For further information, please contact:

Brian Beattie
SVP-Marketing
CHEP International
407.563.2060

Ronald Margulis
Managing Director
RAM Communications
908.232.3230
ron@rampr.com

Chep Introduces Innovative Container
To Address Industry Handling
Requirements For Bananas

Pooling company gets input from entire supply chain to ensure container is user friendly New RPC for #1 selling supermarket item

Chicago -- May 6, 2001 -- CHEP, the world leader in equipment pooling solutions, announced the introduction of a returnable plastic container (RPC) specifically developed for bananas at the Food Marketing Institute's Annual Convention today. The "Banana RPC" has been developed in conjunction with all major growers shipping into North America. Grower and retailer proof of concept trials will begin in the next few months. A full launch of the Banana RPC is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2001.

The Banana RPC has an industry standard 600 mm X 400 mm footprint, a 195 mm internal height and holds on average 18.6 kg (41 lbs.) of tropics-packed green fruit. Like the other six CHEP returnable plastic containers, the new RPC eliminates corrugated and related costs, reduces product damage, improves shelf life and delivers many distribution efficiencies like modularity and standardization. In addition, the Banana RPC enhances the ripening process due to optimized ventilation and can be packed in a display -ready fashion with the crowns up for increased in-store productivity and reduced labor costs.

"More than 20 billion bananas are consumed in the US each year, and bananas account for three percent of total supermarket sales. The CHEP Banana RPC brings new efficiencies, reduced shrink and lower overall to the top selling supermarket SKU. This will have a significant impact on a store's bottom line," said Jim Vangelos, Vice President of Produce, CHEP USA.

For years, numerous industry RPCs have been tested for transporting bananas, all of which failed to meet the fruit quality and transportation efficiency requirements of the market. In order to develop a solution to this complex market need, the CHEP Innovation Process was applied. This rigorous process organizes research and development activities into eight phases from market assessment and benchmarking, through field validation and product launch. Working closely with growers, distributors and retailers on the design of the new container, CHEP identified the unique requirements of the entire supply chain. Based upon this feedback, CHEP reduced the weight of the container by one pound versus similarly sized RPCs without sacrificing structural integrity. The Banana RPC also allows for the transport of two additional containers per pallet load than corrugated.

"We designed the Banana RPC with the entire supply chain in mind. For example, we used thin wall technology, which, at 1 mm thick, is thinner than corrugated. The result is a container that weighs significantly less, reducing system-wide costs," explained Tom Clinton, Senior Vice President of New Product Research and Development, CHEP International. "In addition, we contoured the side walls and base to the shape of bananas to make the container more fruit friendly and easier to pack. This also helps shippers maximize container utilization."

CHEP is an international pallet and container pooling company servicing manufacturers and distributors in the consumer goods industries; grower/shippers and receivers in the produce industry; packers, processors and distributors in the meat industry; home improvement, hardware and housewares manufacturers and distributors and suppliers, assembly plants and aftermarket retailers in the automotive industry. CHEP supplies its customers with high quality pallets and reusable containers from a comprehensive depot and premium service center network. The company is part of the worldwide CHEP organization, which operates in more than in 38 countries on six continents and controls more than 147 million pallets and 29 million containers. CHEP operating principles, service organization and computer tracking systems give participants a simple solution and improved efficiency in product delivery. Additional information on CHEP is available at www.chep.com.