SAN FRANCISCO, CA, October 1, 2008 – Demeter Group, an investment bank focused on high-growth brands in the food, beverage and beauty industries, served as advisor to Nestlé USA in the sale of its Albers® corn meal and grits business to privately owned Continental Mills of Tukwila, WA. Nestlé USA is a subsidiary of Nestlé SA of Switzerland, the world’s largest food company.

The Albers brand (www.verybestbaking.com/products/albers), founded more than 100 years ago, is dominant in the western U.S. Albers’ corn meal and grits are the number one brands in their categories, with market shares of 64% and 59%, respectively. Albers brand yellow and white corn meal are essential ingredients in everything from corn bread and muffins to fried fish and chicken. Albers brand grits create both side and main dishes at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

"Demeter Group, being expert in the middle market, was able to identify Continental Mills as a likely buyer for Albers," said Bob Gatto, Nestlé USA Vice President of Business Development. "As a result, it was a very smooth transaction."

Continental Mills (www.ContinentalMills.com) produces leading breakfast food, baking mix and beverage brands such as Krusteaz, Snoqualmie Falls and Alpine. "Albers fits perfectly into the Continental Mills family of products," said Michael Castle, Continental’s CFO. "It’s a strong regional brand that we can grow through the national reach of our existing sales and marketing infrastructure."