Local business partners with Greek company to launch CRETA FARMS Gourmet EVOO Deli Meats™ - the nation's only deli meats infused with heart-healthy extra virgin olive oil.

Lansdale, PA. (March 2008) - Local business CRETA FARMS™ USA, LLC has partnered with CRETA FARM Greece, to launch a new line of deli meats in the U.S., bringing a slice of the Mediterranean to Philadelphia-area palates with its introduction of CRETA FARMS Gourmet EVOO Deli Meats - the nation's only deli meats with heart-healthy extra virgin olive oil.

CRETA FARMS USA, LLC will introduce the popular European products in this region through grocery store chain, Acme Markets, and other local independent retailers, in May.

"We are excited about this launch because we know the product is really going to connect with consumers," says Wayne Marchant, President of CRETA FARMS USA. "We're combining the healthy flavors of the Mediterranean with the tasty traditions of the American deli."

The appeal of the products, which are also being made available to smaller chains and independent retailers is predicated on the growing importance of nutrition to consumers and their interest in premium foods - a market that's projected to grow to nearly $100 billion by 2010. With the Mediterranean lifestyle gaining a stronghold in the States, the EVOO meats are predicted to win over consumers looking for the perfect marriage of high-quality, heart-healthy deli meats that taste great.

"We know that many customers are looking for ways to incorporate heart-healthy ingredients like extra virgin olive oil into their meals," says Paul Bulman, Marketing Vice President of CRETA FARMS U.S. "The CRETA FARMS Gourmet EVOO Deli Meats are a delicious way for them to fulfill that desire without sacrificing taste."

Using a unique process that's been patented in 90 countries, much of the saturated fat is removed and then replaced with EVOO. In addition to using hand-trimmed, premium lean meats, CRETA FARMS sources the finest EVOO from the Isle of Crete, produced from high-altitude, hand-picked olives that are cold pressed within 24 hours of harvest to ensure consistency and freshness.

This new venture was made official after nearly two years of exploration. As the largest full-line, vertically integrated pork producer in Greece, Creta Farm Greece had enjoyed enormous success with En Elladi Gourmet, the EVOO deli line launched in 2000 that helped the company realize double-digit growth over a five-year period. After deciding to break into the U.S. market, Creta executives conducted extensive market research and discovered they would benefit from the help of a U.S. partner who understood Americans' unique flavor expectations. They eventually chose Clemens Family Corporation, one of the nation's oldest family-owned marketers of value-added pork products.