PEANUT CHEWS(R) DAY Proclaimed in Philadelphia as Candy is Shipped Nationwide for the First Time

PHILADELPHIA, April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Philadelphia's Mayor John F. Street has proclaimed April 4th to be PEANUT CHEWS(R) DAY. This date will mark the first time that the PEANUT CHEWS(R) brand is shipped nationwide and enjoyed by consumers beyond the Eastern seaboard.

In his proclamation on behalf of the City of Philadelphia where PEANUT CHEWS(R) have been manufactured since 1917, the Mayor proclaimed, "I, John F. Street, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, do hereby proclaim Monday, April 4, 2005 as PEANUT CHEWS(R) DAY in Philadelphia, and urge all citizens to recognize the contributions that this beloved confection has made to our economic development and wish the makers of this culinary delight, Just Born, Inc., continued success and good fortune in the years ahead."

PEANUT CHEWS(R) candies are known for their delicious combination of peanuts enrobed in a chocolatey coating. There are two flavors of PEANUT CHEWS(R), Original and Milk Chocolatey. Original PEANUT CHEWS(R) are chewy bite-sized candy pieces packed with fresh roasted peanuts, covered in a rich dark chocolatey coating. Original PEANUT CHEWS(R) candies come in a red package.

The Milk Chocolatey PEANUT CHEWS(R) product will win over current and new consumers alike with a delicious combination of fresh roasted peanuts in a creamy milk chocolatey coating. Milk Chocolatey PEANUT CHEWS(R) candies have the same new logo as Original, but are set on a blue background.

Ross Born, Co-CEO of Just Born with his cousin David Shaffer, commented, "We are so excited to introduce the country to our delicious PEANUT CHEWS(R) candies. We know that there are many 'displaced' Easterners out West thrilled to finally be getting PEANUT CHEWS(R) made available at stores nearby. However, we think new consumers will also quickly become part of our family of fans. While so many trends emanate from West to East, we are proud to initiate one which we are confident will be an Eastern U.S. icon moving West to rave reviews."

PEANUT CHEWS(R) are available in a host of convenient sizes and snack packs. The most popular sizes include a 2-oz. bar with an SRP of $.75 and a 3.3-oz. King size bar with an SRP of $1.09. Individually wrapped PEANUT CHEWS(R) are also available in an 8-oz. bag with an SRP of $1.99 or a 14-oz. bag with an SRP of $2.99.

Just Born, Inc., based in Bethlehem, PA, is also known for its MARSHMALLOW PEEPS(R), HOT TAMALES(R), MIKE AND IKE(R), and ZOURS(R) brands. The company employs over 560 associates, 61 of whom are based at the PEANUT CHEWS facility in Philadelphia. The company exports its candies to over 50 countries.

Please visit the newly launched "peanutchews.com" website or visit "justborn.com" for more information.

PEANUT CHEWS(R). Something Real. * Until the Spring of 2003, PEANUT CHEWS(R) were produced by The Goldenberg Candy Company(R). Familiarly known as Goldenberg's(R), the company was founded in Philadelphia in 1890 by David Goldenberg and called D. Goldenberg, Inc. * Goldenberg's(R) began as a retail confection business, which produced and sold fudge, marshmallow, lollipops, and chocolates. They also created a walnut-molasses confection that later became the foundation for the PEANUT CHEWS(R) recipe. * PEANUT CHEWS'(R) unique taste is a combination of a chewy, peanut and molasses based center enrobed with a dark chocolatey coating. * PEANUT CHEWS(R) were developed during World War I and used by the U.S. Military as a ration bar. The high energy, high protein recipe and unique taste made it popular with the troops. * PEANUT CHEWS(R) were first sold in and around Philadelphia. The brand's loyal following was built by word-of-mouth and its fan base spread to New York, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. * In the 1930s, a milk chocolatey PEANUT CHEWS(R) was created and sold under the brand name CHEW-ETS(R). At the same time, the PEANUT CHEWS(R) bar size was reduced to bite-size pieces, in order to make consumption easier. * Also in the 1930s, PEANUT CHEWS(R) began selling the bite-size pieces in movie theaters. * In 1949, David Goldenberg's son, Harry, purchased the business and changed the name of the company to The Goldenberg Candy Company(R). He decided to focus the company on PEANUT CHEWS(R) and CHEW-ETS(R) only. * In 1968, The Goldenbergs developed a machine to continuously form the centers of the PEANUT CHEWS(R), previously done by hand. * In 1999, The Goldenbergs changed the packaging to give more prominence to the "PEANUT CHEWS(R)" name, and at the same time re-branded CHEW- ETS(R) as Milk Chocolatey PEANUT CHEWS(R). * In 2003, Just Born, Inc., purchased The Goldenberg Candy Company. Goldenberg's 61 associates are now part of the 560-person Just Born family. * 44,000 pounds of fresh, whole peanuts are delivered weekly to the PEANUT CHEWS(R) facility, which is still in Philadelphia. 11,000 pounds of those peanuts are used each day. * Two million PEANUT CHEWS(R) candy pieces are produced each day. They would reach 40 miles if placed end to end. * In April 2005, CHEW-ETS(R) PEANUT CHEWS(R) will be launched nationally, for the first time reaching beyond the East Coast. The milk chocolatey flavor as been reformulated but the Original dark chocolatey maintains that same great taste that loyal fans have enjoyed for many years. * In 2005, PEANUT CHEWS(R) will be the Official Candy for the Dew Action Sports Tour(R) (http://www.dewactionsportstour.com/)