FEMSA Delivers Double-Digit Revenues and Operating Income Growth in 1Q09

MONTERREY, Mexico - Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (”FEMSA”) (NYSE: FMX; BMV: FEMSAUBD) announced today its operational and financial results for the first quarter of 2009.

First Quarter 2009 Highlights: - Consolidated total revenues and income from operations grew 20.1%, however, net income declined 27.9%. - In spite of the challenging economic environment and continuous pressure from the devaluation of the local currencies in our main markets against the US dollar, FEMSA delivered another quarter of strong growth in revenues and income from operations, driven by double-digit performance across our business units. - Net income decrease of 27.9% was driven by higher integral result of financing in the quarter, while net majority income declined 39.4%. - Coca-Cola FEMSA total revenues and income from operations increased 30.5% and 17.3%, respectively. - Driven by double-digit growth in income from operations in Mercosur and Latincentro and stable growth in Mexico. - FEMSA Cerveza total revenues increased 10.4% and income from operations increased 13.8%. - Sales volume in Mexico decreased 3.0%, compared to the solid 7.1% volume growth in 1Q08. Brazil sales volume increased 1.9% in spite of price increases implemented over the past three quarters, and export sales volume grew 2.2%, despite the decline in the overall US import category. - Strong top-line growth, combined with tight operating expense containment and the deferral of some marketing expenses, offset raw material pressures resulting in a 13.8% increase in income from operations. - FEMSA Comercio continued its pace of strong growth and margin expansion. - Income from operations increased over 25% for the ninth consecutive quarter, resulting in an operating margin expansion of 60 basis points to reach 4.1%.

Jose Antonio Fernandez, Chairman and CEO of FEMSA, commented: “Our first quarter results reflect the strength of our strategy and our integrated beverage platform as well as our team’s ability to adjust our business levers to navigate these turbulent waters. We are encouraged by the resilience of our operations across businesses and across territories. However the pressures of the environment, specifically raw material costs and exchange rate, continue to impact our results. Going forward, we are cautious as we see signs that the deceleration of economic activity will continue for some time, while levels of macroeconomic uncertainty remain high. And yet, we are confident that we will continue to deliver solid results and will emerge from the current downturn a leaner and stronger company.”

To obtain the full text of this earnings release, please visit our Investor Relations website at www.femsa.com/investor under the Financial Reports section.

This report may contain certain forward-looking statements concerning our future performance that should be considered as good faith estimates made by us. These forward-looking statements reflect management’s expectations and are based upon currently available data. Actual results are subject to future events and uncertainties, which could materially impact our actual performance.

FEMSA is the leading beverage company in Latin America. It controls an integrated beverage platform that comprises Coca-Cola FEMSA, the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the region; FEMSA Cerveza, one of the leading brewers in Mexico, with presence in Brazil, and an important beer exporter to the United States and other countries; and Oxxo, the largest and fastest growing convenience store chain in Mexico with over 6,500 stores.

Source: Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V.

Media, +52-818-328-6046, comunicacion at femsa.com.mx, or Investors, +52-818-328-6167, investor at femsa.com.mx