Nov. 3, 2009 (Business Wire) -- Del Monte Foods (NYSE: DLM), one of the country's largest and most well known producers, distributors and marketers of premium quality, branded food and pet products, announced today that, in an effort to continually upgrade the Company’s ability to fully optimize marketing resources and produce best-in-class marketing programs that deliver on the Company’s accelerated growth plan, it will consolidate all consumer promotion and shopper marketing activity under two agencies of record.

Catapult Action Biased Marketing will be the consumer promotions and shopper marketing agency of record for Del Monte Foods’ entire portfolio of consumer products brands, including Del Monte^®, College Inn^®, Contadina^® and S&W^®. Draftfcb Chicago will be the consumer promotions and shopper marketing agency of record for Del Monte Foods’ entire portfolio of pet products brands, including Meow Mix^®, Kibbles ‘n Bits^®, 9Lives^®, Milk-Bone^® and Pup-Peroni^®.

“These new agencies will serve as strategic thought partners — working with Del Monte Foods brand teams to develop and execute programs that resonate with consumers and customers,” said Bill Pearce, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Del Monte Foods. “These agencies have a proven track record of success in strategy, planning, analytics, collaboration, and execution in the Consumer, Shopper, and Customer domains. With their help, Del Monte Foods will be better positioned to enhance its ability to integrate solutions, motivate shoppers, and build stronger programs for our customers across the marketing calendar. We’re very excited to have Catapult Marketing and Draftfcb on board.”

“It is truly a privilege to work with such a great company,” said Matthew Jonas, President, Catapult Action Biased Marketing. “We look forward to delivering world class programs that will help Del Monte Foods win in the marketplace with their consumers, shoppers, and retail partners.”

“We are proud to be selected as a Del Monte Foods partner and are eager to begin work on this phenomenal portfolio of pet brands,” said Tina Manikas, Draftfcb global retail and promotions officer. “The pet category is extremely aggressive, which presents a fun and exciting challenge. Our team is ready to inject insight, creativity and retail analytics to help strengthen Del Monte Foods’ leading position in the pet products category through consumer and shopper solutions.”

About Del Monte Foods

Del Monte Foods is one of the country’s largest and most well-known producers, distributors and marketers of premium quality, branded food and pet products for the U.S.