[LOGO OMITTED]                                              [GRAPHIC OMITTED]


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

     MIDWEST GRAIN PRODUCTS, INC. CHANGES NAME TO MGP INGREDIENTS, INC.


     ATCHISON, Kan., October 10, 2002 -- Midwest Grain Products, Inc. is now MGP
Ingredients,  Inc.  The  name  change  took  effect  today  at the  close of the
company's  annual meeting of  stockholders.  Beginning  tomorrow,  the company's
ticker  symbol on the NASDAQ  National  Market will become MGPI,  replacing  the
existing symbol, MWGP.

     "The name  change is an  outward  symbol  of the  accelerated  evolutionary
process our company has been  undergoing  in recent  years," said Ladd  Seaberg,
President and CEO. "We have identified our chief strengths - support,  ingenuity
and  performance - and are using them to help our  customers  turn their product
ideas into reality."

     Discussing  underlying  reasons for the name change,  Seaberg  added,  "The
markets we serve  have  expanded  in scope.  As more of our  customers  serve an
increasingly sophisticated consumer base, we have strengthened our focus to meet
their  needs  through  the  development,  production  and  marketing  of several
fascinating lines of specialty  proteins and starches.  This re-branding  really
serves to  reinforce  our  strategic  emphasis  on being a premier  supplier  of
specialty  ingredient solutions to our customers who produce food, personal care
and pet products."

     The company also made a number of branding-related changes, including a new
corporate logo and revised company  graphics.  A new corporate  website address,
www.mgpingredients.com, was also unveiled. Along with the corporate name change,
the company's wholly-owned subsidiary in Pekin, Illinois, Midwest Grain Products
of Illinois, Inc., is now operating as MGP Ingredients of Illinois, Inc.

         "Many other actions have also been taken to support our company's
re-branding," said Mike Trautschold, executive vice-president of marketing and
sales. "Our sales force has been realigned and relocated to specific geographic
regions to enable more frequent customer contact, and our product management
team provides specialized product and market assistance to the sales staff and
helps provide product development guidance. Additionally, our research and
development group has been reorganized to provide increased direct customer
support as well as develop ingredients for the future."

     There will be no need for holders of Midwest Grain  Products,  Inc.  common
stock  certificates  to  exchange  their  existing  shares  as a  result  of the
company's name change.  Existing Midwest Grain Products,  Inc. certificates will
continue to be valid.

     Midwest  Grain  Products,  Inc.  is a pioneer in  producing  and  marketing
value-added  proteins and starches  derived  primarily from wheat.  In addition,
Midwest Grain produces natural food-grade alcohol for use in beverage,  food and
industrial applications,  and fuel grade alcohol, commonly known as ethanol. The
company is headquartered in Atchison,  Kansas, and owns and operates  production
facilities in Pekin, Illinois and Kansas City, Kansas.

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