Ron Francisco, President of the Horizon Group of Companies, is pleased to announce the appointment of Terri Newell to the position of Vice President of the Group.

Terri joined Horizon Distributors, the cornerstone of the Horizon Group, in 1991, and has demonstrated her exceptional abilities in several operational positions, culminating with her role as General Manager for the past decade. Since that time, Terri has drawn upon her career experience and Master’s degree in planning to oversee the expansion of Horizon into today’s Western Canadian market leader. Terri’s recent achievements include planning a new 150,000 sq. ft., “built-to-suit,” distribution centre in South Burnaby, BC; and overseeing the seamless transition of three subsidiary business operations into the new facility. Upcoming projects include guiding the businesses within the Horizon Group onto a new, shared enterprise software system platform.

In her new role as Vice President, Terri will support the President’s work with the regional, subsidiary distributors across Canada. Additionally, she will continue to liaise with financial institutions and investors; develop budgets and operational plans; and oversee operational structures across the Horizon Group. Terri will continue to serve as the General Manager of Horizon Distributors also.

About the Horizon Group of Companies
Established in 1976, Horizon Distributors is the cornerstone of the Horizon Group, a privately held, national network of Canadian businesses concerned with the distribution, private labelling, import and brand management of organic, natural and gourmet foods, health and beauty aids and nutritional supplements. During its history, Horizon has emerged as an established industry leader, becoming the preferred distributor to both independent retailers and major natural and mass market grocery chains, including Whole Foods Market® and the Overwaitea Food Group, and an array of natural foods stores, buying clubs, wholesalers, restaurants, bakeries, cafés and commissaries. Horizon maintains these relationships through logistical excellence, personalized account service, industry best fill rates, and uncompromising commitment to integrity in product selection. Our group comprises the following well-established companies:

Horizon Distributors, Burnaby, BC
PSC Natural Foods, Victoria, BC
Christmas Natural, Burnaby, BC
Tara Natural, Burnaby, BC
Organic Horizons, Guelph, ON
Corwin Distribution, Concord, ON
Directa Distribution, Pointe-Claire, QC

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Horizon Distributors is pleased to announce the hiring of Jen Langan, whose territory will cover the Okanagan region as well as various Lower Mainland accounts. Jen brings a recent degree from Simon Fraser University, concentrating in business communications and sustainability, as well as a keen interest in natural foods and living.

It’s a new year, and Horizon is greeting 2009 with some dynamic staff changes to our sales team that will help us serve our customers and territories even better.

Territory Change | Horizon Distributors is pleased to announce that Darren MacRae Munro has been assigned to Choices Markets. Darren is a senior sales representative who has worked with Horizon for twelve years. We think Darren’s drive and experience in natural as well as independent grocery channels will be a great match for the Choices Markets account. Please contact Darren directly for any Choices Markets related questions.

New Sales Representative | Horizon Distributors is very excited to announce the hiring of Linda Bottier, whose territory will include various Lower Mainland and out-of-town accounts. Linda comes to Horizon with a wealth of industry experience drawing from her 8-year tenure at Capers Regional Office and a lifelong passion for healthy eating. Feel free to contact Linda to introduce yourself and welcome her.

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“Built-to-suit” distribution centre offers more than 150,000 sq. ft.

Horizon Distributors, Western Canada’s largest distributor of organic and natural foods, has commenced operations from its new facility in South Burnaby.

At 150,000 square feet, the new distribution centre, located at 5589 Trapp Avenue in South Burnaby’s Glenwood Industrial Estates, includes 137,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space and a complete cold chain with increased cooler and freezer space to answer market demand for more fresh and ready-to-eat meal options. Like the previous building in Central Burnaby, the new distribution centre will service food retailers across the four Western provinces and the Northern territories. The new distribution centre employs over one hundred people in various office and warehouse positions.

According to Horizon’s General Manager, Terri Newell, “We’re pleased to be able to continue to grow our business in Burnaby. We’ve been here for more than fifteen years and are excited to have found such a beautiful site in the Glenwood Industrial Estates. This new building will allow us to keep pace with the vibrant growth in sales of organic and natural foods.” Horizon Distributors has recently inked a new agreement confirming it as the primary supplier to Whole Foods Market® and Capers Whole Foods Market® in Western Canada, and enjoys preferred supplier status with Planet Organic Market. Also counted among its customer base are many large supermarket chains looking to respond to consumer demand for organic and natural products.

About Horizon Distributors
Established in 1976, Horizon Distributors is a privately owned, Canadian company, providing Canada's largest selection of organic and natural products in the dry, chill, frozen and household cleaning categories. During its history, Horizon has emerged as an established industry leader, becoming the preferred distributor to both independent retailers and major natural and mass market grocery chains, including Whole Foods Market® and Planet Organic Market, and an array of natural foods stores, buying clubs, wholesalers, restaurants, bakeries, cafés and commissaries. Horizon maintains these relationships through logistical excellence, personalized account service, industry best fill rates, and uncompromising commitment to integrity in product selection. Horizon is the cornerstone of the Horizon Group, a privately held, national network of Canadian businesses concerned with the distribution, private labelling, import and brand management of organic, natural and gourmet foods, health and beauty aids and nutritional supplements.

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“Build-to-suit” distribution centre offers more than 150,000 sq. ft.

Horizon Distributors, Western Canada's largest distributor of organic and natural foods, announced today that operations will commence from its new facility in South Burnaby on Tuesday, June 3.

According to Horizon's General Manager, Terri Newell, "This new building, which effectively doubles our warehouse capacity, will allow us to keep pace with our vibrant growth, as well as enhance our leadership position within our industry." With a newly inked agreement confirming Horizon Distributors as the primary supplier to Whole Foods Market® and Capers Whole Foods Market® in Western Canada, and its preferred supplier status with Planet Organic Market, Horizon has long since outgrown its current facility.

Work on the new site began in Spring 2007. At 150,000 square feet, the new distribution centre, located at 5589 Trapp Avenue in South Burnaby's Glenwood Industrial Estates, includes 137,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space and a complete cold chain with increased cooler and freezer space to fulfill the market demand for more fresh and ready-to-eat meal options. Like the previous building in Central Burnaby, the new distribution centre will service Horizon's retail customers across the four Western provinces and the Northern territories.

About Horizon Distributors
Established in 1976, Horizon Distributors is a privately owned, Canadian company, providing Canada's largest selection of organic and natural products in the dry, chill, frozen and household cleaning categories. During its history, Horizon has emerged as an established industry leader, becoming the preferred distributor to both independent retailers and major natural and mass market grocery chains, including Whole Foods Market® and Planet Organic Market, and an array of natural foods stores, buying clubs, wholesalers, restaurants, bakeries, cafés and commissaries. Horizon maintains these relationships through logistical excellence, personalized account service, industry best fill rates, and uncompromising commitment to integrity in product selection. Horizon is the cornerstone of the Horizon Group, a privately held, national network of Canadian businesses concerned with the distribution, private labelling, import and brand management of organic, natural and gourmet foods, health and beauty aids and nutritional supplements.

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Horizon Distributors, Western Canada’s largest distributor of organic, natural and gourmet products in the dry, chill and frozen categories, is pleased to announce that it has accepted terms of agreement reaffirming Horizon as the primary distributor to Whole Foods Market® in Western Canada.

Whole Foods Market® of Austin, Texas operates 270 stores in North America and the UK. Whole Foods Market® currently operates six locations across Canada, including four in Western Canada under the Capers Whole Foods Market banner, situated in the Vancouver area. With ongoing plans for expansion, a fifth store is currently under construction and due to open in late 2008.

A privately owned Canadian company located in the suburbs of Vancouver, BC, Horizon Distributors will be moving operations to a new 150,000 square foot facility in late May 2008 to accommodate its ongoing expansion. Since 1976, Horizon has grown from its roots as a worker-owned cooperative to its position today, leading a group of six regional distributors nationally. Horizon maintains a listing base of more than 4,000 SKUs and provides consistently high in-stock rates and excellence in customer service.

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