FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 21, 2005

RONALD L. JONES RECEIVES MASTER ENTREPRENEUR
OF THE YEAR^® AWARD FROM ERNST & YOUNG

Professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP recently announced that Ronald L. Jones, Chairman & CEO of Dawn Food Products, Inc., one of the world’s largest full-service, family-owned baking industry suppliers, is the recipient of Ernst & Young’s highest honor, Master Entrepreneur®, in the Central Great Lakes Area. The honor was presented during the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® awards ceremony on June 9th at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Dearborn, Michigan. Carrie Barber, President of Dawn International and Miles Jones, Executive Vice President of Dawn were at the event to accept the award on his behalf.

As recipient of the Master Entrepreneur award, Ron Jones was recognized for contributions throughout the business community and a strong commitment to employees, customers, and local communities. To be considered a Master Entrepreneur, an individual must display a strong entrepreneurial spirit throughout a lifetime of entrepreneurial ventures. Jones was selected by a panel of independent judges comprised of area leaders from business, academic and civic organizations.

Since joining Dawn in 1957, Jones has performed just about every job within Dawn, from delivering donuts on his bicycle as a child, to accounting, and even janitorial work as needed. When Jones became CEO in 1982, he began to implement numerous strategies to help Dawn realize his vision of becoming the dominant, most profitable supplier to the baking industry. Under Jones’ leadership, Dawn has grown from a company with one bakery mix plant and $27 million in sales, to 19 manufacturing locations and 29 distribution centers worldwide, and over $1 billion in sales.

"What impresses me most about Ron is the fact he is always willing and able to re-invent himself, his company, and how we work and operate. He does this without compromising Dawn’s values. Ron has the ability to recognize what needs to be changed and what needs to be maintained. There is no better model and motivation for Dawn people to continually strive to improve than to follow the example set forth by Ron,” said David Kowal, VP Strategic Planning and Worldwide Marketing for Dawn.

As winner of the Central Great Lakes Area, Ron Jones is now in the competition for the national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year, which will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, Calif., in November 2005. The national Entrepreneur Of The Year recipient is then considered for the world event held in Monte Carlo.

Dawn Food Products, Inc. is one of the world’s largest independently owned 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 high-quality, consistent mixes, bases, icings, glazes, fillings, ready-to-bake products, and ready baked products and equipment to the food industry worldwide.

For further information, please contact Dawn Food Products, Inc. at 3333 Sargent Road, Jackson, MI 49201; phone: (800) 248-1144 or (517) 789-4400; fax: (517) 789-4465; website: www.dawnfoods.com.

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