FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 19, 2003

DAWN FOOD PRODUCTS SIGNS AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE SWEET GOODS,

BAKERY INGREDIENTS TO PANERA BREAD COMPANY

Dawn Food Products, Inc., announced today that it has entered into a supply agreement with Panera Bread (Nasdaq: PNRA) to provide high-quality bakery ingredients and sweet goods to the national bakery-cafe chain. The agreement has been in place since December of 2002. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Dawn will provide bakery ingredients and sweet goods, including scones, cookies, doughs and batters as well as icings, fillings and toppings for Panera’s 530 U.S. bakery-cafes. Panera Bread is the leader in the emerging specialty bread/bakery-cafe category due to its high quality product offerings combined with its quick casual dining experience.

“The philosophies of Dawn and Panera Bread match up perfectly and make our alliance a natural fit,” said John C. Nally, president of Dawn Foods North America. “Dawn and Panera share the same dedication to personal service and uncompromising quality, which has made our companies successful. Dawn is committed to providing the best possible service to our customers. Teaming with Panera Bread is fitting, as we know their commitment to excellence is the same as our own.”

Ron Shaich, Panera Bread chairman and chief executive officer said, “We are very pleased with the agreement to join forces with Dawn. The strength and experience of Dawn and its outstanding products will provide us with the resources we need to continue to offer the best tasting bakery products to our customers.”

Panera Bread owns and franchises bakery cafes under the Panera Bread and Saint Louis Bread Co. names. As of August 7, 2003 Panera Bread operated 531 bakery-cafes in 33 states. Additional information is available on the company’s website, www.panerabread.com.

Dawn Food Products, Inc. is one of the world's largest bakery manufacturers and distributors as well as one of the nation's oldest manufacturers of bakery mixes and bases. Since 1920, Dawn's dedicated employees, outstanding products and valued customers have made the Dawn name synonymous with excellence. American-owned and -operated, Dawn currently supplies a complete line of quality, consistent mixes, bases, icings, glazes, fillings, frozen dough, par-baked and fully baked products and equipment to the food industry worldwide.

For further information, please contact Dawn Food Products, Inc. at 2021 Micor Drive, Jackson, MI 49203; phone: (800) 248-1144 or (517) 789-4400; fax: (517) 789-4465; website: www.dawnfoods.com.

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