MELVILLE, N.Y., Feb. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Hain Celestial Group (Nasdaq: HAIN) announced today that it had been named the recipient of Stagnito's New Products Magazine's 2003 "Innovator of the Year" Award. The Magazine cited Hain Celestial's commitment to grow acquired brands and introduce new products, and its record of introducing over 47 new products in 2003.

Irwin D. Simon, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are proud and honored to receive this prestigious award. It is a testament to the hard work of everyone at Hain Celestial, as we bring to market new brands and products that will change the way the world eats. In 2003, we introduced new brands such as Carb Fit, the first all natural low carb brand of snacks, cookies, pastas and condiments, each co-branded with our flagship brands such as Hain PureSnax, Health Valley cookies, and Deboles pasta. We plan to introduce a total of 80 low-carb products by the Spring of this year. Last year we also gave consumers more choices of flavors and products from our already popular brands, including Terra Kettle Chips, West Soy Smoothies and Shakes, Earth's Best Toddler and Hain Kidz, and Health Valley Cookie Cremes. I expect that 2004 will be an even more exciting year for Hain Celestial as we continue innovating at all of our brands and aim to introduce 80 new products to the market."

Mr. Simon and Ira Lamel, Chief Financial Officer, will present at the CAGNY conference on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 at 6:25 pm ET. A simultaneous webcast of the call will be available online at the Company's investor relations section of its website, www.hain-celestial.com.

About The Hain Celestial Group

The Hain Celestial Group, headquartered in Melville, NY, is a natural, specialty and snack food company. The Company is a leader in 13 of the top 15 natural food categories, with such well-known natural food brands as Celestial Seasonings(R) teas, Walnut Acres(R), Hain Pure Foods(R), Westbrae(R), Westsoy(R), Rice Dream(R), Soy Dream(R), Imagine(R), Arrowhead Mills(R), Health Valley(R), Breadshop's(R), Casbah(R), Garden of Eatin(R), Terra Chips(R), Yves Veggie Cuisine(R), The Good Dog(R), The Good Slice(R), DeBoles(R), Lima(R), Biomarche(R), Grains Noirs(R), Earth's Best(R), and Nile Spice. The Company's principal specialty product lines include Hollywood(R) cooking oils, Estee(R) sugar-free products, Kineret(R) kosher foods, Boston Better Snacks(R), and Alba Foods(R). The Hain Celestial Group's website can be found at www.hain-celestial.com.

     Contacts:  Ira Lamel, CFO                     David Lilly/Jeremy Fielding
                The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.     Kekst and Company
                631-730-2200                       212-521-4800


SOURCE  The Hain Celestial Group
 02/12/2004
    /CONTACT:  Ira Lamel, CFO of The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.,
+1-631-730-2200, David Lilly or Jeremy Fielding, both of Kekst and Company,
+1-212-521-4800, for The Hain Celestial Group, Inc./
    /Web Site:  http://www.hain-celestial.com /
    (HAIN)

CO:  Hain Celestial Group
ST:  New York