Smart Balance, Inc. CEO Presents at Roth Growth Stock Conference

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif., March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smart Balance, Inc. (Nasdaq: SMBL) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Hughes outlined the Company's 2010 growth and performance plans at the Roth Capital Partners 22nd Annual OC Growth Stock Conference.  The presentation was in Laguna Niguel, CA, at 1:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 16, 2010.

"Smart Balance's strategy continues to focus on increasing presence on retail shelves by adding new products in its existing categories and expanding into new categories," said Hughes.  "We plan to increase the average number of items on shelf in 2010 through our spreads three-tier strategy and our dairy initiative, lead by our national expansion of milks.  We expect to average 25 items on shelf by mid-year, up from 21 at the end of 2009."

Hughes spoke about the Company's core category of spreads in 2010 and the three-tier strategy, with products and innovation in each price segment.  In the healthy premium segment, the Company is introducing Smart Balance® spreads fortified with a 50% recommended daily intake per serving of vitamin D and a new variety with calcium, to address consumer interest about bone health.  In the super premium segment, the Company is looking to expand distribution of Earth Balance® spreads beyond the health food channel.  In the value segment, the Company is launching a partially hydrogenated oil free line of spreads under the Bestlife™ brand.  Retailer placements of the new products have started and are expected to build throughout the year.  

The second initiative is to build frequency of purchase and consumer awareness by expanding the Company's products in the dairy aisle.  Smart Balance™ milks are central to increasing purchase frequency of Smart Balance® products.  These milk products are fat free and 1% fat varieties with added nutritional benefits with the taste and texture of higher fat regular milk.  The Company successfully introduced its milks into 20% of the U.S. in 2009 and is currently expanding distribution to the remainder of the country.  The current distribution has reached 50%, and the Company has started its national advertising and marketing campaign to support the products. A single serve, fat-free version of the milks, in plain and chocolate flavors, is also being tested in the New York City area in small format stores.

A replay of the webcast will be available within the Investor Center of the Company's corporate website, www.smartbalance.com until June 14, 2010.  Presentation slides will be available on the website in the Investor Center in the Corporate News folder.

Forward-looking Statements

Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's plans, strategies, beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking and subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements may include use of the words "expect", "anticipate", "plan", "intend", "project", "may", "believe" and similar expressions.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and, except for the Company's ongoing obligations under the U.S. federal securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether to reflect actual results of operations, changes in financial condition, changes in general economic or business conditions, changes in estimates, expectations or assumptions, or circumstances or events arising after the issuance of this press release. Actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements for a number of reasons, including those risks and uncertainties set forth in the Company's filings with the SEC and the Company's ability to:

• maintain margins during commodity cost fluctuations;
• introduce and expand distribution of new products;
• provide funding to support market share and increase consumer awareness, and
• grow net sales in a competitive environment and with increasingly price sensitive consumers.

About Smart Balance, Inc.

Smart Balance, Inc. (Nasdaq: SMBL) is committed to providing superior tasting heart healthier alternatives in every category it enters by avoiding trans fats naturally, balancing fats and/or reducing saturated fats, total fat and cholesterol.  The company markets the Smart Balance® line of products, which include Smart Balance® Buttery Spreads, Milk, Butter Blend Sticks, Sour Cream, Peanut Butter, Microwave Popcorn, Cooking Oil, Mayonnaise, Non-Stick Cooking Spray and Cheese, and also markets natural food products under the Earth Balance® brand and healthier lifestyle products under the Bestlife™ brand. 

For more information about Smart Balance, Inc., Smart Balance^® products and the Smart Balance™ Food Plan, please visit http://www.smartbalance.com.

SOURCE Smart Balance, Inc.