Interstate Bakeries Corporation Teams with IRI for Industry-Leading Space Management Capabilities

Business Wire, March 30, 2006

CHICAGO -- IBC Renews Relationship with IRI to Support its Merchandising Initiatives

Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), the leading global provider of enterprise market information solutions for the consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail and healthcare industries, announced today that Interstate Bakeries Corporation (IBC) is leveraging the IRI Apollo Suite of space management services to optimize the performance of its retail shelf space. The services provide merchants and merchandisers with electronic access to the planogramming and floor planning process by using a single set of software applications. IBC is one of the nation's largest wholesale bakers and distributors of fresh baked bread and sweet goods.

"We chose IRI as our primary space management provider because Apollo allows merchandising professionals to planogram new departments more realistically, while preserving the traditional Apollo ease-of-use," said Jeff Rodgers, director of category management for IBC. "The Apollo services will empower IBC's merchants and merchandisers to increase productivity and provide constructive training experiences and continuity throughout the organization."

The IRI Apollo Space Management Suite(TM) is a collection of powerful, yet easy-to-use, software products designed to help manufacturers and retailers optimize the performance of every inch of retail shelf space and improve category performance and customer reach. In conjunction with store-specific IRI InfoScan(R) data, the Apollo Suite ensures consistent execution of category plans and new product launches.

All Apollo components can be adapted to fit specific retail or manufacturer sales force needs. It empowers merchandising professionals to build planograms for new departments more realistically than ever before, while leveraging the traditional ease-of-use for which Apollo is known. The Apollo Suite includes capabilities designed to create an accurate display of in-store merchandising. Apollo enables it users to:

--Create profitable assortments to support strategic and tactical goals as well as category management and shelf merchandising programs

--Maximize store and shelf space through planograms that optimize sales, profit and inventory investment

--Implement effectively in the store to ensure planogram-to-store accuracy and merchandising compliance

--Verify compliance and preserve the financial rationale behind the shelf set

--Build complex merchandising sections that replicate the store/section environment with multi-faceted fixtures

The Apollo Space Management Suite is offered in three versions: Professional, BriefCase and Lite. Each is designed to meet the needs of specific groups of users, including category managers and field schematic collectors. Apollo provides the flexibility that allows users to add features from one version to another to meet specific needs and requirements.

"The Apollo services provide IBC with a fast and efficient space planning system," said IRI Decision Solutions Group Executive Vice President and General Manager Peter Smith. "We are pleased to continue supporting their in-store merchandising activities with our solution."

About Interstate Bakeries Corporation

Interstate Bakeries Corporation is one of the nation's largest wholesale baker and distributor of fresh baked bread and sweet goods, under various brand names, including Wonder(R), Hostess(R), Dolly Madison(R), Baker's Inn(R), Home Pride(R), Merita(R) and Drake's(R).

About Information Resources, Inc.

Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) is the world's leading provider of enterprise market information solutions and services, empowering its clients to grow their business profitably in a complex marketplace. Driving the transformation of the consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail, and healthcare industries, only IRI provides a unique combination of real-time market content, advanced analytics, enterprise performance management software, and professional services. The company's portfolio of services, solutions, and technology enable leading retailers and their suppliers around the globe to see what they are missing, act faster with greater confidence and win at the shelf. Ninety-five percent of the FORTUNE Global 500 in CPG and retail leverage IRI to power their business. For more information, visit http://us.infores.com.