Oscar Calls, Merlinos Answers

There will be a Northwest presence at Oscar weeks gala events. Merlino's Italian Baking Company will join other sponsors, including The Sundance Documentary Channel and Revlon, at the celebration in honor of the Academy Award® Nominees in the Documentary Categories, hosted by Jeff Goldblum.

Oscar Calls and Merlinos Answers

The International Documentary Association of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Adds Merlino Italian Baking Companys Moto Bars® and Rococoa Cookies to Their Goody Bags".

Seattle, 3/5/03 – There will be a Northwest presence at Oscar weeks gala events. Merlino Italian Baking Company will join other sponsors, including The Sundance Documentary Channel and Revlon, at the celebration in honor of the Academy Award® Nominees in the Documentary Categories, hosted by Jeff Goldblum. The event will be held March 19, 2003 at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California. Goody Bags" feature the hottest and most sought after consumer products.

Nominees this year have generated intense interest and include:

Bowling for Columbine
Michael Moore and Michael Donovan
Daughter From Danang
Gail Dolgin and Vicente Franco
Prisoner of Paradise
Malcolm Clarke and Stuart Sender
Spellbound
Jeffrey Blitz and Sean Welch
Winged Migration
Jacques Perrin

We are very excited and privileged to provide our Moto Bars® and Rococoa Chocolate Cookies, in support of this prestigious event", exclaims Margaret Dormer-Steenson, VP Sales and Marketing at Merlino Italian Baking Company. We are confident the Goody Bag" recipients will become fans craving more!"

Merlino Italian Baking Company has licensed Rococoa Chocolate Cookies (http://rococoacookies.com/) for national distribution. These decadent, intensely chocolate cookies have received rave reviews from national and local publications.
According to Northwest Palate Magazine, They are blindingly delicious."

MOTO BARS® (http://www.motobars.com) 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 also be found in QFC Supermarkets, Larrys Supermarkets, Bartells, PCC Natural Markets, Nordstrom Espresso Bars and many more locations, and at Trader Joes in the following states, MA, NH, CT, NJ, PA, NY, DE, VA, MD, MI, IL, OH, and IN. Or visit the website at www.motobars.com.

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 Italian Baking Company 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 Italian Baking Company has enthusiastically introduced the Fresh-Baked MOTO BAR® concept to the Energy/Breakfast Bar market.

Contact: Mimi Shachat206.325.1311harper7@attbi.com   Contact: Margaret Dormer-SteensonVP Sales & MarketingMerlino Italian Baking CompanyTel 206.284.0744margaret@merlinobaking.com

MERLINO ITALIAN BAKING COMPANY
771 Valley Street Suite 100 Seattle, WA 98109
206.284.0744 / 800.207.2997 / Fax 206.284.0915

For Immediate Release
March 5, 2003