SAN DIEGO - Jan. 10, 2005 -- As Empress International, a leading seafood importer and marketer with more than 50 years of experience, positions itself for future growth and innovation, Tim McLellan will steer the company as its new president.

McLellan brings with him more than 23 years' experience in the industry and replaces the retiring Joel Kolen. Most recently, McLellan worked at ConAgra Foods, Seafood Division, where he served as national sales director for Meridian Products. Prior to that, McLellan was vice president of sales and marketing, developing branded seafood products for national distribution. His background also includes international seafood sales, with extensive overseas traveling and establishing sales offices in Asia, Europe and Australia. McLellan began his career in sales management with a broadline distributor in Hawaii.

McLellan will oversee sales and profit goals at Empress, which in 2003 joined shelf-stable seafood leader Chicken of the Sea International as subsidiaries of Thai Union International. Thai Union expanded its presence in the U.S. seafood marketplace by joining Empress, which has a global supply network for delivering a year-round quality frozen seafood line with an emphasis on shrimp, with Chicken of the Sea, which has a variety of shelf-stable seafood options.

Thiraphong Chansiri, president of Thai Union, said the move has been successful and set the company up for future growth.

"The union of Empress and Chicken of the Sea allowed us to offer a more diverse product line. From canned and pouched tuna to frozen seafood, we are now one of the leading suppliers in multiple categories and channels, and Tim's expertise and leadership will help ensure future success," said Chansiri.

"This is an exciting time for us. Joel has helped build a strong company with a solid reputation for quality products. In addition, he has forged great relationships with business partners. I look forward to continuing this tradition with an emphasis on quality and innovation, a strategy that has proved successful for Empress and sister company Chicken of the Sea," said McLellan, who assumes his new role today.

Chansiri said Empress and Chicken of the Sea share a complementary focus on high-quality products that meet consumers' changing demands.

"Both companies embrace a similar strategy, and we hope to see the brands working together more in the future," said Chansiri.

Thai Union International is a subsidiary of Thai Union Frozen Products PCL. Thai Union Frozen Products, established in 1988, specializes in producing and exporting frozen and shelf-stable seafood.

Empress International is a leading international importer of frozen shrimp. The company concentrates much of its efforts on importing high-quality white shrimp products from Latin America. Empress markets more than half of its total product under the "Xcellent" brand, considered by many to be of the highest quality on the market. Empress markets shrimp across all sectors in the seafood industry, including wholesale, foodservice and retail outlets.