Universal Food and Beverage Company to Assist with Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts

Universal Food and Beverage Company (St. Charles, Ill.) says Federal and State agencies have contacted it for assistance in the management and coordination of supply and distribution efforts. A key member of Universal's management team has been temporarily dispatched to the Atlanta Region. This effort is in response to the catastrophe brought forth by Hurricane Katrina.

"We have been asked to specifically assist in this important effort because of our team's experience and reputation in the beverage industry. We are more than happy to assist these Agencies with the relief efforts and we will remain in service there until the job is done," says Marc Fry, pesident and COO of Universal.

"Our primary concern is for the health and safety of the population affected by this unfortunate event. Universal is committed to helping expedite the much needed fresh water to the hardest hit areas of the Gulf Coast states, and coordinating supply and delivery is our main goal in Atlanta. Universal's efforts are overshadowed by the massive destruction and loss in the wake of Katrina, and we hope that our assistance will ease the burden that the victims will undergo in the next few months."

President Bush has already issued emergency disaster declarations for the states of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi so the affected areas may quickly receive federal assistance. In addition, the Federal government has put into effect a massive emergency assistance program that includes rushing baby formula, communications equipment, generators, water and ice into the hardest hit areas.

Preliminary estimates by risk assessment companies are already placing Hurricane Katrina as the costliest storm in U.S. history, surpassing the amount of over $21 billion in losses caused by Hurricane Andrew that affected south Florida and the Gulf Coast in 1992.

Source: Universal Food and Beverage Company