Del Monte Foods sponsors the San Francisco Heart Walk

Sep 19 2009

Del Monte Foods (NYSE: DLM) today continues its commitment to healthy diet and lifestyles and the prevention of heart disease and stroke as the returning Presenting Sponsor of the American Heart Association 2009 Start! San Francisco Heart Walk. Del Monte has expanded its support this year with unprecedented fundraising, increased advocacy from leadership and greater employee involvement. This is the fourth consecutive year that Del Monte has supported the Heart Walk, which challenges more than 5,000 participants and 70 corporations to raise $1.5 million for cardiovascular disease research, education and prevention.

“As an advocate for healthy, active lifestyles, we are proud to continue supporting the fight against cardiovascular disease alongside the AHA,” said Richard G. Wolford, Chairman and CEO of Del Monte Foods. “Whether by eating our nutritious fruits and vegetables at dinnertime, or by exercising with your pet, Del Monte Foods encourages healthy, active lifestyles – one of the keys to preventing heart disease and stroke. Our enthusiasm and support grow every year as we take our commitment to this cause to new heights. This year, we more than doubled our fundraising compared to 2008 and increased involvement from key company leadership. We are proud to be a part of an effort that improves people’s lives and health.”

More than two-thirds of Del Monte Foods’ Bay Area employees will lace up their sneakers to participate in the lunchtime walk down the Embarcadero, including Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Bill Pearce. As this year’s Vice Chair of the Start! Heart Walk Executive Leadership Team, Pearce recently joined the American Heart Association Board of Directors, representing San Francisco and San Mateo Counties. In his new role, Pearce will serve a two-year term as an ambassador for the Association’s education, research, fundraising and public advocacy issues.

“The American Heart Association’s mission has professional, as well as personal, meaning to me,” said Pearce. “At Del Monte, we are focused on not only helping our consumers lead a healthy, active lifestyle, but also on maintaining a vibrant, heart-healthy workplace. Supporting the AHA’s efforts to reduce heart disease and stroke is just one of the ways that I hope to help further this mission. I am also personally passionate about the fight against cardiovascular disease after witnessing its impact within my own family, and am honored to serve on both the Executive Leadership Team and the Board of Directors.”

As the Presenting Sponsor of the 2009 Start! San Francisco Heart Walk, Del Monte will feature a booth at the Heart Walk Eat Street Fair, where walkers can refuel with a selection of heart-healthy Del Monte Foods snacks for walkers and pet food for their furry friends – including the popular Del Monte^® Fruit Naturals and Del Monte^® Lite 100 Calorie Fruit snacks for people and Milk-Bone^® Essentials Plus dog snacks and Meow Mix^® Wholesome Goodness cat food for pets.