MONTREAL, Aug. 30 /CNW Telbec/ - Van Houtte Inc. ("Van Houtte" or the "Company") (TSE: VH) is proud to announce that its coffees will become available in the next few months in the stores of A&P Canada Co. ("A&P Canada"), a subsidiary of METRO INC.
Under this five-year, renewable agreement, the Company will introduce its gourmet coffee merchandising concepts and offer Van Houtte gourmet coffees in some 250 stores flying the A&P, Dominion and Food Basics banners across Ontario. Consumers will have access to the complete line of Van Houtte coffees, including JAVANATION and Van Houtte fair trade organic coffees, in bulk or pre-packaged, ground or whole beans.
A substantial contribution to Van Houtte volumes in Ontario
"This joint project with A&P Canada is very exciting," said Jean-Yves Monette, president and CEO of Van Houtte. "The agreement will contribute to a substantial increase to our retail sales volume in Ontario. We're confident that the quality of our coffees will convince mainstream coffee drinkers among A&P customers to become gourmet coffee lovers - Van Houtte coffees, of course!"
"For twenty years now we've been able to see the impact that Van Houtte, its coffees and its merchandising concepts have had on the sales of gourmet coffee in our METRO and Super C stores in Quebec," explained Alain Brisebois, senior executive vice-president of A&P Canada. "We are confident that they will have the same impact in our Ontario stores. We want to offer our customers quality and choice, and this agreement with Van Houtte reflects that. "
The gourmet coffee sections of the A&P Canada stores will be gradually converted to the Van Houtte concept starting in the fall of 2006. Van Houtte will support the conversion with an appropriate marketing investment. Counting the stores targeted by the agreement, Van Houtte coffees are now distributed in 4,382 retail points of sale in Canada, including 2,108 outside Quebec.
Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements reflecting Van Houtte's objectives, estimates and expectations. Such statements may be marked by the use of verbs such as "believe," "anticipate," "estimate" and "expect" as well as the use of the future or conditional tense. By their very nature, such statements involve risks and uncertainty. Consequently, results could differ materially from the Company's projections or expectations. For information on the nature of risk factors not specifically discussed in this press release, the reader can consult Van Houtte's 2006 annual report under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties", p. 17-18.
About A&P Canada
Serving Canadians since 1927, A&P Canada Co., a subsidiary of METRO INC., operates over 275 grocery stores under the A&P, Dominion, Ultra Food & Drug, The Barn, Loeb and Food Basics banners throughout Ontario.
About Van Houtte
Founded in 1919, Van Houtte is one of North America's leading gourmet coffee roasters, marketers and distributors. The Company roasts and markets its gourmet coffees across Canada and the U.S. through distribution channels that include coffee services, retail stores, café-bistros and online shopping.
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For further information: Jean-Yves Monette, President and Chief Executive Officer; Gérard Geoffrion, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, Van Houtte Inc., (514) 593-7711; Alain Brisebois, Senior Executive Vice-President, A&P Canada Co., (416) 234-6935
