ATRIA TO ADVANCE IN BALTIC STATES

ATRIA GROUP PLC    STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE    17 December 2004

ATRIA TO ADVANCE IN BALTIC STATES

According to a letter of intent signed in October, Atria plans to purchase shares
in Estonian company AS Valga Lihatööstus. AS Valga Lihatööstus is the second
largest company in its field in Estonia, its turnover is approximately EUR 20
million and it has a local market share of about 15 %. Following the conclusion
of this deal Atria will have subsidiaries in both Lithuania and Estonia. The
purpose of this strategy is to expand and to achieve a market share in the Baltic
States which is comparable to Atria's market share in Finland and Sweden, i.e.
approximately 25%.

In order to advance in its Baltic Sea strategy, Atria also proposes to make a
further acquisition in Russia. Atria has been examining this possibility for more
than a year and believes it is now ready to proceed in the matter during next
spring.

The current year has been successful for Atria. In Finland, Atria has
strengthened its market share and the development of both sales volumes and
market share have been good. The development of business activities in Sweden
have also improved. In addition, the last quarter of this year has been more
successful for the Atria Group compared to the previous year, and the result for
the whole year will be significantly better than last year. The growth in
turnover after three quarters was more than seven per cent. Positive development
is also expected to continue next year.

Approximately 50% of Atria's turnover, including exports, comes from outside
Finland. In the next few years the purpose of the company is to strengthen this
development even further. Atria is already the biggest producer of meat products
in the Baltic Sea area.

ATRIA GROUP PLC

Seppo Paatelainen
President

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