Pete Schenkel and Lewis Collens Retire from Dean Foods Board of Directors;
and Doreen Wright and Wayne Mailloux Elected as New Members

DALLAS, May 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Dean Foods Company (NYSE: DF)
today announced that Pete Schenkel and Lewis M. Collens retired from the Dean
Foods Board of Directors and Wayne Mailloux and Doreen Wright were elected as
new members, effective immediately.

Schenkel and Collens Retire from the Board

Pete Schenkel was elected to the Board of Directors in January 2000 and
became Vice Chairman in January 2006. He previously served as President of
Dean Dairy Group. Schenkel joined the company in January 2000 in connection
with Dean Foods’ acquisition of Southern Foods Group. From 1959 to December
31, 1999, he served in various capacities at Southern Foods Group, including
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer from 1994 through 1999, and
President from 1987 to 1994.

Over the last 50 years, Schenkel has been an iconic figure in the U.S.
dairy industry and is considered one of the most important figures in the
creation and success of Dean Foods to date.

Lewis M. Collens was elected to the Board of Directors in December 2001 in
connection with Suiza Foods’ acquisition of the former Dean Foods Company. He
served on the Board of the former Dean Foods from 1991-2001. Collens was
President of Illinois Institute of Technology and Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of IIT Research Institute from 1990 to 2007.

“Pete and Lew have been integral members of the Board of Directors and
have added value throughout their tenure and will be missed,” said Gregg
Engles, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. “The Board wishes
them well in the next phase of their careers and thanks them for their many
contributions.”

Wright and Mailloux Elected to the Board

Dean Foods is pleased to welcome Doreen Wright and Wayne Mailloux to its
Board of Directors. “We are thrilled that Doreen and Wayne have agreed to join
Dean Foods’ Board,” said Engles. “The breadth and depth of their personal and
business experiences, together with their proven leadership qualities, will
strengthen the Board’s ability to guide Dean Foods toward becoming a leading
food and beverage company.”

Doreen Wright

Doreen Wright recently retired from Campbell Soup Company where she served
as Chief Information Officer from 2001 to 2008. In 2002, she was the interim
Chief Human Resources Officer. Prior to joining Campbell, Doreen was Executive
Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Nabisco. Doreen has held
leadership positions in operations and information technology in the financial
services and consumer products industries including Prudential, American
Express, Bankers Trust Company and Merrill Lynch.

She currently sits on the Board of Directors of Conseco, Inc., serving on
the Audit Committee, and also serves on the Oriental Trading Company Board of
Directors. She is Vice Chairman of the Riverside Symphonia. She previously
served on the boards of the Yankee Candle Company, Alphanet Solutions, as well
as a number of performing arts organizations.

Wright brings strong financial, IT and risk management capability, in
addition to her demonstrated competence in large-scale project management and
change management. She is known for creating high-performing cultures by
insisting on excellence and instilling a sense of accountability within
organizations.

Wayne Mailloux

Wayne Mailloux retired from PepsiCo in 2004 after a lengthy career as a
senior executive serving as SVP Global Sales at headquarters in New York, and
prior to that as President of Pepsi Cola Europe/Africa in London, and
President of Pepsi Cola Canada in Toronto. Mailloux launched his career as
President, Seven-Up Montreal Bottling, Seven-Up Canada, Inc. Mailloux also
held leadership positions at Grey Advertising Montreal, Cadbury Schweppes
Powell Canada, Inc., Fromageries Bel, as well as General Foods.

He currently sits on the Board of Directors for Black Bull Resources Inc.
Previously, he served on the boards of Delta Systems Inc., Ault Dairies
Limited, Alliance Canners of Canada Ltd., Britvic Holdings UK Limited,
International Pepsi Cola Bottling Investments Ltd., Canadian Soft Drinks
Association, and the Grocery Products Manufacturers Council of Canada.

Mailloux brings a breadth of experience that will benefit Dean Foods as it
implements its strategic growth plan over the next three to five years. He has
led large marketing organizations and operating businesses in a wide variety
of competitive markets across the globe and has deep experience in sales,
marketing and complex franchise/distribution systems and multi channel
customer relationships in North America and Europe.

Said Engles, “Both are highly regarded business leaders with demonstrated
track records of success in leading strategic business transformations.
Wayne’s background in sales and distribution and Doreen’s background in
technology transformation will be particularly valuable to our continued
growth.”

ABOUT DEAN FOODS

Dean Foods Company is the largest processor and distributor of milk and
other dairy products in the United States. The Company sells milk and a full
range of other dairy products under more than 50 well-known local and regional
brands and a wide array of private labels. The Company’s WhiteWave Foods
division produces a variety of nationally branded dairy and dairy-related
products, such as Horizon Organic (R) dairy products, Silk (R) soymilk, and
International Delight (R) coffee creamers. WhiteWave Foods’ Rachel’s Organic
(R) brand is the largest organic milk brand and second largest organic yogurt
brand in the United Kingdom.

CONTACT: Corporate Communications, Marguerite Copel, +1-214-721-1273; or
Investor Relations, Barry Sievert, +1-214-303-3437

SOURCE: Dean Foods Company

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/CONTACT: Corporate Communications, Marguerite Copel, +1-214-721-1273, or
Investor Relations, Barry Sievert, +1-214-303-3437, both of Dean Foods
Company/
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Web Site:
http://www.deanfoods.com