FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 26 1999

JOHN B. SANFILIPPO REPORTS 1ST-QUARTER RESULTS

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill., October 26, 1999-John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. (Nasdaq: JBSS) today announced operating results for the fiscal-year 2000 first quarter, ended September 23, 1999. Net income was $641,000, or 7 cents per share (basic and diluted), compared with $287,000, or 3 cents per share (basic and diluted), in the fiscal 1999 first quarter.

Net sales were $79.5 million versus $73.8 million for the same period in fiscal 1999. The increase in net sales was led by Consumer, Food Service and Export distribution channels. The gross profit margin was 15.8 percent compared with 15.5 percent for the fiscal 1999 first quarter.

Selling and administrative expenses were 12.3 percent of net sales compared with 11.9 percent for the fiscal 1999 first quarter. The selling expense increase was mainly the result of promotional expenditures used to drive sales volume. Administrative expenses decreased due to cost reductions from the fourth quarter of fiscal 1999 reorganization. Operating income was 3.5 percent of net sales and 3.6 percent for the comparable period in fiscal 1999. Interest expense was approximately $1.9 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2000 compared with approximately $2.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 1999.

"The operating results for the first quarter of fiscal 2000 represent the first step in our efforts to improve earnings performance and stockholder value," stated Jasper B. Sanfilippo, chairman and chief executive officer. "We are carrying positive momentum into our fiscal second quarter."

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 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 statements of Jasper B. Sanfilippo in this release are forward looking. These forward-looking statements are based on the company's current expectations and involve 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 for the remainder of the fiscal year; (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; (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."

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