MICHAEL FOODS, INC. NEWS
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324 Park National Bank Building
5353 Wayzata Boulevard
Minneapolis, MN 55416
(612) 546-1500 FAX (612) 546-3711


Contact:  MARK D. WITMER
          DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
          (612) 546-1500


For Immediate Release

MICHAEL FOODS ACQUIRES REFRIGERATED POTATO PRODUCTS LINE
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MINNEAPOLIS, December 21 -- Michael Foods, Inc. (NMS-MIKL) announced today
that it has purchased the institutional refrigerated potato products business
of Interstate Food Processing Corp.  Interstate is the second largest
producer in the U. S. foodservice refrigerated potato products market after
Michael Foods' Northern Star Co. subsidiary.  The purchase includes all
institutional refrigerated potato products volume and related processing
equipment and a long-term license for the use of Interstate's Quality
Farms--Registered Trademark-- brand. In order to provide Michael Foods' new
customers with the same high quality products and service they have received
from Interstate, production and distribution will remain at Interstate's Fort
Fairfield, Maine plant under a co-packing arrangement.  Terms of the purchase
were not disclosed.

Commenting on the acquisition, Chief Executive Officer Gregg A. Ostrander said,
"This purchase is an excellent fit with our strategic plan to grow our sales
and earnings by focusing primarily on value-added, refrigerated products sold
in the foodservice market.  With the addition of the former Interstate
volume, we will solidify our standing as the premier supplier of high
quality refrigerated potato products in the U.S.  We will work with the
former owners of this business to ensure that Interstate's customers continue
to receive their customary top quality refrigerated potato products and high
service level."

Michael Foods, Inc. is a diversified food processor and distributor with
particular interests in egg products, refrigerated grocery products, frozen
and refrigerated potato products and specialty dairy products.  Principal
subsidiaries include M. G. Waldbaum Company, Crystal Farms Refrigerated
Distribution Company, Northern Star Co. and Kohler Mix Specialties, Inc.

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