Release Details

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Universal Forest Products, Inc. (Nasdaq: UFPI) today announced that it jumped 73 places on the annual "Fortune 1000" listing of America's largest corporations (based on revenues) to number 769.

In addition, the company was rated highly against the other eleven companies included in the Forest and Paper Products industry. For example, Universal ranked #4 in profits (but posted the largest percent gain in profits from 2001), and #1 in three areas: profits as a percent of assets and of stockholders' equity; and in total return to investors in 2002. Universal was the only company in the group to post a gain in profits over 2001.

"We are honored to be recognized for important achievements and measurements of success," said William G. Currie, UFPI's CEO and vice chairman. "We're proud of our company and, more importantly, of the people who make our success possible. I've always maintained that we have the best management team in the industry and the best people designing, building, selling, and installing our products."

It is the second time in as many years that Universal has jumped significantly up the Fortune list. Last year, it jumped 79 places to number 842.

Universal Forest Products markets, manufactures, and engineers products for D-I-Y retail home centers, structural lumber products for the manufactured housing industry, engineered wood components for the site-built construction market and specialty wood packaging for various industries. The company reported sales in 2002 of more than $1.64 billion. For information about Universal Forest Products on the Internet, please go to the company's web site at www.ufpi.com , or call 888-Buy-UFPI.

SOURCE  Universal Forest Products, Inc.

   CONTACT:  Michael R. Cole, Chief Financial Officer of Universal Forest
Products, Inc., +1-616-364-6161