Westwood, MA -- July 15, 2003 -- Filterfresh Coffee Service Inc. announced today that its parent company, Van Houtte Inc. (Toronto: VH.TO) has developed two organic Fair Trade coffees in K-Cups(R) for use in the Keurig single-cup coffee brewing systems. Available under Van Houtte's Coffee Lovers brand, which was created to offer customers an organic alternative to traditional gourmet coffee and an opportunity to support coffee farmers, the two coffees will be available for the foodservice industry through Van Houtte in Canada and Filterfresh in the U.S.

"As a leader in the US coffee market, we felt that it was important to offer a Fair Trade alternative to our customers in the office and foodservice markets currently using the Keurig brewer," said Roger Cohen, president of Filterfresh Coffee Service Inc. and Van Houtte USA. "We are proud to be one of the few companies in the U.S. offering Fair Trade Certified coffee in K-cups."

Mexico dark roast and Mexico medium roast are organic Fair Trade coffees certified by TransFair Canada, Canada's only independent certification organization for Fair Trade coffee, tea, cocoa and sugar. For products to be Fair Trade Certified, roasters must pay higher than the current market price, to ensure coffee producers receive added benefits from the sale of their coffee.

"We applaud Van Houtte's initiative to expand the Fair Trade coffees to the Keurig brewer," said Caroline Whitby, Managing Director of TransFair. "This will make drinking fair trade coffee in both Canadian and US offices and other public locations easier for consumers who want to make a difference in the lives of coffee-farming families."

Aside from supporting Fair Trade through its Mexico coffees, a percentage of the revenue generated by all the coffees in the Coffee Lovers line goes to Coffee Kids, an international non-profit organization established to improve the quality of life of children and families who live in coffee-growing communities around the world. More information on the Coffee Lovers line is available at http://www.coffeeloverscoffee.com/.

Mexico dark roast and Mexico medium roast coffees are available in k-cups as well as in other formats for a variety of brewers. Mexico medium roast coffees can also be found in 200g filter grind packages in select Eastern US supermarket chains.

About Filterfresh Coffee Service, Inc.
Filterfresh Coffee Service, Inc., based in Westwood, Mass., is a subsidiary of Van Houtte Inc. The company, a pioneer in single-cup coffee makers, provides state-of-the-art equipment, beverages, programs and services to offices, manufacturing facilities, supermarkets, hotels, retailers and other places of employment. For further information on Filterfresh, its growth plans or franchise opportunities, visit the Web site at www.filterfresh.com.

About TransFair
TransFair Canada is the only independent certification organization for Fair Trade coffee, tea, cocoa and sugar. The FAIR TRADE CERTIFIED logo is an independent certification that adheres to monitoring criteria and standards set out by the FAIRTRADE LABELING ORGANIZATIONS INTERNATIONAL (FLO). TransFair Canada's web site is www.transfair.ca.