C.H. Guenther & Son, Inc.

East Balt Guenther Bakeries, LTD
Press Release—April 26, 2005

Dale W. Tremblay, President of San Antonio, Texas based C.H. Guenther and Son, Inc., and Frank Kuchuris, Chairman and CEO of Chicago, Illinois based East Balt, Inc., announced the acquisition of the bakery assets of Golden West Foods, a United Kingdom based subsidiary of RHM, Limited. The bakeries which have been acquired include two bakeries in the United Kingdom, located outside of London and Manchester, and one bakery in Belgium (Olen). These bakeries are the principle production sites for McDonald’s Bun and English Muffin products, for the restaurants located in the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Denmark and Belgium. East Balt and C.H. Guenther, both respected suppliers to McDonald’s, have formed a partnership (limited liability company) to make the acquisition, and to work together to help the McDonald’s UK system build on its recent product successes. Mr. Kuchuris stated this acquisition is a culmination of many years of effort, and that it is a reflection of East Balt’s commitment to the McDonald’s system. “As McDonald’s has expanded its reach worldwide, we have been there to make sure that the bakery products exceed McDonald’s quality expectations.” Mr. Tremblay reflected on the fact that this partnership and acquisition will allow them to bring great capabilities to the McDonald’s UK and Belgium system as the bakery execution strengths of East Balt and the new product innovation and technical capabilities of C.H. Guenther are put together to provide value to East Balt Guenther’s primary customer. East Balt, Inc. was founded by Louis Kuchuris in 1935, and was the original supplier to Ray Kroc when he opened his first McDonald’s in 1955. Today, East Balt has 19 bakeries located around the world that service a significant portion of the McDonald’s US and International restaurants. C.H. Guenther & Son, Inc., was founded in Texas in 1851, by German immigrant Carl Hilmar Guenther. The Company worked with McDonald’s for over 3 years to develop the McGriddle Breakfast Sandwich, which has seen great success in North America. The Company today produces a variety of dry and frozen grain-based food products, and has four facilities in the US plus the new UK and Belgium bakery operations. Both East Balt and C.H. Guenther are privately-held firms.

       Dale W. Tremblay, President of San Antonio, Texas based C.H. Guenther and Son, Inc., and Frank Kuchuris, Chairman and CEO of Chicago, Illinois based East Balt, Inc., announced the acquisition of the bakery assets of Golden West Foods, a United Kingdom based subsidiary of RHM, Limited. The bakeries which have been acquired include two bakeries in the United Kingdom, located outside of London and Manchester, and one bakery in Belgium (Olen). These bakeries are the principle production sites for McDonald’s Bun and English Muffin products, for the restaurants located in the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Denmark and Belgium.

       East Balt and C.H. Guenther, both respected suppliers to McDonald’s, have formed a partnership (limited liability company) to make the acquisition, and to work together to help the McDonald’s UK system build on its recent product successes. Mr. Kuchuris stated this acquisition is a culmination of many years of effort, and that it is a reflection of East Balt’s commitment to the McDonald’s system. “As McDonald’s has expanded its reach worldwide, we have been there to make sure that the bakery products exceed McDonald’s quality expectations.” Mr. Tremblay reflected on the fact that this partnership and acquisition will allow them to bring great capabilities to the McDonald’s UK and Belgium system as the bakery execution strengths of East Balt and the new product innovation and technical capabilities of C.H. Guenther are put together to provide value to East Balt Guenther’s primary customer.

       East Balt, Inc. was founded by Louis Kuchuris in 1935, and was the original supplier to Ray Kroc when he opened his first McDonald’s in 1955. Today, East Balt has 19 bakeries located around the world that service a significant portion of the McDonald’s US and International restaurants.

       C.H. Guenther & Son, Inc., was founded in Texas in 1851, by German immigrant Carl Hilmar Guenther. The Company worked with McDonald’s for over 3 years to develop the McGriddle Breakfast Sandwich, which has seen great success in North America. The Company today produces a variety of dry and frozen grain-based food products, and has four facilities in the US plus the new UK and Belgium bakery operations.

       Both East Balt and C.H. Guenther are privately-held firms.

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