Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. Promotes Bradley S. Bremer to President of ApplianceSmart, Inc.

MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARCI) today announced that it has promoted Bradley S. Bremer to the newly created position of President of ApplianceSmart, Inc. (ApplianceSmart). Bremer had served as Vice President of ARCA's Retail Operations since February 2007.

As President of ApplianceSmart, Bremer holds responsibility for directing all aspects of the company, including the management of sales, marketing and operations for twenty stores in the Minnesota, Ohio, Georgia and Texas markets; a ninth store will be opened in Minnesota in 2012 bringing the national total to twenty-one stores. Bremer also oversees the planning and development of new ApplianceSmart stores, as well as customer programs and services.

Since joining ARCA in March 2000 until his promotion to Vice President of Retail Operations in 2007, Bremer served as Retail Operations Manager for the company's ApplianceSmart stores. His extensive experience in the appliance retailing industry also includes sales and management positions with Sears Brand Central and Montgomery Ward. Bremer is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Edward R. (Jack) Cameron, president and chief executive officer of ARCA, commented: "Since he joined ARCA twelve years ago, Brad has been instrumental in the continuing development of the ApplianceSmart superstore concept. At that time, we operated four ApplianceSmart stores in two markets and sold scratch-and-dent appliances we received from one appliance manufacturer. Under Brad's direction, we have expanded our retail network to 21 ApplianceSmart locations and are ranked as the 25th largest appliance retailer in the U.S., according to TWICE magazine. Brad's development of strong relationships with major appliance manufacturers, including Electrolux, GE, Whirlpool and Bosch, has enabled him to drive the growth of ApplianceSmart by expanding our product line to include new, innovative appliances, as well as continuing to stock close-outs, factory overruns, discontinued models and other special-buy appliances."

Cameron continued: "Brad's promotion to President of ApplianceSmart reflects the depth of his contribution to the company, his expertise in the appliance retailing industry and his leadership and team-building skills. I am confident that Brad will continue to demonstrate his ability to lead ApplianceSmart in the many years to come."

About ARCA

ARCA (www.ARCAInc.com), one of the nation's largest recyclers of major household appliances for the energy conservation programs of electric utilities, currently provides services for more than 250 utilities in the U.S. and Canada. Toxic chemicals and environmentally harmful materials such as ozone-depleting refrigerants, PCBs, mercury and oil are carefully recovered in the decommissioning process for destruction or disposal, preventing them from contaminating soil, air and water resources. The Company is also the exclusive North American distributor for UNTHA Recycling Technology (URT), one of the world's leading manufacturers of technologically advanced refrigerator recycling systems and recycling facilities for electrical household appliances and electronic scrap. Through its ApplianceSmart, Inc. (www.ApplianceSmart.com), ARCA also is one of the nation's leading retailers of special-buy household appliances, primarily those manufactured by General Electric, Electrolux, Whirlpool and Bosch. These special-buy appliances, which include close-outs, factory overruns and discontinued models, typically are not integrated into the manufacturer's normal distribution channel. ApplianceSmart, Inc. sells these new appliances at a discount to full retail, offers a 100% money-back guarantee and provides warranties on parts and labor. As of February 2012, ApplianceSmart, Inc. was operating 20 stores: six in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market; one in the Rochester, Minn., market; one in the St. Cloud, Minn. Market; four in the Columbus, Ohio, market; six in the Atlanta market; and two in San Antonio, Texas.

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements as defined within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding ARCA's future success. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including the risks associated with general economic conditions, competition in the retail and recycling industries and regulatory risks. Other factors that could cause operating and financial results to differ are described in ARCA's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other risks may be detailed from time to time in reports to be filed with the SEC.

SOURCE Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc.