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7-eleven Names Ust Inc., And Bakefresh Company Retailer Initiative Award Winners

(Monday, December 18, 2006) - 7-Eleven, Inc. has named UST Inc. (NYSE: UST) and BakeFresh Company, LLC, winners of its 2006 Retailer Initiative Awards. UST is a holding company for its principal subsidiaries U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, makers of Copenhagen and Skoal, the world's best-selling moist smokeless tobacco brands, and International Wine & Spirits Ltd. BakeFresh produces top-quality, fresh bakery items for select retail and convenience store operations on the East coast.

UST Inc.
7-Eleven selected UST for their outstanding efforts in customer focus, demand-chain support, and cost-of-goods management during 2005. "UST has had a positive impact on our organization with a collaborative approach to merchandising their high-quality products and maximizing in-store promotions to provide superior value to customers," said 7-Eleven President and CEO Joe DePinto. "This well-deserved award is a result of UST management's ongoing support of the 7-Eleven Retailer Initiative strategy and their leadership, passion and overall efforts to grow the moist smokeless tobacco category."

DePinto added that UST promotes expanded fresh-daily distribution through the 7-Eleven Combined Distribution Center (CDC) network, which results in double-digit growth in these CDC areas by offering the consumer the freshest product available at 7-Eleven. UST also provides regional product assortment recommendations to help 7-Eleven stores effectively grow moist smokeless tobacco sales and profits effectively.

"7-Eleven is an icon of the American marketplace and a true visionary in the convenience store industry," said UST President and incoming Chief Executive Officer Murray S. Kessler. "For UST to be recognized with the 2006 Retailer Initiative Award is an incredible honor. 7-Eleven's success is the result of strong leadership and an unwavering commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction. By embracing the same philosophies, UST has succeeded in growing the moist smokeless tobacco category at unprecedented rates. This prestigious award is a resounding testament to the dedication of our sales force, and we accept it with great pride and enthusiasm."

BakeFresh Company, LLC
BakeFresh is a team-merchandising leader for 7-Eleven operations in the Chesapeake and New England regions. The supplier has established production efficiency and execution, and quality assurance standards that serve as best practices for other 7-Eleven bakery partners. Also, the company created additional training tools for its manufacturing locations focused on improving product quality, freshness and sales.

"The BakeFresh team uses its innovative expertise and passion for baked goods to provide solutions for new exciting products while improving service to our stores and customers with the latest equipment and technology in their facilities," said Cynthia Davis, senior vice president of Merchandising. "They share these solutions and ideas with the entire network of bakeries that provide products to 7-Eleven across the U.S. Jeff Saunders and his team lead by example and this award recognizes that."

Jeff Saunders, president and CEO of BakeFresh, said the award is an honor for the entire BakeFresh team. "We are humbled by this award from 7-Eleven, our biggest and best customer," said Saunders. "Our team understands that success is about working together to find the best ideas and delivering on our promises. Every day we strive for the excellence, quality and service that 7-Eleven and its customers demand and deserve."

In addition, companies receiving honorable-mention recognition for their outstanding team merchandising efforts include Virgin Mobile USA, LLC and Miller Brewing Company.

The primary objective of the 7-Eleven Retailer Initiative Award is to formally recognize the supplier that has excelled at helping 7-Eleven meet its convenience customers' changing needs through team merchandising, demand-chain solutions, cost of goods, category management, and contributing to creative advertising and promotional programs.

Candidates were nominated by 7-Eleven's merchandising and operations teams and judged on business activities in 2005. The award recipients were chosen by the 7-Eleven Awards Committee composed of senior executive team members. This is the fifth year 7-Eleven has presented its Retailer Initiative award. Last year's winner was Pinnacle Food Products, Inc., and past winners include The Hershey Company, Nestle Waters North America and Anheuser-Busch.

About 7-Eleven, Inc.
7 Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 7,100 7-Eleven® stores in North America and more than 31,000 stores in 17 countries and U.S. territories. During 2005, 7-Eleven stores worldwide generated total sales of approximately $43 billion. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com.

About UST Inc.
UST Inc. is a holding company for its principal subsidiaries: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company and International Wine & Spirits Ltd. U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company is the leading producer and marketer of moist smokeless tobacco products, including Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal and Husky. International Wine & Spirits Ltd. produces and markets premium wines sold nationally through the Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Crest, Conn Creek and Villa Mt. Eden wineries, as well as sparkling wine produced under the Domaine Ste. Michelle label.



About BakeFresh Company, LLC
BakeFresh Manufacturing Company is a Chesapeake, Va.-based wholesale manufacturing company that supplies 7-Eleven, Inc., among other outlets with delicious, high quality baked goods. The company was founded in 1988 as a Central Production Facility to service a multi-unit Dunkin Donut franchisee. In 1996, the company signed a wholesale manufacturing agreement with 7-Eleven, which continues today. In 2005, the company continued their growth into the New England area and consistently looks for ways to grow the 7-Eleven fresh bakery business. BakeFresh delivers donuts, muffins, brownies, cookies and other baked goods fresh, 365 days a year.

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