Smart Balance to Participate at KeyBanc Conference

PARAMUS, N.J., March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Smart Balance, Inc. (Nasdaq: SMBL) announced that it will be participating later today at the KeyBanc Capital Markets Consumer Conference in New York, NY.  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Alan S. Gever will discuss the Company's strategies and outlook for 2011, including reiterating the Company's comments made during its February 24, 2011 conference call.  

Specifically, Mr. Gever will discuss the Company's focus on driving the three-tier strategy in the core category of spreads, increasing trial and distribution of Smart Balance® milk and broadening the Earth Balance® brand.  The Company plans to leverage the investments it has already made to grow sales and cash operating income margin in 2011.  

Consistent with the outlook shared last week, the Company expects to grow full-year 2011 net sales in the mid single-digit range and cash operating income in the high single-digit range.  For the first quarter of 2011, the Company expects net sales to be under pressure versus year-ago, due to the unfavorable impact of Easter timing and the absence of any benefit from recent pricing actions.  The Company expects both of these factors to benefit the second quarter comparison versus year-ago.  Cash operating income, which is also expected to be impacted by the aforementioned factors, will benefit versus year-ago from productivity savings and operating leverage in the first quarter and beyond.

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 and grow those revenues derived from our Smart Balance® buttery spread products which we generate a substantial portion of our revenues;
• maintain margins during periods of commodity cost fluctuations;
• introduce and expand distribution of our new products;
• meet marketing and infrastructure needs:
• respond to changes in consumer demand;
• respond to adverse publicity affecting the Company or industry;
• comply with regulatory requirements;
• maintain existing relationships with and secure new customers;
• continue to rely on third party distributors, manufacturers and suppliers;
• grow net sales in a competitive environment and with increasingly price sensitive consumers; and
• maintain volume in light of price increases stemming from rises in commodity costs.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures    

The Company reports its financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP").

The Company uses the term "cash operating income" as an important measure of profitability and performance.  Cash operating income is a non-GAAP measure defined as operating income excluding stock based compensation, depreciation, amortization of intangibles, impairment charges and net realignment charges.  Our management uses cash operating income for planning purposes, and we believe this measure provides investors and securities analysts with important supplemental information regarding the Company's profitability and operating performance.  However, non-GAAP financial measures such as cash operating income should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the company's results prepared in accordance with GAAP.  In addition, the non-GAAP measures the company uses may differ from non-GAAP measures used by other companies.  We have included in this press release reconciliations of cash operating income to operating income as calculated in accordance with GAAP.

About Smart Balance, Inc.

Smart Balance, Inc. (NasdaqGM: 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, and/or by incorporating ingredients that consumers may be missing in their diets.  The company markets the Smart Balance® line of products, which include Smart Balance® Buttery Spreads, Enhanced Milks, Buttery Sticks, Peanut Butter, Microwave Popcorn, Cooking Oil, Mayonnaise Dressing, 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 www.smartbalance.com.

SOURCE Smart Balance, Inc.

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