Del Monte Foods to Relocate Corporate Headquarters to San Francisco's One Maritime Plaza

"Bringing our San Francisco teams together under one roof is important for Del Monte and its continued growth, and a smart move for us to make financially given the opportunities provided by the current real estate market," said Rick Wolford, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Del Monte Foods. "This important step completes our plan to consolidate our headquarters office and marketing functions, to provide a centralized San Francisco location and to enhance our ability to execute our brand-focused strategy. San Francisco is a top U.S. city which enables us to attract top talent and our new One Maritime offices will enhance team work, upgrade our executional efficiency and importantly, provide room to grow.

Mr. Wolford continued, "We're also very pleased that our headquarters will remain in the city's financial district where we'll have continued convenient access to business resources, public transportation, recreation and other amenities. Del Monte has been in San Francisco for more than a hundred years and is looking forward to continuing to be an integral part of the San Francisco community for many years to come."

One Maritime Plaza is a premier building which will provide Del Monte with numerous benefits including increased square footage, additional conference rooms to foster enhanced collaboration, an employee training center to enable career development, and a physical fitness center to support employees' healthy lifestyles.

Del Monte's targeted occupancy date of One Maritime Plaza is early 2011. Approximately 400 employees will occupy 152,917 square feet of space among seven floors.

During the summer of 2008, in furtherance of its accelerated growth strategy, Del Monte centralized its brand support functions, including pet marketing and pet and operations finance, in its San Francisco office, increasing headquarters staff by approximately 25%. Prior to that, the Company's pet food and snack brand support functions operated out of its Pittsburgh, PA office.

Del Monte Foods has called The Landmark building its headquarters for approximately eight years, during which time the Company came to occupy a total of 93,280 square feet of space. The Company's headquarters, including its space at 50 California Street, currently houses its marketing, finance, human resources, legal, supply chain and executive office functions.

In addition to 27 manufacturing plants and distribution centers in the United States and three manufacturing plants in foreign locations, Del Monte also has 13 customer sales offices located across the country, an administrative office in Pittsburgh, PA, a sales operations office in San Ramon, CA, and research and development offices in Walnut Creek and Terminal Island, CA.

In total, Del Monte Foods employs approximately 5,400 full time and 9,400 seasonal employees worldwide.

About Del Monte Foods

Del Monte Foods is one of the country's largest and most well-known producers, distributors and marketers of premium quality, branded food and pet products for the U.S. retail market, generating approximately $3.6 billion in net sales in fiscal 2009. With a powerful portfolio of brands including Del Monte(R), S&W(R), Contadina(R), College Inn(R), Meow Mix(R), Kibbles 'n Bits(R), 9Lives(R), Milk-Bone(R), Pup-Peroni(R), Meaty Bone(R), Snausages(R) and Pounce(R), Del Monte products are found in eight out of ten U.S. households. The Company also produces, distributes and markets private label food and pet products. For more information on Del Monte Foods Company (NYSE: DLM | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) visit the Company's website at www.delmonte.com.

Del Monte. Nourishing Families. Enriching Lives. Every Day.(TM)

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements conveying management's expectations as to the future based on current plans, estimates and projections. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and Del Monte Foods Company cautions you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any such forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release include statements related to the timing of the expected move to One Maritime Plaza as well as the expected effects of the move. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Del Monte Foods Company does not undertake to update any of these statements in light of new information or future events.

SOURCE: Del Monte Foods

Del Monte Foods 
Chrissy Stengel, 415-247-3268 
Chrissy.Stengel@delmonte.com