William Ecker Named New President of The Hartz Mountain Corporation

SECAUCUS, NJ (April 3, 2006) – The Hartz Mountain Corporation has selected William D. Ecker as its new president and chief executive officer. Mr. Ecker succeeds Robert Devine who is leaving the company to pursue other interests.

Before joining Hartz®, Mr. Ecker was chairman of Diam International, the largest designer and manufacturer of permanent retail displays in the nation. A seasoned consumer products executive, Mr. Ecker held senior positions at General Foods, Unilever, and Bristol-Myers Squibb where he was the president of Clairol’s US retail operations prior to joining Diam.

Mr. Ecker, is a graduate of Penn State University, and received his MBA in marketing from Northwestern University. He and his family reside in Stamford, CT.

“Hartz® is the premier name in pet retailing, and I am very proud to join the company as it seeks to extend its reach into the growing market for innovative pet products,” said Mr. Ecker. “I anticipate exciting and rewarding days ahead for our company.”

About The Hartz Mountain Corporation

The Hartz Mountain Corporation is the leading manufacturer and marketer of pet care products in the United States and Canada.  For 80 years Hartz® has provided pet owners with the highest quality products – innovative solutions developed with proven science and a love for companion animals.  The company offers more than 1500 products for dogs, cats, birds, small animals, reptiles and fish, each dedicated to the health and well-being of household pets. The Hartz Mountain Corporation is owned by Sumitomo Corporation of America (SCOA), together with its parent, Sumitomo Corporation, Japan (SC), an integrated global trading company. For more information please visit www.hartz.com.