Hormel Foods Provides Relief for Victims of Hurricane Katrina

WASHINGTON, Sunday, September 04, 2005 — AUSTIN, MINN. (Sept. 1, 2005) – Hormel Foods Corporation announced that the multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer-branded food and meat products is donating to the disaster relief efforts for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The company provided a cash donation to the American Red Cross and has donated nonperishable food products to feed hurricane victims and emergency personnel. In addition, the company has established a program to match employee and retiree contributions to assist people suffering from this tragedy.

Hormel Foods donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross to be used to assist people in states affected by the hurricane. Two truckloads of Hormel Foods food products are also to be shipped to America’s Second Harvest for distribution to food banks in the area. Products donated are Dinty Moore beef stew, Hormel roast beef and mashed potatoes, Hormel chicken and dumplings, Hormel teriyaki chicken and SPAM singles, which are all well-suited for disaster situations.

The company is also matching all donations made by employees and retirees to the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army. Donations given until Dec. 30, 2005, will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to a maximum total company contribution of $100,000. The company has approximately 17,000 employees and 5,000 retirees nationwide and overseas.

"We are deeply saddened by the suffering the residents of these Gulf Coast states are experiencing as a result of Hurricane Katrina," said Joel W. Johnson, Hormel Foods chairman of the board and chief executive officer. "I’m deeply touched by the concern expressed by our employees and their generosity to come to the aid of these victims. Hormel Foods has a tradition of helping people in need over its 114-year history."

About Hormel Foods Corporation

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer-branded food and meat products, many of which are among the best known and trusted in the food industry. The company leverages its extensive expertise, innovation and high competencies in pork and turkey processing and marketing to bring quality, value-added brands to the global marketplace. In each of the past five years, Hormel Foods was named one of "The 400 Best Big Companies in America" by Forbes magazine. The company enjoys a strong reputation among consumers, retail grocers and foodservice and industrial customers for products highly regarded for quality, taste, nutrition, convenience and value. For more information, visit www.hormel.com.