Mr. Fromberg Will Remain Through the First Quarter of 2006 to Ensure a Smooth
Transition

Company has Retained Spencer Stuart to Assist in Search for Successor

DALLAS, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Dean Foods (NYSE: DF) announced
today that Barry Fromberg plans to retire from his position as Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective at the end of
the first quarter of 2006. Mr. Fromberg, who has held the CFO position since
1998, has agreed to remain in his position until his successor is selected and
integrated into the Company.

“Barry has been instrumental in helping guide our company through a period
of tremendous growth over the past seven years,” said Gregg Engles, Chairman
and CEO. “We are very appreciative of his many contributions and are grateful
to Barry for working with us to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.”

“I am proud to have been a part of building Dean Foods into one of the
country’s premier food and beverage companies and believe it is well
positioned for the future,” commented Fromberg. “My tenure at Dean Foods has
been one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of my career. For
personal reasons, I feel that now is the right time for me to step back and
focus on my family and other interests.”

The Company has retained Spencer Stuart, a leading executive search firm,
to assist in the search for Mr. Fromberg’s successor.

ABOUT DEAN FOODS

Dean Foods is one of the leading food and beverage companies in the United
States. Its Dairy Group is the largest processor and distributor of fresh
milk and other dairy products in the country, with products sold under more
than 50 familiar local and regional brands and a wide array of private labels.
The company’s WhiteWave Foods subsidiary is the nation’s leading organic foods
company. WhiteWave Foods markets and sells a variety of well-known dairy and
dairy-related products, such as Silk(R) soymilk, Horizon Organic(R) dairy
products and juices, International Delight(R) coffee creamers and LAND
O’LAKES(R) creamers and cultured products. Dean Foods Company also owns the
fourth largest dairy processor in Spain and the leading brand of organic dairy
products in the United Kingdom.

     Contact:  Barry Sievert
               Senior Director, Investor Relations
               (214) 303-3437

SOURCE Dean Foods Company

CONTACT: Barry Sievert, Senior Director, Investor Relations of Dean
Foods Company, +1-214-303-3437