New Survey Finds Parents and Children Alike Crave More Time to Talk an

New Survey Finds Parents and Children Alike Crave More Time to Talk and Relax Together; Highlights Mealtime as Opportunity

    Business Editors

    OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 17, 2005--

Exceptional Sales Indicate American Families Are Finding 'Banquet Crock-Pot Classics' Hit the Mark in Offering Wholesome, Easy-to-Prepare Meals that Alleviate After-Work Scramble
    Parents just might be surprised to learn that their kids actually want to spend more time talking and relaxing with them. According to a newly released national survey, more than 54 percent of children surveyed said they would like to tell their parents stories about school and friends if they had more time around the dinner hour.
    The online survey of American families also showed that one way to create more productive family time is to decrease stress by eliminating the hectic pace of the "Family Rush Hour," that time between getting home from work and sitting down to dinner. Conducted by TNS-NFO for Banquet Crock-Pot Classics, the survey examined the customary evening meal-preparation time and uncovered some findings that could help improve communications between parents and children. Among the findings, it revealed that:

--	56 percent of parents surveyed would spend the extra time with their families if they had a solution to significantly reduce meal-preparation time.
--	85 percent of children would like to spend more time with the parent that cooks the meal.
--	More than 70 percent of parents experience some sort of stress associated with dinnertime.
--	At least half of children surveyed described their parents as being tired or busy when they come home from work and less than 20 percent described their parents' moods in a positive way.
--	Nearly eight out of 10 parents claim their dinnertime stress comes from the actual meal itself. Parents cite key challenges:
--	Deciding what to make (47 percent)
--	Preparing and cooking the meal (23 percent)
--	Worrying about having the right ingredients (8 percent)

    "The survey reaffirmed our consumer research that dinnertime can be stressful and that busy moms and dads need good, hearty and convenient meal solutions to help make it a more relaxing and engaging family experience," said John Hanson, vice president of Marketing for ConAgra Foods Banquet brand.
    The company coupled this finding with the resurgence of slow cooking in American homes to develop Banquet Crock-Pot Classics--the latest innovation from ConAgra Foods that addresses a new trend in home cooking and helps alleviate several of the stresses associated with evening meal time and also solves the need many families have to eat in shifts.
    According to Hansen, Banquet Crock-Pot Classics sales have exceeded the company's initial expectations. "We are selling them faster than we can make them. It's clear we've hit the mark and positive consumer perception and experiences have resulted in excellent trial from loyal and new Banquet purchasers."
    Banquet Crock-Pot Classics, a complete meal designed and created for Crock-Pot(R) slow cooking, addresses consumers' desire for a remedy to the hectic weeknight dinner by reducing the time it takes to prepare the meal to less than five minutes. Because all the necessary ingredients are included in the package, the meals can be started in the morning and slow cooked throughout the day.
    Banquet Crock-Pot Classics lend themselves to families who want to gather together for dinner. Because the meals stay hot, Banquet Crock-Pot Classics also accommodate a variety of schedules, including family members who must eat in shifts. The slow-cooked meals, available in six different varieties, virtually eliminate preparation time and allow families that extra time together before dinner.
    ConAgra Foods secured exclusive rights to use the Crock-Pot(R) name on its products developed for the slow cooker, and will jointly promote the new Banquet Crock-Pot Classics with the Holmes Group, Inc., through couponing and other consumer-oriented promotions. Crock-Pot(R) and Rival(R) are registered trademarks of the Holmes Group or its subsidiaries and are used under license.
    Based in Omaha, Neb., ConAgra Foods, Inc. (NYSE:CAG) is committed to becoming America's favorite food company and is one of North America's largest packaged-food companies, serving consumer grocery retailers, as well as restaurants and other foodservice establishments. Popular ConAgra Foods consumer brands include: ACT II, Armour, Banquet, Blue Bonnet, Butterball, Chef Boyardee, Cook's, Eckrich, Gulden's, Healthy Choice, Hebrew National, Hunt's, Kid Cuisine, Knott's Berry Farm, La Choy, Louis Kemp, Marie Callender's, Orville Redenbacher's, Parkay, Reddi-wip, Slim Jim, PAM, Pemmican, Peter Pan, Snack Pack, Swiss Miss, Van Camp's, Wesson, and many others. For more information, please visit us at www.conagrafoods.com.

    These results are based on a nationwide online survey of 200 parents and 200 children from the same homes, conducted by TNS-NFO on behalf of Banquet between June 7 and 9, 2004. The children surveyed were between the ages of 8 and 15. The margin of error is +/- 7 percent. Based in London, TNS-NFO is one of the world's leading market information groups, providing market measurement, analysis, insight and advice in more than 110 countries. Further information can be found at http://www.tns-global.com.

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CONTACT: ConAgra Foods, Inc., Omaha Tania Graves, 402-595-6258 Tania.Graves@conagrafoods.com www.conagrafoods.com or Lindsey Martelle, 312-228-6934 Lindsey.Martelle@ketchum.com

KEYWORD: NEBRASKA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SUPERMARKETS CONSUMER/HOUSEHOLD FOODS/BEVERAGES RETAIL SOURCE: ConAgra Foods, Inc.

Copyright Business Wire 2005