Merlinos MOTO BARS® Zoom into National Markets

MOTO BARS®, www.motobars.com Build on Regional Success of Fresh, Natural, Nutritious, High Protein Bars with Great Taste.

Contact: Mimi Shachat206.325.1311 harper7@attbi.com
Contact: Margaret Dormer-Steenson
VP Sales & MarketingMerlino Italian Baking Company
Tel 206.284.0744margaret@merlinobaking.com

Merlinos MOTO BARS® Zoom into National Markets

MOTO BARS®, www.motobars.com Build on Regional Success of Fresh, Natural, Nutritious, High Protein Bars with Great Taste.

Seattle, 1/07/03 -- Merlino Italian Baking Company, Seattles premier wholesale Italian bakery, celebrates the national launch of its Fresh Baked MOTO BAR® with the addition of four new delicious flavor combinations:

·   Cozy Pumpkin Pie (Topped with crunchy Pecans and rich Brown Sugar)
·   Jazzy Peanut Butter & Jelly (A childhood favorite with Peanut Butter, Strawberry Jelly and Roasted Peanuts)
·   Zany Cranberry and Orange (Cranberries, tangy Orange Zest and Country Oats)
·   Bodacious Banana Split (Chunks of Banana, lavish Semi-Sweet Chocolate and Banana Bits)

The new MOTO BAR® flavors were inspired by the MOTO Team and friends quest for comforting flavor combinations based on favorite childhood food memories", states Margaret Dormer-Steenson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Merlino Italian Baking Company

The four original flavors include, Luscious Lemon Blueberry , Charming Cherry Almond, Kooky Cappuccino, and Saucy Apple Cinnamon.

MOTO BARS® are a FRESH BAKED, healthy, natural grab and go meal, or snack that are:

·   Loaded with organic grains, fruit and other non-GMO ingredients
·   Low Fat
·   No Cholesterol
·   High Protein
·   Chewy and Moist
·   Certified Kosher
·   Point Values in Weight Watchers Complete Food Companion

MOTO BARS® can be found in QFC Supermarkets, Larrys Supermarkets, Bartells, PCC Natural Markets, Nordstrom Espresso Bars and many more locations....

Visit us at the 2003 Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco January 19th thru the 21st at Booth #2513!!

Merlinos developed the MOTO BAR® in response to a public that is demanding tasty, fresh, nutritionally sound, on-the-go, convenient, hand foods. Ninety-three percent of Americans snack, and 50% do so two or three times a day. Recent surveys point to "fresh" as the most important quality in food. Seventy two percent of shoppers ranked "fresh" as the most desirable claim on a product, in a HealthFocus Inc. poll.

"The growth in the natural foods industry is compelling," says PaineWebber analyst Mark Hanratty, who forecasts 15 to 20 percent over the next three to five years. Experts predict the industry will grow, astoundingly, from $12 billion to $50 billion in the next five years.

Based in Seattle Washington, the Merlino Italian Baking Company was established by Greg Merlino, grandson of the founders of Pacific Coast Macaroni Manufacturing Company (est. 1922). Using family recipes handed down for generations, Merlino Baking has created many Old World" Italian baked items such as Biscotti, Cannestrelli and Torchetti. In addition, Merlino produces the very popular Big Pink Cookie, Lemon Poppy Seed Cookie and other cream cheese iced or chocolate dipped seasonal cookies. Continuing this tradition of high-quality baked products Merlino Baking has enthusiastically introduced the Fresh Baked MOTO BAR® concept to the Energy/Breakfast Bar market.

For Immediate Release
January 7, 2003