Release Details

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 1, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Universal Forest Products, Inc. (Nasdaq: UFPI) is celebrating its 50th year of business. From its start as a single sales office serving the manufactured housing industry, the company has grown to become the nation's leading supplier of wood and wood-alternative products, and is a powerful player in the international lumber arena.

Founded in 1955 by the late William Grant, Sr., Universal today is a $2.4 billion company with nearly 9,000 employees and 96 facilities in 84 communities across North America. The company is the leader in each of the four markets it serves: do-it-yourself (DIY) retail, site-built construction, industrial packaging and components, and manufactured housing.

"I'm proud of this company, its people, and all that we have achieved together," said CEO and Vice Chairman William G. Currie. "The strength and success of Universal rest with our people who come to work every day determined to do better than the day before. Ours is a story of hard work and determination, and of a shared passion for success, for strong relationships and for integrity in all we do. That's the story of our company, our people, and our success."

Among the notable facts about Universal are:

• It is the nation's largest manufacturer of roof trusses.
  
  
• It is the world's largest manufacturer of treated wood.
  
  
• It is the largest customer of the United States' largest mills.
  
  
• It has had only three CEOs in its history: William Grant, Sr., Peter F. Secchia, and current CEO and Vice Chairman William G. Currie.
  
  
• Most of the people on Universal's senior management team have been with the company for decades. (In 2005, the average age of service among the senior team is 19.7 years). This lack of turnover has created a wealth of institutional knowledge and the long-term relationships that are the foundation of the company's success.
  
  
• Universal went public in 1993 (Nasdaq: UFPI). It issued 5.7 million shares, raising $20 million in additional equity.
  
  
• Universal was a pioneer in just-in-time inventory systems.
  
  
• With a strong belief and practice of rewarding its employees, Universal was a pioneer in profit-sharing programs (establishing its program in 1972).
  
  
• The company has been regularly included on the Fortune 1000, Forbes' Platinum 400, Industry Week's Top 50 Manufacturers, as well as other lists.
  
  
• Peter Secchia, chairman of the board, was appointed Ambassador to Italy in 1989 by President George H.W. Bush.
  
  
• Universal is headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI. Its divisional offices are in Union City, GA (a suburb of Atlanta) and Windsor, CO (near Denver, CO).

Universal intends to mark 50 years as a company by holding celebrations in its facilities throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico and at its Grand Rapids, Michigan corporate headquarters; by giving back to its communities; and through other special events and programs during the year.

For more information about Universal Forest Products on the Internet, please visit the company's web site at http://www.ufpi.com , or call 888-Buy-UFPI.

See the following for a list of all communities in which Universal has at least one facility.

Universal Forest Products, Inc. Plant locations

Eatonton, GA
Moultrie, GA
Union City, GA
Gordon, PA
Salisbury, NC
Auburndale, FL
Warrens, WI
Granger, IN
Janesville, WI
Belchertown, MA
Windsor, CO
Grandview, TX
Saginaw, TX
Ranson, WV
Chandler, AZ
Thornton, CA
Riverside, CA
Woodburn, OR
LaColle, Quebec, Canada
Harrisonville, MO
Hamilton, OH
Stockertown, PA
Elizabeth City, NC
Lodi, OH
Arlington, TX
Kyle, TX
San Antonio, TX
Emlenton, PA
Parker, PA
Lafayette, CO
Georgetown, DE
Fishersville, VA
Chesapeake, VA
Pearisburg, VA
Burlington, NC
Bunn, NC
Sanford, NC
Dallas, NC
Ooltewah, TN
Conway, SC
Santee, SC
Jefferson, GA
Hope, AR
Schertz, TX
New Waverly, TX
Silsbee, TX
New Windsor, MD
Liberty, NC
London, Ontario, Canada
Fontana, CA
Westville, IN
Blanchester, OH
White Pigeon, MI
Englewood, CO
New London, NC
Ashburn, GA
Haleyville, AL
Folkston, GA
Ocala, FL
Minneota, MN
Chaffee, NY
Auburn, NY
Sidney, NY
Hudson, NY
Clinton, NY
Springfield, IL
Prairie du Chien, WI
Janesville, WI
Lansing, MI
Houston, TX
White Bear Lake, MN
Las Vegas, NV
Indianapolis, IN Atco, NJ
Dallas, TX
Plainville, MA
Durango, Mexico
Tecate, Mexico
Grand Rapids, MI
Jacksonville, FL
Denver, CO
San Diego, CA

SOURCE Universal Forest Products, Inc.

Lynn Afendoulis, Director, Public Affairs of Universal Forest Products, Inc.,
+1-616-365-1502