Calgary Co-op Introduces Exclusive New Line of Barley Bakery Products

September 22, 2005, Calgary, Alberta - Calgary Co-op, in partnership with Byblos Bakery , Schroeder Milling and the Alberta Barley Commission, is introducing a new line of healthy barley bakery products, to be sold exclusively at all Calgary Co-op food centres.

"These Alberta-made barley products are new in the Calgary marketplace, and will provide consumers with a healthy source of quality bakery items that contain zero transfats and , a source of fibre , along with great whole grain taste", says Clark Stuparyk, bakery director for Calgary Co-op. and the healthy goodness of fibre and whole grain

Byblos Bakery, operated by brothers Sal, George, Elias and Sleiman Daklala, offers consumers "a world of taste" and has a prominent place as a producer of the Number 1 Branded Pita Bread in western Canada, according to AC Nielsen scan data. In their search for wholesome ingredients, Byblos Bakery found whole grain barley to be an excellent fit with his healthy eating philosophy. "We want our products to offer consumers healthy food choices in their daily life," says Sal Daklala, president of Byblos. "Our barley buns and bites combine great taste and a good source of fibre. We intend to make whole grain barley options available for our familiar tortilla, pita and bagel products in the future."

Jim Schroeder, CEO of Schroeder Milling, based in Camrose, Alberta, says their mill gave new life to Sunny Boy^TM, a cherished brand of hot cereal and pancake mixes. "It's a brand that provides familiar comfort to family tables across Alberta and the prairies," says Schroeder. "Barley has always figured prominently in Sunny Boy pancake mix, but the health benefits of whole grain barley are tremendous and should be more readily available to consumers," says Schroeder. "We committed our mill to produce quality barley flour fit for interested bakeries, like Byblos Bakery, and we have received excellent feedback from bakers that use our barley flour to make cakes, cookies, pasta and breads."

To make food "baked with whole grain barley," you need three essential ingredients - a baker, a miller, and a barley grower. Family farms across Alberta plant over five million acres of barley every year, yielding about six million tonnes - the most of any province in Canada.

"Most people only know barley as an ingredient in beer," says Doug Robertson, chair of the Alberta Barley Commission, a farm group representing Alberta barley growers. "That's only half the story. Barley is also a source of nutritional advantage for health-conscious consumers." Barley grown in Alberta is high in dietary fibre, but rich in soluble fibre shown to reduce blood cholesterol and regulate blood sugar levels. Research into additional health benefits, often with the assistance of farmer funding, is underway in Canada and the United States.

This partnership between Calgary Co-op, Byblos Bakery, Schroeder Milling and Alberta Barley Farmers is unique in agriculture. It's the first of its kind for the grain industry in Alberta. The new line of barley bakery products are now available at all Calgary Co-op food centres.

Locally owned and operated, Calgary Co-op is one of the largest retail co-operatives in North America with assets of $287 million, sales of $752 million, 396,000 members and 3,700 employees. In addition to its head office in Calgary, Alberta, Calgary Co-op operates 20 retail shopping centres, 21 gas bars, 12 travel offices and 12 liquor stores in Calgary, Airdrie and Strathmore, Alberta.

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For more information, please contact:

Clark Stuparyk, Bakery Operations Director
Calgary Co-operative Association Limited
2735 - 39 Ave. NE, Calgary, AB T1Y 7C7
Telephone: 403-219-6025

Donna Burn, Director, Member and Public Relations
Calgary Co-operative Association Limited
2735 - 39 Ave. NE, Calgary, AB T1Y 7C7
Telephone: 403-219-6025