America.

About Gelson's
Gelson's was founded in 1951 by brothers Bernard and Eugene Gelson as an extraordinary grocery shopping experience for discerning consumers. Gelson's Markets is recognized as one of the nation's premier supermarket chains.

Each location is singularly known as the area's best market for superior produce, highest quality meat, seafood and deli, an unmatched selection of wine and liquor, and exceptional service. Mission: To make shopping anywhere else unacceptable for consumers who value quality products, cleanliness, convenience, and personal service.

The chain consists of 16 Gelson's locations in: Calabasas, Century City, Dana Point, Encino, Irvine, Marina del Rey, Newport Beach, North Hollywood, Northridge, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Santa Barbara, Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, West Hollywood, and Westlake Village, as well as two Mayfair Market locations in Silverlake, and Hollywood. Visit online at www.gelsons.com

About Newhall Coffee Roasting
Brothers Kyle and Mitch McMullen launched Newhall Coffee in 1995 as a means of supplying high-quality coffee beans for their Java `n Jazz coffeehouses in Valencia, Calif. Very quickly, regional demand for their fresh, micro-roasted coffee propelled the company's dramatic growth. Following its launch, Newhall Coffee was roasting about 1,000 pounds of coffee per month.

Today that figure exceeds 50,000 pounds of coffee -- enough to brew 2 million cups per month, with demand expanding daily. The popularity of the more than 100 Newhall Coffee blends and flavored coffees is evident in Newhall's corporate client list, which includes some of the biggest names in entertainment, such as DreamWorks SKG Studios, Warner Brothers, and Princess Cruises.
Newhall Coffee Roasting. coffees can be purchased at Gelson's, Smart & Final, Pavilion's, Ralph's, and Costco Wholesale stores. It can also be ordered online at www.newhallcoffee.com or through the Costco Web site at www.costco.com