Horizon Organic Joins White Wave to Use Wind for 100% of Operations

Horizon Organic, the leading U.S. manufacturer of certified dairy foods, announced it will replace the electrical power used in its operations with sustainable wind energy, exclusively using wind power for its supply chain. This move joins Horizon Organic with White Wave, the country's largest soyfoods manufacturer, and one of its sister brands since consolidating under its parent company, Dean Foods. In 2003, White Wave became the largest company to purchase wind energy credits for 100 percent of its manufacturing and operations needs. The company expanded its wind energy purchase to cover the entire supply chain this year.

Beginning January 1, 2005, Horizon Organic joins White Wave in these pursuits by purchasing green tags, the industry term for wind power credits, to cover the energy needed for the entire product supply chain, from growing organic ingredients, to raising and milking organic cattle, to processing and operating its warehouses.

The purchase means that the energy Horizon Organic pulls from the nation's power grid to support its operations will be replaced by wind energy. White Wave's renewable energy purchase in 2004 will approach 25,000 megawatt hours, equivalent to taking 3,039 cars off the road. By applying wind energy credits for each of the brand's supply chains, Horizon Organic and White Wave will together significantly increase the percentage of wind power in the national grid, which will directly result in an increase in clean energy available in the country and a reduction of non-renewable, polluting energy sources.

White Wave recently won the prestigious Green Power Partner of the Year award from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. The brand has also been added to the EPA's Top 25 Partners list for green power. Horizon Organic also has a history of being recognized for its commitment to socially responsible business, receiving the 2002 Colorado Ethics in Business Award and being named one of the top "100 Best Corporate Citizens" for 2003 by Business Ethics magazine.