Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Company (SWDCC) of Vancouver, British Colombia, announces an important addition to its management personnel. Mr. Barry Close has been appointed to the position of Plant Manager at SWDCC effective July 9, 2007.

Barry Close, a graduate of British Columbia Institute of Technology (Electrical Maintenance), is a Delta resident and most recently worked at Domtar's fine paper facility in Vancouver. During his career with Domtar, Close held a number of progressively more responsible plant management positions and acquired experience with Delta V technology, similar to the Program Logic Control systems that SWDCC relies on in their business. He also trained in a variety of lean manufacturing processes and techniques including Total Quality Management, Six Sigma and Kaizen methods of manufacturing, and learned to apply them successfully on the shop floor.

Frank Dennis, SWDCC’s President and CEO, states, “In the increasingly competitive Global environment that we operate in, and as the leader in premium non-chemical coffee decaffeination, I believe Barry Close is ideally suited to lead our efforts to fully integrate and optimize our two production lines. He will focus on the effectiveness, efficiency and productivity of our internal operating systems, and strengthen and champion our second- to-none quality standards. Close will be a standard bearer in our commitment to the level of customer service that our loyal customer base has come to expect.”

In the first 90 days of Close's work with SWDCC he will focus on learning the business, reviewing all operating practices and processes, and continuing the development of the best standard operating practices. Dennis continues, “This will help us to further establish the SWISS WATER® Process as the world standard for decaffeination operating excellence and thereby differentiate us from our competitors in a compelling way that emphasizes our high quality, value-added approach to customer service at an acceptable price.”

When asked what pastimes are favorites of his, Close quickly answers, “Time with my 11 year old daughter and golf!” Then he thoughtfully adds, “I subscribe to the Jack Welch (the legendary CEO of GE) theory… ‘When you find the right group of people to work with and the right product, directed at the right market, you will never have to work again.’ I think I have found all of that plus an incredible opportunity to achieve operational excellence and help all the stakeholders of SWDCC feel the personal success that comes with this excellence.”

About Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Company, Inc.
Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Company, Inc. (SWDCC) decaffeinates premium coffees to a 99.9% caffeine free level. The SWISS WATER® Process is a certified organic, 100% chemical free, wholesome decaffeination process used by premium roasters and retailers and demanded by discerning decaf drinkers around the world. The SWISS WATER® Process is the world's only branded decaffeination process and SWDCC supports its brand through ongoing consumer research and focused consumer advertising. For more information about SWDCC or brokers and roasters that carry SWISS WATER® Process decaf, visit swisswater.com.