Centennial Specialty Foods Corporation Addresses Stock and Southern California Status

Centennial Specialty Foods Corporation Addresses Stock and Southern California
Status 


DENVER, Feb. 6  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Centennial Specialty Foods Corporation
(Nasdaq: CHLE; Boston: CSJ) last week experienced significantly higher trading
volume in its stock, with volume for the week totaling over 200,000 shares, amid
a decline in its price.  Centennial is confirming by this release that there is
no material non-public information the company is aware of to cause this price
volatility.  Centennial is continuing to execute its business plan and to
implement its strategy to enter new geographic markets with its premium Stokes
products.

As previously discussed in a press release dated January 4, 2004, the grocery
workers strike in Southern California is continuing.  The strike was initiated
in the fourth quarter of 2003 and has impacted many of the major grocery
retailers' operations, both in Southern California and surrounding areas.  With
Southern California being a significant expansionmarket for Centennial, certain
delays in opportunities to expand are being experienced by Centennial in
Southern California.  Some area grocery retailers are currently not accepting
appointments to review new product additions.  Other grocery retailersare
accepting appointments to review new products, but will not be introducing
approved new products onto their shelves until the strike ends.

Centennial has previously had one major retailer approve its Stokes products for
sale in Southern and Northern California, and at the end of January 2004, our
first shipments were made to Northern California Safeway stores.  Centennial is
working with the major and several smaller grocery retailers in the Southern
California area, though delays are expected in getting its products onto the
major retailers' shelves.  Centennial continues to take advantage of
opportunities as grocery retailers present them. Centennial is reviewing
expansion opportunities in other markets that may offer a more timely, strategic
fit for sales of its products.  However, based on California's size and
population, it continues to be a significant focus for Centennial.  Centennial
expects to continue laying the groundwork for market rollout with three major
retailers in Southern California.  In the meantime, Centennial is working to
introduce its products in Southern California through grocery retailers other
than the three largest retailers.

Centennial is simultaneously filing a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange
Commission that discusses the above items in more detail.  Investors are
encouraged to review the Form 8-K on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/
for more information.

Centennial Specialty Foods Corporation is a manufacturer and distributor of
ethnic Southwestern food products.  Its products are sold under the Stokes and
Ellis labels, two well-known Southwestern brands that date back almost 100
years.  Principal channels of distribution for Centennial's products are grocery
retailers, superstores andclub stores in Colorado and, to a lesser extent,
several major metropolitan markets in adjoining states.  More information about
Centennial can be found on its website at
http://www.centennialspecialtyfoods.com/ .

Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements:

Certain matters discussed in this press release could contain forward-looking
information that involves risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from current trends or expected results.  We
identify forward looking statements through our use of words such as "expect,"
"believe," "project," "anticipate," and similar expressions.  The risks that may
affect our ability to achieve forward-looking statements are discussed in our
final prospectus in the section entitled "Risk Factors" and other documents that
are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For further information please contact Stephanie Hinkle, [phone] at
Preserve Communications Services or Jeffrey Nieder, [phone] at Centennial
Specialty Foods Corporation.

Stokes and Ellis are registered trademarks of Centennial Specialty Foods
Corporation. 

DATASOURCE: Centennial Specialty Foods Corporation



CONTACT:  Stephanie Hinkle of Preserve Communications Services,

[phone]; or Jeffrey Nieder of Centennial Specialty Foods Corporation,

[phone]



Web site:  http://www.centennialspecialtyfoods.com/ 

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