A.D. Makepeace Company supports strategic merger
Recommends continuing business as a classic handler co-op

9/3/99 Wareham, MA - - A.D. Makepeace Company is the largest owner and grower of Ocean Spray Cranberries. In recent years the company has lobbied unsuccessfully behind the scenes to convince the Board and management of Ocean Spray to consider a "Strategic Merger" of the juice business with a major global consumer marketing company, while continuing to own the handler co-op business to provide a stable home for growers' fruit.  Makepeace contends that this would be in the best interest of all Ocean Spray growers.  

Makepeace has taken the extraordinary step of informing all owners of the Ocean Spray cooperative of its position in a letter dated Sept. 1, 1999. The letter proposes that an educational process needs to take place starting immediately to help owners fully understand the benefits of the "Strategic Merger" alternative. Additionally, they have retained a polling organization to call all Ocean Spray owners to gather their opinions and concerns about a strategic merger.