000309 Gardenburger Flame Grilled Products Launched

Portland, OR - Gardenburger, Inc. announced the upcoming launch of two new products called Gardenburger Flame Grilled(TM), with breakthrough, hot-off-the- grill flavor. The company believes this launch will revolutionize the veggie burger category by addressing the fundamental consumer desire for great taste. The products address the paradigm of how to eat well without compromise. The new Gardenburger Flame Grilled products are expected to generate growth across all channels where they will be made available.

Using proprietary new technology, Gardenburger will actually flame-grill its products to give consumers rich smoky taste, great texture and full aroma, without the trouble of firing up the grill. These new products microwave to perfection in just 45 seconds. As the packaging states, "We grill it, you microwave it!" The products will come in two varieties -- Gardenburger Flame Grilled Original Veggie and Gardenburger Flame Grilled Hamburger Style -- and will begin appearing on store shelves prior to the start of the grilling season, a peak sales period for veggie burgers.

"Gardenburger Flame Grilled products will be the new gold standard in the category. Food that is hot off the grill tastes really good, and these burgers taste like they just came off your backyard grill," said Lyle Hubbard, president and chief executive officer of Gardenburger, Inc. "We believe that this taste breakthrough will be the turning point in how consumers view veggie burgers, and expect these innovations to attract new users. Consumers will buy them for the taste, and get the health benefits for free."

In recent blind taste tests conducted by the company, consumers rated the new Flame Grilled products as exceeding all competitive veggie burgers. Gardenburger Flame Grilled burgers rated far superior to any other burgers ever tested by the company, and actually rivaled the taste of real fast food flame- broiled burgers.

The company is planning distribution of the new foodservice products in April, and consumers will be able to try the Flame Grilled burgers in restaurants at that time. Consumers will also begin seeing Gardenburger Flame Grilled products on-shelf in retail stores nationally around Memorial Day. Price of the Flame Grilled products in grocery stores will be the same as the current Gardenburger line.

Founded in 1985 by GardenChef Paul Wenner(TM), Gardenburger, Inc. is an innovator in meatless, low-fat food products. The company distributes its flagship Gardenburger(r) veggie patty to more than 35,000 food service outlets throughout the United States and Canada. Retail customers include more than 30,000 grocery, natural food and club stores. Based in Portland, Ore., the company currently employs approximately 200 people.

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