Office Depot to Host Second Annual Employee Hazard Fair During Nationa

    Business Editors/Community Editors

    DELRAY BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 2005--Office Depot (NYSE:ODP):

    -- Delray Beach Vice Mayor Jon Levinson Will Present
    Proclamation; Tamika Simmons, Legislative Aide from State
    Senator Dave Aronberg's Office and Dean Dimke, Palm Beach Red
    Cross Executive Director Will Join South Florida Businesses to
    Provide Safety Demonstrations

    Office Depot (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services, announced today that the Company will host its Second Annual Hazard Fair. The event will take place on Friday, May 20, 2005 at Office Depot's Corporate Headquarters at 2200 Old Germantown Road in Delray Beach. It kicks off at 10:00 a.m. and coincides with National Hurricane Preparedness Week -- as declared by the National Weather Service -- which runs through May 21.
    Delray Beach Vice Mayor Jon Levinson, Legislative Aide Tamika Simmons from State Senator Dave Aronberg's office, and Red Cross Executive Director (Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter) Dean Dimke will speak on the importance of crisis preparedness. Additionally, Vice Mayor Levinson will issue a proclamation honoring "Office Depot Hazard Fair Day." Julie Layton, Director of Global Risk Management at Office Depot will introduce the dignitaries.
    According to Tom Serio, Office Depot's Manager of Business Continuity and coordinator of the event, the Hazard Fair was established to educate the Company's more than 2,200 local employees concerning natural disasters. The event, now in its second year, features presentations and demonstrations designed to help prepare employees, their families, their loved ones and their properties. There also will be a number of South Florida area businesses on-site offering tips and assistance on where to turn during a catastrophic event.
    "There has never been a better time to prepare through education," noted Frank Scruggs, Executive Vice President of Human Resources for Office Depot, "especially when you consider last year's Hurricane season and the significant impact it had on Palm Beach County residents -- many of whom were our own employees."
    This year over 26 experts are scheduled to be on-hand to teach a variety of techniques related to their respective fields of safety, health and emergency operations. Participants will include: ADT Security, the American Red Cross (Greater Palm Beach Chapter), Delray Beach Police and Fire-Rescue Departments, Florida Power and Light, Home Depot, Humane Society of the Palm Beaches, Palm Beach County Emergency Operations Management, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Department, AAA Insurance, Palm Beach Safety Council, Palm Tran, National Weather Service, Meteorologist Steve Weagle (WPTV-TV), who will broadcast afternoon weather "live" from the event, and a number of other state agencies and private businesses.
    "By hosting an event like this, Office Depot is taking the initiative to prepare their employees and, ultimately, our community at large," said Vice Mayor Levinson. "The day-long event is well worth the time and investment in promoting personal safety for all of us who live and work in Palm Beach County."

    About Office Depot

    With annual sales approaching $14 billion, Office Depot provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company. Incorporated in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, Florida, Office Depot conducts business in 23 countries and employs 47,000 people worldwide. The Company operates under the Office Depot(R), Viking Office Products(R), Viking Direct(R), Guilbert(R), and Tech Depot(R) brand names.
    Office Depot is a leader in every distribution channel - from retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. With $3.1 billion in online sales in FY'04, the Company is the world's number three Internet retailer. As of March 26, 2005, Office Depot has 995 retail stores in North America in addition to a national business-to-business delivery network supported by 22 delivery centers and more than 60 local sales offices. Internationally, the Company conducts wholly-owned operations in 14 countries through 77 retail stores and 26 distribution centers, and operates 153 retail stores under joint venture and license arrangements in another seven countries.
    The company's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index. Additional press information can be found at: http://mediarelations.officedepot.com/.

--30--JD/mi*

CONTACT: Office Depot, Delray Beach Brian Levine, 561-438-2895 blevine@officedepot.com or JKG Group Lauren Garvey, 561-989-9931, x101 Lauren@jkggroup.com

KEYWORD: FLORIDA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: RETAIL SOURCE: Office Depot

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