020848 Smithfield Elects Officers

Richmond, VA (PRNewswire) - Dr. Frank S. Royal was elected a member of the board of directors of Smithfield Foods, Inc. at the company's annual meeting. A Richmond physician, Dr. Royal is also a director of Chesapeake Corporation, CSX Corporation, Dominion Resources, Inc., HCA, Inc., and SunTrust Banks, Inc. Dr. Royal, age 62, fills the board position vacated by George E. Hamilton, Jr., who is retiring.

Shareholders re-elected Robert L. Burrus, Jr. and Carol T. Crawford to serve on the board for three-year terms. Additionally, shareholders ratified the board's selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the company's independent public accountants for fiscal year 2003.

Smithfield Foods has delivered a 26 percent average annual compounded rate of return to investors since 1975. With annualized sales of $8 billion, Smithfield Foods is the leading processor and marketer of fresh pork and processed meats in the United States, as well as the largest producer of hogs.

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