Tree of Life Canada Acquiring Canadian Health Food Distributor 35647

Tree of Life Canada Acquiring Canadian Health Food Distributor

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla.--Through its Canadian subsidiary, Tree of LifeInc. (www.treeoflife.com) has inked an agreement to purchase the wholesaledistribution 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 specialtyand health food items to supermarkets and food service wholesalers in WesternCanada. It will be combined with the Ashley Koffman division of Tree of LifeCanada, with Stephen P. Cowan, president and chief executive officer of Preisco/JentashFoods, joining the Tree of Life group.

The existing Preisco/Jentash Foods business, combined with our AshleyKoffman division of Tree of Life Canada, will provide us with improved productofferings and logistical coverage of the Canadian marketplace, said HenryPuente, president and chief executive officer of Tree of Life. Theacquisition of the Preisco/Jentash business supports our unwavering commitmentto the specialty, health and ethnic food distribution channel, and our valuedretail customers throughout Canada.