DALLAS, Dec. 20 /PRNewswire/ — Leading dairy-products processor and
distributor Morningstar Foods, a subsidiary of Dean Foods Company (NYSE: DF),
this week was named by Progressive Grocer magazine as the publication’s 2002
Best of Class Category Captain award winner for the dairy category.

The Dallas-based food processor was one of 13 U.S. manufacturers
recognized as being champions in their specific food categories by Progressive
Grocer magazine, the nation’s premiere grocery trade publication. According
to Progressive Grocer editor Al Urbanski, Morningstar Foods was this year’s
clear winner in the dairy category because of its category management
expertise related to both branded and private-label products.

“When we began looking at the dairy category, Morningstar separated itself
from the pack because of their successful marriage of both private-label and
retail which, in our assessment, is extremely rare,” Urbanski said. “We
believe Morningstar has shown an incredible amount of initiative and
innovation, linking together the retailers’ private-label and the Morningstar
brands in a way no one else is doing when they design a category plan.”

“We are pleased to have won this award and look forward to expanding our
creative, inclusive approach to category management with our retail partners,”
said Terry O’Brien, Morningstar senior vice president of sales. “We are
building brands that create excitement not only for us, but for the category
as a whole, and we’re working very hard to execute and deliver the most
innovative and effective marketing programs to our customers nationwide.”

Progressive Grocer annually recognizes companies that have made exemplary
contributions to category management based on an exclusive survey of its
readers. The survey encompasses the opinions of customers and industry
experts and also examines empirical data that measures not only manufacturers’
sales growth, but also their efforts to support and build the entire category.

About Morningstar Foods

Morningstar Foods Inc. is a subsidiary of Dean Foods Company, one of the
nation’s leading food and beverage companies. Morningstar Foods produces
branded value-added and private label extended shelf life flavored and single
serve milk, lactose-free milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, dips, salad
dressings, yogurt, egg substitute, half-and-half, coffee creamers, aerosol and
pre-whip topping.

Morningstar Foods’ nationally branded products include International
Delight(R) coffee creamers, Marie’s(R) Salad Dressings and Dips, Dean Dips,
Mocha Mix(R) non-dairy coffee creamer, Naturally Yours(TM) sour cream, Second
Nature(R) eggs, LAND O’ LAKES Dairy Ease(R) lactose-free milks and Farm
Rich(R) and Coffee Rich(R) coffee creamers. Products produced under licensed
brands include HERSHEY(R)’S Milks and MilkShakes and Folgers(R) Jakada(TM)
chilled coffee beverage.

For more information, visit www.morningstarfoods.com

SOURCE Dean Foods Company; DF

-0- 12/20/2002

/CONTACT: Julie deVore of Dean Foods Company, +1-314-552-6726/

/Web site: http://www.morningstarfoods.com