Darling International Inc. today reported net income of $13.9 million, or $0.22 per share, for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2005, as compared to $18.2 million or $0.29 per share, for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2004. Sales and earnings for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 1, 2005, as compared to the same period of the prior year are as follows:

FOURTH QUARTER

For the fourth quarter 2004, the Company's net sales were $71.4 million as compared to $96.2 million for the fourth quarter 2003. Decreases in raw material supplies and finished product prices accounted for the majority of the $24.8 million decrease.

Net income for the fourth quarter 2004 declined to $0.9 million as compared to a net income of $8.9 million for the 2003 comparable period. Results for the 2004 fourth quarter were significantly impacted by (i) lower availability of beef raw material supplies as a result of the continued closure of export markets to U.S. beef, (ii) higher energy prices, and (iii) lower commodity prices for finished goods. Fourth quarter 2003 also included an extra week of results due to a 53-week fiscal year.

Other income in fourth quarter 2003 included income of $4.1 million attributable to early retirement of debt. Interest expense increased by $0.8 million in fourth quarter 2004 due to the issuance of $35 million senior subordinated notes at 12% and reduction of interest expense in fourth quarter 2003 related to SFAS 15 accounting.

FISCAL YEAR

For Fiscal 2004, the Company's net sales decreased $3.1 million to $320.2 million as compared to $323.3 million for Fiscal 2003. Decreases in raw material volume accounted for the majority of the net sales decline.

For the fiscal year ended January 1, 2005, the Company reported net income of $13.9 million as compared to net income of $18.2 million for the 2003 comparable period. The $4.3 million decrease in net income for Fiscal 2004 resulted primarily from (i) increased interest expense partially due to the issuance of the senior subordinated notes, as well as a $2.5 million reduction in interest expense in fiscal 2003 related to SFAS 15 accounting, and (ii) decreased other income, which included a decrease in the gain from early retirement of debt of approximately $3.4 million, and a loss of $1.7 million attributable to the early retirement of preferred stock. The Company also realized a before tax gain of $2.8 million in fiscal 2004, resulting from a settlement with past insurers.

Randall C. Stuewe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Darling, said, "In spite of the difficult and uncertain operating environment we faced in fiscal 2004, Darling was able to achieve strong earnings while continuing to position our business for the future. The collective impact of reduced raw material volumes, declining commodity prices, continued export restrictions and higher natural gas and diesel prices challenged our earnings throughout the year. We continued to grow our restaurant services base of operations, initiated a fleet modernization program and increased our sales effort by focusing on leveraging our national scope and scale. "

Darling International will host a conference call to discuss the company's fourth quarter and full fiscal 2004 financial results at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (10:00 a.m. Central Time) on Friday, March 18, 2005. To listen to the conference call, participants calling from within North America may dial 888-796-2701; international participants may dial 706-679-5633. Please call approximately ten minutes before the start of the call to ensure that you are connected. The call will also be available as a live audio web cast that can be accessed on the company website at http://www.darlingii.com/investors/investors.html or http://www.fulldisclosure.com/ . Following its completion, a replay of the call can be accessed until April 30, 2005 by dialing 800-642-1687 or 706-645-9291 outside of North America. The access code for the replay is 4652123. The conference call will also be archived on the company's website for seven days.

Darling International Inc. is the largest publicly traded, food processing by-products recycling company in the United States. The company recycles used restaurant cooking oil and by-products from the beef, pork and poultry processing industries into useable products such as tallow, feed-grade fats and meat and bone meal. These products are primarily sold to animal feed and oleo-chemical manufacturers around the world. In addition, the Company provides grease trap collection services and sells equipment to restaurants.

For more information, please visit http://www.darlingii.com/ .

{This media release contains forward-looking statements regarding the business operations of Darling and the industry in which it operates. These statements are identified by words such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "intend," "anticipate," "should", "estimate," continue," and other words referring to events to occur in the future. These statements reflect Darling's current view of future events and are based on its assessment of, and are subject to, a variety of risks and uncertainties beyond its control, including business and economic conditions in its existing markets, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Other risks and uncertainties regarding Darling, its business and the industry in which it operates are referenced from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Darling is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.}

                        Darling International Inc.
                      Consolidated Operating Results
        For the Periods Ended January 1, 2005 and January 3, 2004
             (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

                     Three Months Ended           Twelve Months Ended
                  Jan. 1,  Jan. 3,  $ Change    Jan. 1,  Jan. 3, $ Change
                   2005     2004    Favorable    2005     2004   Favorable
                                  (Unfavorable)                (Unfavorable)
  Net sales     $ 71,384  $96,247  $ (24,863)  $320,229 $323,267  $(3,038)
  Costs and
   expenses:
    Cost of
     sales and
     operating
     expenses     54,802   71,955     17,153    237,925  245,175    7,250
    Selling,
     general and
     administrative
     expenses      9,207    9,942        735     36,509   35,808     (701)
    Depreciation and
     amortization  3,923    4,172        249     15,224   15,124     (100)
      Total
       costs and
       expenses   67,932   86,069     18,137    289,658  296,107    6,449
      Operating
       income      3,452   10,178     (6,726)    30,571   27,160    3,411
  Other income
   (expense):
    Interest
     expense      (1,535)    (738)      (797)    (6,759)  (2,363)  (4,396)
    Other, net        92    3,941     (3,849)      (299)   3,914   (4,213)
      Total other
       income
       (expense)  (1,443)   3,203     (4,646)    (7,058)   1,551   (8,609)
  Income from
   continuing
   operations
   before income
   taxes           2,009   13,381    (11,372)    23,513   28,711   (5,198)
  Income taxes      (671)  (4,549)     3,878     (9,245) (10,632)   1,387
      Income from
       continuing
       operations  1,338    8,832     (7,494)    14,268   18,079   (3,811)
      Income (loss)
       from
       discontinued
       operation,
       net of tax   (429)      32       (461)      (376)     112     (488)
  Net income         909    8,864     (7,955)    13,892   18,191   (4,299)
  Preferred dividends
   and accretion (A)   0        0          0          0     (101)     101
      Net income
       applicable to
       common
       shareholders $909   $8,864   $ (7,955)   $13,892  $18,090   (4,198)
  Basic and diluted
   income (loss) per
   share:
      Continuing
       operations  $0.01    $0.14     $(0.13)     $0.22    $0.29   $(0.07)
      Discontinued
       operations    ---      ---        ---        ---      ---      ---
  Total            $0.01    $0.14     $(0.13)     $0.22   $ 0.29   $(0.07)

  (A)  Preferred dividends accrued were $0 and $(310,000) during the
       three and twelve months ended January 3, 2004, respectively.
       Accretion of the preferred stock discount were $0 and $209,000
       during the three and twelve months ended January 3, 2004,
       respectively.

   FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
   John O. Muse,                       251 O'Connor Ridge Blvd., Suite 300
   Executive Vice President of         Irving, Texas  75038
   Finance and Administration, or      Phone:  972-717-0300
   Brad Phillips, Treasurer

SOURCE: Darling International Inc.