Crown Wins 'Distinguished Supplier Award' and Named Overall 'Corporate Supplier of the Year' by Kroger Manufacturing

PHILADELPHIA, July 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) (Crown) announces that its Food Packaging USA subsidiary has received a "Distinguished Supplier Award" and been named overall "Corporate Supplier of the Year" by Kroger Manufacturing, a division of The Kroger Co., one of the nation's largest retail grocery chains.

Crown, who supplies a range of metal cans to Pontiac Foods (Columbia, SC), a manufacturing plant for Kroger's private label coffee products, was chosen for the "Distinguished Supplier Award" based on its high merits in overall quality, customer service, technical support and logistics.

The prestigious "Corporate Supplier of the Year" award was given to Crown in recognition for its superior support during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Facing product shortages due to manufacturing issues after the storm, Kroger instituted a special coffee promotion to help maintain revenue. Crown's Suffolk, Virginia facility, which manufactures the coffee cans for Pontiac Foods, increased production to accommodate the new volumes required by Kroger.

During the promotion, the Suffolk plant was struck by lightning, temporarily reducing production capacity. To ensure Kroger continued to receive the number of cans needed for its special promotion, Crown immediately implemented its contingency plan. Crown sent several technicians from the Suffolk plant, along with the coffee can molds and tooling, to its Hanover, Pennsylvania facility to supplement production. Crown kept the Hanover plant operating through an entire weekend to keep to the agreed-upon delivery schedule and ensure Kroger did not miss any product commitments to its stores.

"Crown clearly demonstrated its ability to go beyond the role of packaging supplier to a dependable partner that could respond to our business needs during a difficult time," said Dennis Meyer, Director of Manufacturing Procurement for Kroger Manufacturing. "They looked at every available option to keep production levels where we needed them and involved us in every decision that was made."

"The trust and satisfaction of our customers is paramount to Crown," comments Raymond L. McGowan, President, CROWN Food Packaging USA. "Earning that trust involves more than just providing consistently high-quality packaging. It also means being willing to go the extra mile to provide the service and support needed to sustain our customers' business. We are pleased we were able to make such an important contribution to Kroger and look forward to continuing our relationship."

About Kroger

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger is one of the nation's largest retail grocery chains. At the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company operated (either directly or through its subsidiaries) 2,483 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banners including Kroger and Kroger Marketplace, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, King Soopers, Smith's and Smith's Marketplace, Fry's and Fry's Marketplace, Dillons, QFC and City Market. Kroger also operated (either directly or through subsidiaries, franchise agreements, or operating agreements) 783 convenience stores, 423 fine jewelry stores, 593 supermarket fuel centers and 42 food processing plants.

About Crown Holdings, Inc.

Crown Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading supplier of packaging products to consumer marketing companies around the world. World headquarters are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

For more information, contact:

In the United States: Jim Wilson, Vice President Sales, CROWN Food Packaging USA; Tel: (215) 698-5264; Email: jim.wilson@crowncork.com

In Europe: Ana Ces Agraso, Marketing Director, CROWN Food Europe; Tel: +44 1905 762304; Email: Ana.CES-AGRASO@eur.crowncork.com

For editorial inquiries: Thomas T. Fischer, Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs; Tel: (215) 698-5266; Email: thomas.fischer@crowncork.com

For investors, contact: Timothy J. Donahue, Senior Vice President - Finance, (215) 698-5088.