CONTACT: Bob Krueger, Owner Great Harvest Bread Co.® 229 South Elliott Rd. (Village Plaza) Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Phone: 919 932-1112 Email FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Read resulting article (PDF)   Going Against the Grain: Great Harvest® Receives Whole Grains Council Accreditation     Chapel Hill, NC, July 5, 2005 - Triangle bread consumers seeking out the healthiest loaf on the shelf should select more carefully than just white versus wheat. As of February 2005, community favorite Great Harvest Bread Co.® is the nation's first company to bear the Whole Grains Council's "Whole Grain Stamp ." Four Great Harvest® breads - Honey Whole Wheat, Classic Nine Grain, Cinnamon Raisin Walnut, and High Five Whole Grain - will carry the most distinguished of three Whole Grain Stamps, the "100%/Excellent" source of whole grains. This label distinguishes breads that contain only whole grains, with no refined grains allowed.     "My family especially likes [Great Harvest's] Cheddar Garlic, Spinach Feta and Nine Grain breads. Thanks to Great Harvest for offering low-carb breads for those of us on restricted diets," states Chapel Hill resident Julia Martin.     Launched in January 2005, the Whole Grain Stamp distinguishes bakery products using fresh ground whole wheat flour from those using processed or refined grains. The Great Harvest® crew uses an old-fashioned stone mill to grind wheat berries only as fast as the flour is needed. The Whole Grains Council, an industry consortium formed in July 2003, has developed stringent guidelines for member companies like Great Harvest® whose products meet whole wheat standards.       Great Harvest®'s High Five Whole Grain Bread meets new 2005 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) dietary guidelines that recommend consuming bread with at least 3 grams of fiber per 1 oz. slice. This Great Harvest® bread provides dietary fiber needed to decrease the risk for diabetes, coronary heart disease, certain cancers and obesity. Dietary fiber also slows the body's absorption of food, regulating blood sugar levels and speeding the elimination of waste.       Chapel Hill registered dietitians Marcia Mills and Bobbie Stanford have both professional and consumer perspectives on Great Harvest® Bread's High Fiber Whole Grain bread. As daily fiber advocates, Mills notes, "this bread will help you reach your [daily] goal of fiber in a tasty way." Upon trying a Great Harvest® Bread's High Fiber Whole Grain bread sample delivered to their office, Mills and Stanford collectively responded that the bread tasted "crunchy, nutty and delicious."       The new 2005 FDA dietary guidelines, for the first time, recommend three whole grain servings per day. Many consumers, however, find it difficult to find and consume this number of whole grains servings on a daily basis. Bread consumers are also perplexed by what distinguishes "whole grain" from "whole wheat" products. Chapel Hill Great Harvest® owners Bob and Joan Krueger welcome the arrival of Whole Grain Stamps for their products. Each slice of Great Harvest® bread bearing the "100%/Excellent Source" stamp counts as a full serving with at least 16 grams of whole grains.           As Bob puts it, "You can get whole grain [in your bread], but is it fresh? And are oils, fats, or preservatives included?"           Through Great Harvest's ongoing commitment to community interests, the Kruegers are involved in a range of Triangle-area activities, some of which support health-related programs like UNC-Chapel Hill Wellness Center events. Krueger's knowledge of where his products meet regulated nutritional standards (such as gaining the Whole Grain Council's accreditation) has made him consider other ways to market his products to his customers' dietary needs.           "If I measure how many Weight Watchers® points equal a slice of my bread, a customer appreciates our efforts to help their dietary restrictions. Our marketing is aimed at assisting our customers' nutritional needs," notes Krueger.     Wisconsin natives Bob and Joan Krueger have lived and worked in Chapel Hill for three years. Relocating to Chapel Hill and opening their own Great Harvest Bread Co.® is part of the Kruegers' long-term "retirement plan." The Krueger family regularly supports charitable activities around the community through Great Harvest®, including bread donations to local nonprofits (eg, Ronald McDonald House, UNC Hospitals), sponsorship of an annual community diversity dinner, and collaborative "bake sales" with fundraising groups (e.g., Boy Scouts). For more information on the Chapel Hill location, visit FreshBakedBread.com, or contact Bob and Joan Krueger at (919) 932-1112 or Email For overall company information, visit GreatHarvest.com.