WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 2, 2005--Dole Food Company, Inc., today announced the promotion of Sylvain Cuperlier to Vice President - Director of Worldwide Corporate Social Responsibility. In this capacity, Mr. Cuperlier will head Dole's Corporate Social Responsibility team. Mr. Cuperlier will continue to be based in Dole Europe's Paris office.

In announcing the appointment, Richard J. Dahl, President and Chief Operating Officer of Dole, stated: "Sylvain's experience in Dole Europe's operations with corporate social responsibility and his position as a member of the advisory board of Social Accountability International make him uniquely qualified to assume this worldwide responsibility. The creation of this position and the appointment of Sylvain demonstrate once again Dole's commitment to social responsibility and its importance to the company. Dole's Corporate Social Responsibility team will include representatives from all the company's operating regions, inclusive of Sue Hagen, Senior Vice President and head of Worldwide Human Resources and Industrial Relations."

Mr. Cuperlier joined Dole Europe in 1998 as Coordinator, Markets Strategy and Communication Department. In 2000, he was promoted to Manager, Responsibility Programs and Communication, Europe and Africa. Mr. Cuperlier has a Bachelor's degree in law from the Universite De Cergy - Pontoise and an MBA from Ecole Superieure Des Sciences Economiques Et Commerciales (ESSEC). In addition, Mr. Cuperlier has a Diplom Kaufmann with a specialization in organization and social psychology from the Universitat Mannheim. Mr. Cuperlier speaks six languages: French, English, German, Spanish, Italian and Swedish.

This release contains "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward looking statements, which are based on management's current expectations, are generally identifiable by the use of terms such as "may," "will," "expects," "believes," "intends" and similar expressions. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied herein include weather-related phenomena; market responses to industry volume pressures; product and raw materials supplies and pricing; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; economic crises and security risks in developing countries; international conflict; and quotas, tariffs and other governmental actions. Further information on the factors that could affect Dole's financial results is included in its SEC filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Copyright Business Wire 2005

Dole Food Inc.

Dole Food Inc.

Dole Food Company, Inc., with 2005 revenues of $5.9 billion, is the world's largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and fresh-cut flowers. Dole markets a growing line of packaged and frozen foods and is a produce industry leader in nutrition education and research.

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