CONTACT:  Mary Krier, VP/Communications, Flowers Foods
                     (229) 227-2333 or mkrier@flowersfoods.com 

Brown Bags are in Fashion this Fall
November is National Bread Month and the Perfect Time to Brown Bag It 

THOMASVILLE, GA  October 15, 2008 - What is this fall's hottest must-have accessory?  It's the brown bag lunch. Adult consumers in the U.S. will be carrying more than 8.5 billion brown bag lunches this year, according to the NPD Group, a national market research company. And food fashionistas will want to make sure their brown bag is outfitted with delicious sandwiches made with Nature's Own and Whitewheat® breads. 

Nearly two-thirds (63%) of women at some time pack a lunch for themselves, with 39% indicating they do so at least once a week, according to a recent survey commissioned by the Grains Foods Foundation and conducted by Harris Interactive®. That number is expected to grow, with more than one-third (37%) of U.S. women who pack their own lunches indicating they plan to do so more often in the coming year than they have in the past. 

"Since November is National Bread Month, now is the perfect time to brush off your favorite sandwich recipe and join others across the country who are brown bagging it," said Sherry Harper, director of marketing for Flowers Foods.  "Sandwiches are delicious, easy to make, and a more cost-effective way for adults to use their lunch money." 

The current state of the economy seems to be driving the brown bag craze, with 81% of women indicating that money is an important factor for packing their own lunch. Almost half of U.S. women eat lunch out at least once per week, spending an average of $9 each time, according to the survey. 

Brown bagging also makes sense for kids. Lunches from home can save hundreds - even thousands - of dollars per year for many families. The Harris survey found that women with school-age children at home are more likely than those without children (59%) to pack a lunch. 

"These days, managing expenses is a priority for many of us," said Harper. "Making sandwiches and packing healthy lunches is a relatively easy way to save money and control your diet since brown bag lunches tend to be smaller in portion and lower in calories." 

Not surprisingly, sandwiches are the number one choice for take-from-home lunches. Portable, easy to eat, and offering infinite variety, sandwiches made with bread provide much-needed energy during the middle of the day. 

"Today's supermarket bread aisle is filled with an incredible variety of breads for every taste and diet concern," Harper explains. "For example, we have Nature's Own breads made with whole grains, with extra fiber, with fewer calories, and with omega-3. For people who enjoy the taste and texture of white bread--but want the nutritional punch of wheat bread--there's Whitewheat® bread. People can easily customize their sandwiches simply by choosing different types of breads." 

If you're looking for new ideas for sandwiches, visit www.naturesownbread.com or www.whitewheat.com for lots of delicious recipes. Be sure to join the free eRecipe Club to receive recipes and sandwich ideas by e-mail. Nature's Own and Whitewheat® breads can be found in supermarket bread aisles in the Southeast, Southwest and Mid-Atlantic States.

BROWN BAG LUNCH TIPS FROM NATURE'S OWN & WHITEWHEAT
Some helpful hints for adult and kid lunches and some "green tips" as well

• Add variety to sandwiches by changing the type of bread along with the fillings. In addition to whole-grain sandwich breads, try bagels, English muffins, sandwich rolls, and tortillas.
  
• Whole-grain breads, like Nature's Own premium specialty breads, are a great source of dietary fiber and will help keep your hunger at bay the rest of the day.
  
• Pack a low-fat source of calcium such as light yogurt, low-fat milk or soy milk, or reduced-fat cheese.
  
• If your lunch and the kids' are basically the same, add sophisticated flavors for grown-up tastes with a few simple ingredients or condiments. Toss chopped nuts or halved grapes into chicken or tuna salad. Add jarred roasted peppers, sprouts, or sun-dried tomatoes to a turkey or roast beef sandwich. Spread chutney, Asian peanut sauce, pesto, barbecue sauce, or spicy mustard instead of mayo on the bread.
  
• Prevent soggy bread by packing moist ingredients, such as tomato slices, pickles or roasted peppers, separately. Slip inside your sandwich just before eating.
  
• Turn last night's leftovers into today's lunch inspiration. Roast chicken, meatloaf or grilled salmon make great sandwiches. Round it out with a small container of leftover veggies or salad.
  
• Pack one small indulgence you'll look forward to that won't break the calorie bank, such as biscotti to savor with coffee or a small square of bittersweet chocolate with a cup of green tea.
  
• Keep hand wipes at work for quick hand and desk cleanups.
  
• Streamline your mornings by preparing a week's worth of sandwiches in advance, wrapping them individually, and freezing them in a large plastic freezer bag. Use within three months for best quality. Thaw individual sandwiches overnight in the refrigerator.
  
• Sandwich fillings that freeze well: Nut butters, canned tuna and salmon salads made with cooked salad dressing (not mayonnaise), cooked poultry and meats and firm or semi-firm cheeses, such as Parmesan, Cheddar and Swiss.
  
• Sandwich fillings that DO NOT freeze well: Hard-cooked egg whites, jams and jellies, tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, onions, and soft cheeses, such as cream cheese, feta, blue cheese, and goat cheese.  

For the Kids

• Let kids help assemble their own lunches. They're more likely to eat what they've created.
  
• Nature's Own Whitewheat bread is an ideal choice for kids' sandwiches. With the same taste, texture, and appearance of classic white bread, kids will never know it has the nutrition of whole wheat bread.
  
• Instead of potato chips with that sandwich, whip up a batch of homemade trail mix that includes raisins or dried cranberries, peanuts, air-popped popcorn, and a small amount of chocolate chips.
  
• Pack salsa, reduced-fat dips or dressings, or hummus for dipping baby carrots, celery or cucumber stickers, and cherry tomatoes.
  
• Lighten up kid sandwiches by using reduced-fat deli meats and cheeses and light mayo. Tuck a lettuce leaf or a bit of grated carrots inside sandwiches for extra crunch and fiber.
  
• Skip the cookies and candy and try a healthy homemade fruit muffin for a sweet ending.
  
• Include a handwritten note with a joke or a good-luck wish on a test day.

Green Tips

• Reduce lunch packaging waste with reusable rather than disposable lunch supplies. Here are some suggestions:
  
• Pack your lunch in a washable insulated bag or box.
  
• Keep cloth napkins and silverware in your desk that can be washed and reused rather than using paper napkins and plastic utensils.
  
• Avoid using plastic wraps, plastic bags, and aluminum foil whenever possible. Opt for reusable containers instead.
  
• Instead of buying small packaged products for lunch, purchase foods in large packages and divide them into smaller portions in reusable containers. This limits packaging waste and puts you in charge of portion control.
  
• If your office doesn't have a recycling program, choose reusable drink containers instead of disposable cans and plastic bottles.

Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of the Grain Foods Foundation among 1,536 U.S. adult females (aged 18 and over) within the United States between July 31 and August 4, 2008. Data were weighted to be representative of the total U.S. adult population on the basis of region, age within gender, education, household income, race/ethnicity and propensity to be online.  No estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated; a full methodology is available.

About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is a global leader in custom market research. With a long and rich history in multimodal research that is powered by our science and technology, Harris Interactive assists clients in achieving business results. Harris Interactive serves clients globally through its North American, European and Asian offices and a network of independent market research firms. For more information, visit www.harrisinteractive.com.

About Nature's Own
Flowers introduced Nature's Own, with no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors, in 1977. Since then, Nature's Own has grown into a full line of more than 10 soft variety breads and buns with annual sales of more than $600 million.Nature's Own is well known for quality and innovation. In the 1980s, Flowers introduced one of the first low-calorie breads on the market under the Nature's Own brand. In 1999, Nature's Own Sugar Free hit the market, one of the first commercially produced sugar-free breads available. In 2004, Flowers successfully introduced Nature's Own Wheat 'n Fiber, the first commercially produced bread with lower carbohydrates. More recently, Flowers has introduced Double Fiber Wheat with five grams of fiber per slice and heart-healthy omega-3, a line of premium, whole grain specialty breads, and new items especially for breakfast. For more information, visit www.naturesownbread.com.

About Whitewheat®
Since its introduction in 1991, Whitewheat® has grown into one of Flowers' best-selling brands. Offering the taste and texture of white bread but the nutritional benefits of wheat, Whitewheat® is an excellent source of calcium and iron; a good source of fiber, which may help prevent obesity in children; and contains no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors. Today, adults and children can enjoy a complete line of delicious Whitewheat® breads and buns. For more information, visit www.whitewheat.com.

About Flowers Foods
Headquartered in Thomasville, Ga., Flowers Foods, with annual sales of over $2.02 billion, is one of the nation's leading producers and marketers of packaged bakery foods for retail and foodservice customers. Flowers operates 39 bakeries that produce a wide range of bakery products marketed throughout the Southeastern, Southwestern, and mid-Atlantic states via an extensive direct-store-delivery network and nationwide through other delivery systems. Among the company's top brands are Nature's Own, Whitewheat, Cobblestone Mill, Aunt Hattie's, Sunbeam, Holsum, Blue Bird, and Mrs. Freshley's. For more information, visit www.flowersfoods.com.

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