AT THE COMPANY:	AT THE FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD:
Gary Jensen Chief Financial Officer 847-593-2300 Ext. 144	Bess Gallanis Media Inquiries 312-640-6737	Dennis Waite General/Analyst Inquiries 312-640-6674

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 26, 1999

JOHN B. SANFILIPPO NOMINATES FORMER ILLINOIS GOVERNOR JIM EDGAR TO BOARD

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill., August 26, 1999-John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. (Nasdaq: JBSS) announced, following its August 26, 1999, Board of Directors meeting, that former Gov. Jim Edgar has been offered and has accepted a nomination for election to the company's Board of Directors. The election by the holders of John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. common stock will occur at the company's Annual Stockholders Meeting to be held on October 27, 1999.

Gov. Edgar served as governor of Illinois from January 14, 1991, through January 11, 1999. Prior to his election, Gov. Edgar served as Illinois Secretary of State from 1981 to 1991. Gov. Edgar's retirement from public office marked 30 years of state government service. He has taken a position as Distinguished Fellow at the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs where he is currently a teacher and lecturer. He will also be a Resident Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in the 1999 fall semester.

Gov. Edgar serves on the Board of Directors of Kemper Insurance Companies, the Board of Directors of Scudder Kemper Funds and on the Board of Directors of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.

"Needless to say, it is a tremendous honor to have Governor Jim Edgar agree to be a nominee for our Board of Directors," stated Jasper B. Sanfilippo, chairman and chief executive officer. "Governor Edgar's counsel will be highly valuable to the Board."

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 under the company's Fisher^®, Evon's^®, 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.

For further information on John B. Sanfilippo free of charge via fax, simply dial 1-800-PRO-INFO and enter "JBSS."