12500 West Creek Parkway Richmond, VA 23238 Phone (804) 484-7700 FAX (804) 484-7701 [LOGO] NEWS RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: JOHN D. AUSTIN VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE (804) 484-7753 PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP REPORTS 53% INCREASE IN FIRST QUARTER NET EARNINGS AND 27% INCREASE IN SALES - - NET EARNINGS ROSE 53% TO $16.4 MILLION IN FIRST QUARTER. - - FIRST QUARTER NET SALES INCREASED 27% TO NEW HIGH OF $1.3 BILLION. - - EPS ROSE 46% IN FIRST QUARTER TO $0.35 PER SHARE (DILUTED). RICHMOND, VA. (APRIL 29, 2003) - Performance Food Group (Nasdaq/NM:PFGC) today announced increased net sales and net earnings for the first quarter ended March 29, 2003. Sales for the first quarter of 2003 amounted to $1.3 billion, up 27% from $996.9 million in the year-earlier period. Net earnings for the quarter increased 53% to $16.4 million compared with $10.8 million a year ago. Net earnings per share for the quarter increased 46% to $0.35 per share diluted on 16% more shares outstanding compared with net earnings of $0.24 per share diluted in the year-earlier quarter. C. Michael Gray, president and chief executive officer, commented, "The first quarter results represented the 33rd consecutive period in which net sales and net earnings have increased compared with the prior-year period. Our first quarter sales growth of 27% consisted of 11% internal growth and 16% from acquisitions. All of our business segments contributed to our internal growth despite the impact of harsh winter weather, increased fuel costs and the war in Iraq. Our growth strategy of capitalizing on strategic acquisitions, deepening the penetration within existing accounts, winning new customers and focusing on product and service innovation should continue to serve us well as we move through the rest of what appears to be an exciting 2003. Deflation amounted to just over 1% during the first quarter primarily as a result of the unusually high price of iceberg lettuce in the prior year quarter. "Broadline sales continued to grow, increasing 43% in this year's first quarter versus the like quarter a year ago aided by the acquisitions of Quality Foods, Middendorf Meats and TPC completed during 2002. Street sales per delivery were down slightly for the quarter primarily due to the impact of additional new salespeople, new accounts and bad weather. Sales of proprietary brands increased 34% and comprised 23% of street sales for the quarter. Inflation amounted to less than 1% in the Broadline segment." -MORE- Performance Food Group Reports First Quarter Earnings Page 2 April 29, 2003 Gray added, "Customized recorded a 21% increase in first quarter net sales driven by expanding relationships with Ruby Tuesday, Inc. and T.G.I. Friday's restaurants as well as the addition of Mimi's Cafe. Deflation for the Customized segment amounted to approximately 1% for the quarter. "Fresh-cut sales grew at a more modest 5% which was negatively impacted by approximately 5% of deflation versus the prior year period. We're seeing strong demand for our fresh-cut products as we continue to develop innovative new bagged salad mixes and other fresh-cut products that meet our customers' needs. Our "Real! Fresh! Fruit!" product testing continues on schedule on the West Coast and is now in approximately 1,000 stores. We believe new product innovation, including Real! Fresh! Fruit!, will be a driver for future growth." Gray concluded, "We are optimistic about our overall growth prospects and expect that continued execution of our growth strategies will yield further improvement in operating margins. We are pleased with our operating results for the first quarter despite challenges related to harsh winter weather, increased fuel costs and the war in Iraq. Our balance sheet remains strong with a debt-to-capital ratio of 33%. Including amounts outstanding under our receivables purchase facility of $78 million and master operating lease obligations of $56 million, our debt-to-capital ratio is 40%. This capital structure allows us to continue investing in our business and to take advantage of growth opportunities. In addition, we recently increased our revolving credit facility to $350 million which further enhances our financial flexibility." Performance Food Group markets and distributes more than 61,000 national and private label food and food-related products to approximately 46,000 restaurants, hotels, cafeterias, schools, healthcare facilities and other institutions. Our Fresh Express line is the industry leader and pioneer of fresh packaged salads. The live broadcast of Performance Food Group's quarterly conference call will be available at www.pfgc.com or http://www.vcall.com/CEPage.asp?ID=83721 on April 29, 2003, beginning at 10:00 am (Eastern Time). Any information disclosed on the quarterly conference call that has not been previously disclosed publicly will be available on Performance Food Group's website at www.pfgc.com. Certain statements made herein are forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and management's estimates; actual results may differ materially. The risks and uncertainties which could impact these statements include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions; the relatively low margins and economic sensitivity of the foodservice business; the Company's reliance on major customers; the ability to identify and successfully complete acquisitions of other foodservice distributors; the Company's ability to successfully develop and market new products; management of the Company's planned growth; and the effect of the Company's identification of certain accounting errors on its anticipated results of operations, all as detailed from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. - MORE - Performance Food Group Reports First Quarter Earnings Page 3 April 29, 2003 PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP COMPANY UNAUDITED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS THREE MONTHS ENDED ------------------------------------ MARCH 29, MARCH 30, 2003 2002 -------------- ------------ Net sales $1,269,105,000 $996,903,000 Net earnings $ 16,420,000 $ 10,756,000 Net earnings per share: Basic $ 0.36 $ 0.25 Diluted $ 0.35 $ 0.24 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: Basic 45,345,000 43,847,000 Diluted 52,452,000 45,411,000 - MORE - Performance Food Group Reports First Quarter Earnings Page 4 April 29, 2003 PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP COMPANY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND INCOME STATEMENT MARCH 29, 2003 (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE) MARCH 29, 2003 DEC. 29, 2002 -------------- ------------- ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 39,190 $ 33,660 Accounts and notes receivable, net, including retained interest in securitized receivables 228,461 220,676 Inventories 241,568 239,846 Other current assets 34,386 34,964 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total current assets 543,605 529,146 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Property, plant and equipment, net 303,978 293,994 Goodwill, net 585,474 575,464 Other intangible assets, net 203,347 205,497 Other assets 9,637 13,616 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total assets $ 1,646,041 $ 1,617,717 ================================================================================================= LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Checks in excess of deposits $ 57,078 $ 74,759 Trade accounts payable 264,595 236,438 Current installments of long-term debt 2,129 2,504 Other current liabilities 147,380 134,363 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total current liabilities 471,182 448,064 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Long-term debt, excluding current installments 351,763 370,095 Deferred income taxes 87,644 84,689 Shareholders' equity 735,452 714,869 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 1,646,041 $ 1,617,717 ================================================================================================= THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 29, 2003 MARCH 30, 2002 Net sales $ 1,269,105 100.0% $ 996,903 100.0% Cost of goods sold 1,069,767 84.3% 843,578 84.6% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross profit 199,338 15.7% 153,325 15.4% Operating expenses 168,934 13.3% 131,909 13.3% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Operating profit 30,404 2.4% 21,416 2.1% Other income (expense): Interest expense (4,790) (4,299) Loss on sale of receivables (324) (438) Other, net 1,193 531 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other expense, net (3,921) (0.3)% (4,206) (0.4)% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings before income taxes 26,483 2.1% 17,210 1.7% Income taxes 10,063 0.8% 6,454 0.6% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net earnings $ 16,420 1.3% $ 10,756 1.1% ====================================================================================================================== Weighted average common shares outstanding 45,345 43,847 ====================================================================================================================== Basic net earnings per common share $ 0.36 $ 0.25 ====================================================================================================================== Weighted average common shares and dilutive potential common shares outstanding 52,452 45,411 ====================================================================================================================== Diluted net earnings per common share $ 0.35 $ 0.24 ====================================================================================================================== -MORE- Performance Food Group Reports First Quarter Earnings Page 5 April 29, 2003 PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP COMPANY 2003 COMPARED TO 2002 1ST QUARTER SEGMENT DISCLOSURE Corporate & 2003 Broadline Customized Fresh-Cut Intersegment Consolidated - ---- --------- ---------- --------- ------------ ------------ First Quarter Net external sales $642,683 $412,942 $213,480 $ -- $1,269,105 Intersegment sales 213 94 3,798 (4,105) -- Operating profit 11,962 4,875 18,226 (4,659) 30,404 Operating profit margin 1.86% 1.18% 8.39% -- 2.40% Total assets 777,532 145,338 635,930 87,241 1,646,041 Interest expense (income) 3,821 65 4,682 (3,778) 4,790 Loss (gain) on sale of receivables 1,629 502 -- (1,807) 324 Depreciation 3,574 850 5,363 368 10,155 Amortization 943 -- 1,135 -- 2,078 Capital expenditures 1,627 2,662 14,874 1,045 20,208 Corporate & 2002 Broadline Customized Fresh-Cut Intersegment Consolidated - ---- --------- ---------- --------- ------------ ------------ First Quarter Net external sales $450,810 $341,117 $204,976 $ -- $ 996,903 Intersegment sales 144 -- 2,784 (2,928) -- Operating profit 8,406 3,446 12,838 (3,274) 21,416 Operating profit margin 1.86% 1.01% 6.18% -- 2.15% Total assets 469,505 95,737 623,587 148,545 1,337,374 Interest expense (income) 1,464 129 5,065 (2,359) 4,299 Loss (gain) on sale of receivables 1,482 470 -- (1,514) 438 Depreciation 2,775 752 4,525 258 8,310 Amortization 354 -- 1,128 300 1,782 Capital expenditures 1,133 1,213 8,380 931 11,657 - 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