News Release

DELRAY BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 13, 2000--Office Depot, Inc. (NYSE:ODP), the world's largest seller of office products, today announced the launch of its European Business Services Division. Beginning this week in the United Kingdom, Office Depot's European Business Services Division will now be able to better service medium to large sized corporate accounts in Europe through specialized sales forces, individualized pricing for key corporate accounts, and overnight order fulfillment.

Rolf van Kaldekerken, President of European Operations, commented, "Medium to large sized business customers have different needs than the small business buyer, and Office Depot will now be able to offer them the individual pricing, personalized service through their own account executive and delivery to multiple locations through the Company's existing extensive Office Depot and Viking distribution network." Bruce Nelson, Chief Executive Officer, added, "We see an enormous opportunity to grow our international business, which in 1999 exceeded 1.3 billion dollars, through this new sales channel under the Office Depot brand, in addition to our existing Office Depot retail store and Viking brand catalog operations."

Headed up by Rob Vale, Vice President of the European Business Services Division, the Company currently has a sales force of 30 account executives and sales managers in the United Kingdom, with plans to eventually expand throughout the European continent. About Office Depot

As of June 24, 2000, the Company operated 855 office supply superstores in the United States and Canada, in addition to a national business-to-business delivery network supported by 30 delivery centers, more than 60 local sales offices and seven regional call centers. Furthermore, the Company owned and operated 27 office supply stores in France and seven stores in Japan; had mail order and delivery operations in 14 countries outside of the United States and Canada; and under joint venture and licensing agreements, had 89 additional stores operating under the Office Depot name in six other foreign countries. The Company also operates an award-winning U.S. Office Depot brand Internet Web site at www.officedepot.com where customers can access Office Depot's low competitive prices seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, and it operates Viking brand Web sites at www.vikingop.com in the United States, www.vikingdirect.co.uk in the United Kingdom, www.vikingde in Germany, www.vikingdirect.nl in The Netherlands, www.vikingop.it in Italy and www.vikingop.co.jp in Japan. Office Depot's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index.

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