Company Expects Approximately $20 Million in Annual Revenues Each Year TORONTO, October 18 /CNW/ - SunOpta Inc. (NASDAQ:STKL) (TSX:SOY) announced today that it has signed a three year exclusive contract for the supply of refrigerated packaged soymilk for a major global retailer. This contract will initially generate approximately $20 million in annualized revenue with production expected to commence in early November of this year. The contract will be initially focused on the production of one SKU of refrigerated packaged organic soymilk for distribution and sale in the customer's retail outlets in North America. Allan Routh, President of the SunOpta Grains and Foods Group, said, "We are extremely pleased with this contract as it broadens SunOpta's relationship with a significant retailer and utilizes our 'Field to Table' production expertise to provide consumers with a great value organic soymilk. We are excited with the growth opportunities presented in this relationship." SunOpta's vertically integrated soymilk model is integrated from soybean sourcing through to consumer packaged products, ensuring SunOpta's control of quality and organic certification and providing direct traceability from the farm gate to the retail shelf. In order to fulfill this contract, soybeans will be sourced at SunOpta's facilities in Hope and Moorhead, Minnesota. The soybeans will be processed into liquid soymilk base at SunOpta's ingredient plants in Alexandria, Minnesota and Afton, Wyoming. The liquid concentrated soy base and ingredients will subsequently be delivered to a number of strategic partners for final packaging and delivery to the customer. Jeremy Kendall, Chairman and Chief Executive officer of SunOpta Inc., commented, "This type of collaboration with a retail industry leader is possible because of our ability to create and manage the development of organic products that address the nutritional needs of a rapidly increasing market worldwide. Currently SunOpta is a leading processor and packager of organic aseptic and refrigerated soymilk in the U.S. and this contract solidifies our market leadership. We are very excited by this contract and the potential to further expand the supply of natural and organic products in this market." About SunOpta Inc. SunOpta Inc. is an operator of high-growth ethical businesses, focusing on integrated business models in the natural and organic food markets. The Company has three business units: the SunOpta Food Group, which specializes in sourcing, processing and distribution of natural and organic food products integrated from seed through packaged products; the Opta Minerals Group, a producer, distributor, and recycler of environmentally friendly industrial materials; and the SunOpta BioProcess Group which engineers and markets proprietary steam explosion technology systems for the pulp, bio-fuel and food processing industries. Each of these business units has proprietary products and services that give it a solid competitive advantage in its sector. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements included in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to references to business strategies, competitive strengths, goals, capital expenditure plans, business and operational growth plans and references to the future growth of the business. These forward looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and its interpretation of current conditions, historical trends and expected future developments as well as other factors that the Company believes are appropriate in the circumstance. However, whether actual results and developments will agree with expectations and predications of the Company is subject to many risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to; general economic, business or market risk conditions; competitive actions by other companies; changes in laws or regulations or policies of local governments, provinces and states as well as the governments of United States and Canada, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Consequently all forward-looking statements made herein are qualified by these cautionary statements and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by the Company will be realized.