FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2000

JOHN B. SANFILIPPO ANNOUNCES RECORD NET INCOME FOR FISCAL 2000

Fiscal 2000 EPS Rises to $0.74 from $0.20 Last Year;
Fourth-Quarter EPS $0.16 vs. $0.05 on 5% Sales Increase

Elk Grove Village, Ill., August 18, 2000 --John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. (Nasdaq: JBSS) today announced operating results for its fiscal 2000 fourth quarter and year ended June 29, 2000. Net income for the fourth quarter increased 207 percent to $1.4 million, or 16 cents per basic and diluted share, from $500,000, or 5 cents per basic and diluted share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1999. Fiscal 2000 net income grew 276 percent to $6.8 million, or 74 cents per basic and diluted share, from $1.8 million, or 20 cents per basic and diluted share, for fiscal 1999. Fiscal 2000 net income was the highest recorded in the company's history.

Fiscal 2000 fourth-quarter net sales increased 5 percent to $78.0 million from $74.3 million in the fiscal 1999 fourth quarter. The fiscal 2000 fourth quarter was a 14-week period versus a 13-week period in fiscal 1999. The gross margin as a percentage of net sales for the fiscal 2000 fourth quarter was 19.3 percent compared with 16.2 percent for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1999. This favorable performance was the result of improved plant efficiencies and product mix. Selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales were 13.5 percent in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2000 compared with 12.3 percent in the fiscal 1999 fourth quarter. The increase was due to higher spending for customer programs and promotions. Operating income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2000 was $4.5 million, a 55.1 percent increase from $2.9 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1999.

Fiscal 2000 net sales rose 4.4 percent to $333.3 million from $319.2 million for fiscal 1999. Fiscal 2000 consisted of 53 weeks and fiscal 1999, 52 weeks. The gross margin as a percentage of net sales was 18.4 percent for fiscal 2000 versus 15.9 percent for fiscal 1999. Selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales for fiscal 2000 were 12.8 percent compared with 12.2 percent for fiscal 1999. Fiscal 2000 operating income jumped 55.9 percent to $18.6 million from $11.9 million in the prior year. Interest expense for fiscal 2000 was $8.0 million versus $9.3 million for the prior year.

"Fiscal 2000 was a good year in sales, profits and category growth," stated Jasper B. Sanfilippo, chairman of the board and chief executive officer. "The consolidation and cost control actions taken in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1999 paid off in fiscal 2000, and the efforts of all our employees contributed to these improved results. We believe fiscal 2001 will be a continuation of this trend."

John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. is a processor, packager, marketer and distributor of shelled, in-shell nuts and sesame sticks that are sold under a variety of private labels and under the company's Evon's^®, Fisher^®, Snack 'N Serve Nut Bowl^TM, Sunshine Country^®, Flavor Tree^® and Texas Pride^TM brand names. The company also markets and distributes a diverse product line of other food and snack items.

The statement of Jasper B. Sanfilippo in this release is forward looking. This forward looking statement is based on the company's current expectations and involves risks and uncertainties. Consequently, the company's actual results could differ materially. Among the factors that could cause results to differ materially from current expectations are: (i) sales activity for the company's products; (ii) changes in the availability and costs of raw materials for the production of the company's products; (iii) fluctuations in the value of the company's inventories of pecans, walnuts or other nuts due to fluctuations in the market prices of these nuts; (iv) the company's ability to lessen the negative impact of competitive pressures by reducing its selling prices and increasing sales volume while at the same time maintaining profit margins by reducing costs; and (v) the timing and occurrence (or non-occurrence) of other transactions and events which may be subject to circumstances beyond the company's control.

For further information on John B. Sanfilippo free of charge via fax,
simply dial 1-800-PRO-INFO and enter "JBSS."
Or visit the company's website at www.fishernuts.com