ROQUETTE and NATIONAL STARCH FOOD INNOVATION join forces to market novel soluble fiber in USA and Mexico

March 23, 2006, BRIDGEWATER, NJ, USA, and LESTREM, FRANCE -- National Starch Food Innovation and Roquette Frères announced today that the parties signed a distribution agreement appointing National Starch as the exclusive distributor of the NUTRIOSE^® soluble fiber product line in food and beverage segments  in the United States and Mexico.

The agreement took effect on January 1, 2006. Roquette Frères selected National Starch to help increase their sales/marketing coverage and applications depth in key target categories, according to Roquette's Bernard Doullé, Corporate Products Manager. Roquette Frères is recognized as Europe's second largest and one of the world's most diversified starch and starch derivatives businesses.

NUTRIOSE^® is a patented family of high-purity soluble fibers made from corn and wheat. National Starch will be responsible for sales of the NUTRIOSE^® products into all food and beverage categories except confections, nutrition bars, pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter dietary supplements and health care products. NUTRIOSE^®, a water-soluble fiber ingredient, is an excellent complement to National Starch's Hi-maize® resistant starch insoluble fiber. NUTRIOSE^® is ideally suited for high-moisture applications, such as beverage and dairy, and fits with National Starch Food Innovation's focus on nutritional ingredients for digestive health and energy management.

Both NUTRIOSE^® and Hi-maize products address the concerns of health-conscious consumers who want to add fiber to their diets â€" and get it through their favorite foods without compromising taste. Common sources of fiber include cereals, fruits and vegetables; however, fiber intake may also be increased by increasing the fiber content of foods. Food and beverage producers face two obstacles in doing so; that is, low digestive tolerance and the challenges associated with processing foods fortified with fiber, which can affect the solubility, viscosity, stability and taste of foods. NUTRIOSE^® and National's Hi-maize provide the solution: NUTRIOSE^® being soluble and preserving a great taste in finished products, Hi-maize being insoluble and not affecting the taste or texture of low-moisture foods. Both products have an outstanding digestive tolerance. 

"We are very excited about securing the exclusive rights to the patent-protected NUTRIOSE^® product line," said Mike Klacik, Senior Director, Nutrition, National Starch Food Innovation. "NUTRIOSE^® adds to our Nutritional Ingredient portfolio and will allow us to better serve some of the fastest-growing segments of better-for-you foods and beverages."

More information on NUTRIOSE^® soluble fiber is available via telephone at 1-877-OUR-FIBER and on the web at www.nutriose.com.

NUTRIOSE^® is a registered trademark of Roquette Frères.

About Roquette Frères
Roquette fractionates and processes Nature's products, adapting them to the needs of the industry. With starch derived from maize, potatoes and wheat, the company produces an extensive range of high-quality products for the food, paper and corrugated board, fermentation, chemical, pharmaceutical and feed industries.

Roquette is one of Europe's largest and one of the world's most advanced starch and starch-derivatives business. Roquette is world leader for polyols (sugar alcohols). Roquette is a private family business dedicated to long-term development, with production facilities in Europe, North America and Asia.

About National Starch Food Innovation
National Starch Food Innovation is a leading global supplier of nature-based functional and nutritional ingredient solutions to the food and beverage industries. The company has a strong focus on delivering innovation to meet market and consumer trends in wholesome and natural, texture, nutrition, wellness, vitality and targeted delivery solutions. This vision combined with an extensive, award-winning product range, market knowledge and technical expertise makes National Starch Food Innovation a partner of choice for the next generation of food producers. For more information, visit http://www.foodinnovation.com/.

Contacts

Roquette Frères
M. MABILLE DE PONCHEVILLE
Corporate Image and Communication Manager
Tel + 33 3 2163 9073

National Starch Food Innovation
Martin Torbert
Director of Marketing Communications and Public Relations
Tel +1 908 685 5185