Tree of Life Canada Acquiring Canadian Health Food Distributor

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla.--Through its Canadian subsidiary, Tree of Life Inc. (www.treeoflife.com) has inked an agreement to purchase the wholesale distribution business of Preisco Foods Ltd. and Jentash Specialty Foods Limited (Preisco/Jentash Foods). The deal is expected to close at the end of July 2001.

The Coquitlam, British Columbia-based wholesale company distributes specialty and health food items to supermarkets and food service wholesalers in Western Canada. It will be combined with the Ashley Koffman division of Tree of Life Canada, with Stephen P. Cowan, president and chief executive officer of Preisco/Jentash Foods, joining the Tree of Life group.

"The existing Preisco/Jentash Foods business, combined with our Ashley Koffman division of Tree of Life Canada, will provide us with improved product offerings and logistical coverage of the Canadian marketplace," said Henry Puente, president and chief executive officer of Tree of Life. "The acquisition of the Preisco/Jentash business supports our unwavering commitment to the specialty, health and ethnic food distribution channel, and our valued retail customers throughout Canada."