“We saw our sales climb immediately as this news hit,” says Chris Smith, VP of marketing for Frank’s Sauerkraut, one of the United States’ leading brands of Sauerkraut. “Men’s Health Magazine also advised constructing a pandemic kit containing sauerkraut because of its lactic acid bacteria. People are stocking up on sauerkraut like bottled water before a hurricane hits. We hope to be able to keep up with the demand this season,” he adds.

Sales of Frank’s brand sauerkraut were up an average of 77% (over the same period in 2004) in a survey of sales of 54 Midwest food retailers during week 39 of 2005. “This is an incredible indicator that the American public is taking preventative steps to insulate themselves from this potential pandemic in advance,” says Chris Smith. “With nine of the stores reporting an increase in sales of over 150% and one store even reporting an 850% increase what we’re seeing is a radical shift from our traditional approach to treating health issues: waiting until we’re sick,” he adds.

CBS Television WCCO in Minneapolis reported on October 23, 2005 that “When Patricia Oxendale heard about the study, she rushed to her neighborhood grocery store to buy some sauerkraut. ’That's what I just saw on TV so I thought, 'I'm going to take some home,' because I love it -- usually on Reuben sandwiches,’ Oxendale said. Others at the store bought the sour cabbage just because they like it.”

According to the November 2nd 2005 Chicago Sun-Times, “President Bush on Tuesday outlined a $7.1 billion strategy to get ready for the next pandemic…and the details released Wednesday stress that early on, the public will be depending on scarce supplies of anti-flu drugs and stockpiled vaccines and old-fashioned ways of limiting viral spread.” “News like this sends a message to the American public that they had better be ready to use every means available to prevent the spread of this flu because they can’t count on the government. Sauerkraut holds out promise to prevent, if not cure Avian Flu. They’ve been eating piles of the Kimchi variety in Asia and, coincidentally, also had the lowest number of SARS cases in that area.” says Chris Smith.

About The Fremont Company
The Fremont Company is a 100 year old consumer food product company headquartered in Fremont, OH. The Fremont Company produces nationally distributed consumer and food service products including Franks and Snowfloss Kraut and Mississippi BBQ Sauce. The Fremont Company maintains cross promotional relationships with several major restaurant chains and is distributed in various ballparks and stadiums including Yankee Stadium. Visit www.sauerkraut.com.