FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 1999

JOHN B. SANFILIPPO ANNOUNCES 4TH-QUARTER, YEAR-END RESULTS

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill., August 25, 1999-John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. (Nasdaq: JBSS) today announced results for the fiscal 1999 fourth quarter and year ended June 24, 1999. Net income for the fourth quarter was $466,000, or 5 cents per basic and diluted share, compared with $500,000, or 5 cents per basic and diluted share, for the fiscal 1998 fourth quarter. Fiscal 1999 net income was $1.8 million, or 20 cents per basic and diluted share, versus $5.1 million, or 56 cents per basic and diluted share, in fiscal 1998.

Fiscal 1999 fourth-quarter net sales increased 7.2 percent to $74.3 million from $69.3 million for the fiscal 1998 fourth quarter. Consumer and export sales contributed to the increase. Gross profit margin was 16.2 percent of net sales in the fiscal 1999 fourth quarter compared with 18.4 percent of net sales for the same quarter last year. Increasing commodity costs had an adverse impact on the 1999 fiscal fourth-quarter gross profit margin. Selling and administrative expenses for the fiscal 1999 fourth quarter were 12.3 percent of net sales versus 13.6 percent of net sales for the comparable period last year. Income from operations in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1999 was 3.9 percent of net sales and 4.7 percent of net sales in the fiscal 1998 quarter.

Net sales for fiscal 1999 were $319.2 million compared with $317.4 million in fiscal 1998. Fiscal 1999 gross profit margin was 15.9 percent of net sales and 17.9 percent of net sales for fiscal 1998. Fiscal 1999 selling and administrative expenses were 12.2 percent of net sales versus 12.6 percent of net sales last year. Income from operations in fiscal 1999 was 3.7 percent of net sales and in fiscal 1998 was 5.3 percent of net sales.

Fiscal 1999 capital expenditures were $4.0 million compared with $4.2 million last year. Inventories at the end of fiscal 1999 declined approximately $10.5 million from the end of fiscal 1998.

"We are not satisfied with our fiscal 1999 operating results," stated Jasper B. Sanfilippo, chairman and chief executive officer. "However, strong sales in the fourth quarter indicate a positive trend. The consolidation of administrative functions and our reorganized sales and marketing team will be beneficial in the future. We have the tools, and with improved focus and execution, we believe we can deliver the results."

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 time 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