RNS Number:6601S
Canterbury Foods Group PLC
01 December 2003


FOR RELEASE                         7.00AM                       1 DECEMBER 2003

                           CANTERBURY FOODS GROUP PLC
Canterbury Foods is the largest UK producer of meat and pastry products for the
                           UK food service industry.

              CHRISTIAN WILLIAMS APPOINTED NON EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN

Canterbury Foods, the largest UK producer of meat and pastry products for the UK
food service industry, has appointed Christian Williams as Chairman from today's
date.

Christian Williams, age 62, was formerly Deputy Executive Chairman of Budgens
plc.* He was part of the management team appointed by institutional shareholders
which took the company from making substantial losses in 1991 to a highly
profitable business operating over 225 stores throughout central and southern
England.

He is currently a Non-Executive Director of Bartercard UK Limited, an innovative
procurement exchange in which members use a system of "trade pounds" to buy and
sell goods or services from other bartercard members.

Ken Manley, who steps down as Chairman of Canterbury Foods today, but remains a
Non Executive Director, commented:

"In a career spanning over thirty years, Christian has handled business ranging
from masterminding the repositioning and expansion of a food retail chain,
founding a firm of turn-around specialists, and the acquisition and disposal of
businesses and property. Additionally, he has a clear understanding of the food
industry and the challenges we face as a business.

I believe he will be an invaluable member of the Board and I am delighted to
welcome him as our Chairman."

For further information:

Canterbury Foods Group plc
Paul Ainsworth (Chief Executive)                        01482 326 234
Alison Everatt (Finance Director)                       01482 326 234
Beattie Financial
Brian Coleman-Smith / Ursula Durman                     020 7398 3300

There are no other matters, as set out in Schedule 2 (f) of the AIM Rules,
required to be disclosed.

Christian Williams is interested in 75,000 ordinary shares in the capital of the
Company held in the name of James Hay Pension Trustees.

*Christian Williams
Background on Budgens

Budgens plc: Deputy Executive Chairman April 2000 to October 2002
             Executive Director May 1991 to April 2000

Appointed by four institutional shareholders on 1 May 1991 to post of new
three-man turnaround team. Assumed responsibility for Property, City, Treasury/
Banking Relationships, Legal, and Special Projects.

In the year to April 1991, Budgens reported pre-tax loss of #14.7 million on
turnover of #272 million with debt of #41 million and a share price of 28p with
market capitalisation of #22 million, operating 100 stores.

In the year to April 2002, Budgens pre-tax profit was #19.7 million (prior to
Group acquisition adjustments) on turnover of #518 million, debt free, operating
225 stores.

On 25 June 2002, an agreed bid for Budgens was announced at 135p per share,
valuing the business at #316 million.

BACKGROUND ON CANTERBURY FOODS

Canterbury Foods is a manufacturer of beefburgers, sausages and pastry products
for the food service and fast food markets. The Group also has a fast growing
food ingredients business which supplies components and ingredients such as
cooked sausages, bacon, stuffing and pastry to manufacturers throughout the
United Kingdom, whose customers include many of the major UK multiple retailers.

The Group's headquarters are based at its manufacturing site at Hull. It
operates out of seven plants in the UK at:

*Bridgend (South Wales) - ready to use pastry & pastry shapes
*Hackney (London) - frozen & chilled individual sausages
*Hull (East Yorkshire) - full range of frozen burgers
*Sheppey (Kent) - uncooked pies, pasties, sausage rolls
*Stoke-on-Trent (Staffordshire) - speciality fast food burgers
*Whitstable (Kent) - dumplings / stuffing balls
*Yate (Bristol) - speciality cooked sausages and meat products

The Group employs in the region of 600 people.



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