DALLAS and FRANKLIN PARK, Ill., Dec 21, 2001 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ —

Combination Creates Dairy Processing and Distribution Leader Servicing Over 150,000 Customers Coast-to-Coast Via More Than 6,000 DSD Routes Merged Company Will Be Named Dean Foods Company (NYSE: DF) and Will Have Annual Revenues of Approximately $10 Billion

Suiza
Foods Corporation (NYSE: SZA) and Dean Foods Company (NYSE: DF) today completed
their merger that was announced on April 5, 2001. The combined company, to be
called Dean Foods, will have approximately $10 billion in annual revenues and
will be the nation’s leading processor and distributor of fresh milk and other
dairy products and a leader in the specialty foods industry. With operations in
39 states, the combined company will have a total of 129 plants and will service
more than 150,000 customers coast-to-coast via a direct-store-delivery system of
more than 6,000 routes. Dean Foods will be headquartered in Dallas, and the
combined company will trade as DF on the New York Stock Exchange effective
Monday, December 24, 2001. The company’s fiscal year end will be December 31.

“We are extremely pleased to have completed the merger, and we will be intently
focused on integrating the companies in 2002, bringing together our
complementary operations quickly and delivering on the promise of this merger
for our customers, shareholders and employees,” said Gregg Engles, Dean Foods
Chief Executive Officer. “We are committed to providing our customers with the
best possible products and services, our shareholders with enhanced value and
our employees with greater growth opportunities.”

“The merger is an important step in our company’s history,” said Howard Dean,
Chairman of the Board of Dean Foods. “We are very excited about the prospects
for the combined company, and I am grateful to all of the individuals who have
helped make this combination a reality.”

Upon closing, legacy Dean Foods shareholders will receive $21.00 in cash and
0.429 shares of the new Dean Foods Company for each share owned.

In connection with the merger, the company repurchased its 33.8% stake in Suiza
Dairy Group that was owned by Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA) for
approximately $145 million in cash, the ownership of 11 plants and a $40 million
contingent note. As a result of this transaction, all of Dean Foods’ dairy
operations are now 100% owned by the company’s shareholders.

Simultaneously with the closing, the merged company replaced former credit
facilities and closed and funded a new credit facility with borrowing capacity
of up to $2.7 billion, approximately $1.9 billion of which was borrowed at
closing. An $800 million revolver remained undrawn and will be used for general
corporate purposes and future acquisitions.

A conference call to discuss the merger and the new company’s outlook for 2002
will be held at 10:00 a.m. EST on Thursday, January 10, 2002. Interested parties
may listen to the live webcast by visiting the company website at
www.deanfoods.com and clicking on “Webcasts.”

About Dean Foods:

Dean Foods Company is the nation’s leading processor and distributor of fresh
milk and other dairy products, and a leader in the specialty foods industry. The
company produces a full line of company-branded and private label dairy products
such as milk and milk-based beverages, ice cream, coffee creamers, half and
half, whipping cream, whipped toppings, sour cream, cottage cheese, yogurt,
dips, dressings and soy milk. The company is also a leading supplier of pickles
and other specialty food products, juice, juice drinks and water, and has
holdings in the consumer goods packaging industry. The company operates 129
plants in 39 U.S. states and 3 countries, and employs more than 30,000 people.

click here for Transaction Fact Sheet

Dairy Group

Branded and private label fresh, flavored, single serve and extended shelf life
fluid milk, organic milk, ice cream and novelties, sour cream, cottage cheese,
dips and yogurt, half-and-half, coffee creamers, juice drinks and bottled water

Brands: kidsmilk and fitmilk(R), Adohr Farms(R), Alta Dena(R), Barbe’s(R),
Barber’s(R), Bell/Gandy’s(TM), Berkeley Farms(TM), Brown’s Dairy(TM),
Broughton(R), Country Charm(R), Country Fresh(R), Creamland(TM), Dairy Gold(R),
Dairy Ease(R), Dean’s(R), Fieldcrest(R), Flav-O-Rich(R), Gandy’s(TM), Garelick
Farms(R), Lehigh Valley Farms(R), London’s(R), Maplehurst(R), Mayfield(R),
Meadow Gold(R), McArthur(R), Meadowbrook(TM), Milk Chug(R), Model Dairy(R), Oak
Farms(R), Poudre Valley(R), Price’s(TM), Purity(TM), Reiter(TM), Robinson(R),
Schenkel’s All Star Dairy(TM), Schepps(R), Shenandoah’s Pride(R), Louis Trauth
Dairy(R), T.G.Lee(R), Tuscan(R), Verifine(R), Wengert’s(R) and West Lynn
Creamery(R). Licensed products include Borden(R), Land O’Lakes(R) and
NesQuik(TM).

Morningstar and National Refrigerated Products

Branded value-added and private label extended shelf life flavored and single
serve milk, soymilk, lactose-free milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, dips,
yogurt, egg substitute, half-and-half, coffee creamers, aerosol and pre-whip
topping

Brands: Dairy Pure(R), Dean Foods Ultra(R), Dean Dips, Dips for One(TM), Easy
2%(R), IMO(R), International Delight(R), Marie’s(R), Mocha Mix(R), Naturally
Yours(R), Rod’s(R), Second Nature(R) and Sun Soy(R). Licensed products include
Grip’n Go(R), Hershey’s(R) and Folgers(R) Jakada(TM).

International and Puerto Rico
Branded and value-added UHT milk
Brands: Suiza Dairy(R) in Puerto Rico>

Specialty Foods Group

Pickles, non-dairy coffee creamers, puddings and sauces

Brands:

Private label pickles and regional brands including Arnold’s(R),
Atkins(R), Aunt Jane’s(R), Bennetts(R), Cates(R), Dailey(R), Heifetz(R),
Nalley’s(TM), Paramount(R), Peter Piper’s(R), Rainbo(R), Roddenbery’s(R),
Schwartz’s(R) and Steinfeld’s(TM).

SOURCE Suiza Foods Corporation and Dean Foods Company

CONTACT: Cory Olson, +1-214-303-3645, or P.I. Aquino, +1-214-303-3437,
both of Suiza Foods Corporation; or Barbara Klein, +1-847-233-5263, or William
Luegers, +1-847-233-5361, both of Dean Foods Company

URL: http://www.suizafoods.com
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