Pathmark to Receive USDA's First Golden Grocer Hunger Champions Award; Press Conference on Saturday, September 9th Will Kick Of

Pathmark Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq:PTMK). The USDA's Food and
Nutrition Service will present its first Golden Grocer Hunger
Champions Award to Pathmark Stores, Inc. that recognizes the company's
encouragement for participation in the Food Stamp Program. The award
also acknowledges efforts made to improve service to food stamp
recipients, identifying low income, potentially eligible customers and
for promoting healthy eating habits.
   The award will be presented at an 11:00 a.m. press conference at
Pathmark's store located in North Philadelphia, at the intersection of
Broad Street and Glenwood Avenue. The press conference will also serve
to kick off the 5th Annual Healthy Philadelphia Nutrition Fair, which
will run to 3:00 p.m.
   The free outreach event combines the private sector with
non-profit organizations and government agencies in an effort to
provide health screenings, nutritional counseling, information on
government assistance programs, and product sampling to the public. In
addition, potential food stamp recipients can be pre-screened to
determine eligibility in the program. Those clients who are viable
candidates, may continue to formally apply for this form of government
aid in the privacy afforded inside Broad Street Pathmark that same
day.
   Organizations that will be present at the event include: The
Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger, the Child Nutrition and
School Meals division of the Food and Nutrition Service, Temple
University's Student Nurse Association and Department of Public
Health, Pennsylvania's Department of Aging (Medicare Part D), the
Pennsylvania Women Infants and Children Program (WIC), the
Philadelphia County Department of Public Assistance, the Social
Security Administration, and the Pathmark Pharmacy Department. NBC
Today's weekend expert on fruits and vegetables, Produce Pete, will
also appear at the fair.
   Clarence Carter, Deputy Administrator of USDA's Food and Nutrition
Service, who will present the award to Pathmark said, "The Golden
Grocer Hunger Champion Award recognizes the outstanding achievements
and creative ideas used by authorized retailers in the Food Stamp
Program in the areas of customer service, outreach and nutrition
education. Pathmark has shown exemplary leadership in these areas. We
are pleased to partner with Pathmark in our efforts to ensure that
everyone who is eligible knows about the nutritional benefits of the
Food Stamp Program and is able to access benefits with dignity and
respect."
   Commenting on receiving the Golden Grocer Award, Pathmark's
Director of Public Affairs, Rich Savner stated, "Pathmark is very
proud to be the first retailer in the country to receive this
acknowledgement. The success of our outreach could not be accomplished
without the participation of the non-profit and government sectors.
Healthy Philadelphia is a great example of the many benefits a
community can realize when various organizations collaborate and focus
on a common goal."
   Pathmark Stores, Inc. is a regional supermarket operating 141
stores primarily in the New York-New Jersey and Philadelphia
Metropolitan areas.