We were DAMN close to disaster!

CINCINNATI, OHIO, September 14, 2005—The Procter & Gamble Company's Folgers brand (NYSE:PG) today announced that, having garnered access to its four separate facilities in the New Orleans area late last week for an initial damage assessment, it hopes to restore some operations at its coffee production soon. More than 50 employees and 50 contractors already are working at the Folgers plant, repairing equipment, restoring phone lines and ensuring a water-tight facility. The New Orleans plant organization has secured 150 trailers that will be used as temporary housing and will provide free meals to employees. Folgers is committed to restarting its operations in New Orleans where it has had a presence for 45 years.

"I'm excited to be back at work and to help get the plant operating again to rebuild our community," said Bart Blackston, a plant employee at P&G.

Additionally, the Port of New Orleans opened Tuesday afternoon; the first boat to enter the port included a shipment of Folgers coffee.

The company also notified retailers Monday that there may be temporary supply restrictions resulting from the impact of Hurricane Katrina on several of its coffee production and storage facilities in the affected regions. Folgers and Millstone® coffee may be temporarily unavailable or may appear on-shelf in different packaging until operations resume. "We are doing everything we can to ensure that America's #1 coffee* will be back in stock soon, and we appreciate our consumers' and customers' patience as we help our employees and the community get back on their feet," said Doug McGraw, Vice President Global Coffee for P&G.