Eskimo Pie Corporation Reports Second Quarter Results


RICHMOND, Va., July 28, 2000 (PRIMEZONE)-- Eskimo Pie Corporation (Nasdaq:EPIE) today reported that net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2000 was $1,403,000, or $0.40 per share as compared to $1,399,000, or $0.40 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 1999. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2000 net income was $2,108,000, or $.61 per share, a 29% increase from $1,631,000, or $0.47 per share in the same period in 1999.

Sales for the six-month period ended June 30, 2000 were $36.7 million, as compared to $38.3 million in the same period in 1999. This 4% decline was primarily due to decreases of inventory levels at the Company's licensees, due to the pending sale of the Company to CoolBrands International Inc. (formerly Yogen Fruz World-Wide Incorporated). Gross margin for the six-month period increased by 70 basis points, from 45.1% in 1999 to 45.8% in 2000 as a result of continued cost controls and inventory management efforts.

The 2000 results include expenses of approximately $537,000 related to the Company's pursuit of a sale of the Company, the execution of a merger agreement with CoolBrands, and subsequent activities associated with removing conditions to close the sale.

Based on Neilson data, for the 3-month period ended June 24, 2000, consumption of the Company's branded products increased 16.2% as compared to the same period a year ago, despite an overall category increase of only 1.2%. This gain was primarily driven by an increase of 24.2% in Eskimo Pie brand product consumption, and increases of 14.6% and 13% respectively in Weight Watchers and Welch's product consumption. The Company's branded products are available in 94% of the total U.S. market.

David B. Kewer, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer stated that "Our employees continue to remain focused on successfully managing the business despite the pending sale of the Company. We are particularly pleased with the increased consumer takeaway of our branded frozen novelty items."

Eskimo Pie Corporation, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, created the frozen novelty industry in 1921 with the invention of the Eskimo Pie ice cream bar. Today, the Company markets a broad range of frozen novelties, ice cream and sorbet products under the Eskimo Pie, Real Fruit, Welch's, Weight Watchers Smart Ones, SnackWell's and OREO brand names. These nationally branded products are generally manufactured by a select group of licensed dairies who purchase the necessary flavors ingredients and packaging directly from the Company. Eskimo Pie Foodservice is a leading supplier of premium soft serve ice cream, frozen yogurt, custard and smoothies to the foodservice industry. The Company also sells a full line of quality flavors and ingredients for use in private label dairy products in addition to the brands it licenses.


                       ESKIMO PIE CORPORATION
             Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
                             (Unaudited)
                  (In thousands, except share data)

                             Three months ended     Six months ended
                                   June 30,              June 30,
                               2000       1999       2000       1999
                             -------------------   -------------------

 Net sales                   $ 20,311  $  22,146   $ 36,697   $ 38,275
 Cost of products
  sold                         10,931     11,715     19,905     20,998
                             --------  ---------   --------   --------
  Gross profit                  9,380     10,431     16,792     17,277

 Advertising and
  sales promotion
  expenses                      4,902      5,827      9,267      9,708
 Selling, general
  and administrative
  expenses                      1,892      2,039      3,555      4,182
 Expense from analysis
  of strategic
  alternatives and
  related activities              337        172        537        381
 Expense from
  restructuring
  activities                     --           86       --          191
                             --------  ---------   --------   --------
   Operating income             2,249      2,307      3,433      2,815

 Interest income                   63         31         84         50
 Interest expense
  and other - net                  85        117        171        276
                              -------  ---------   --------   --------
   Income before
    income taxes                2,227      2,221      3,346      2,589

 Income tax expense               824        822      1,238        958
                             --------  ---------   --------   --------
  Net income                 $  1,403  $   1,399   $  2,108   $  1,631
                             ========  =========   ========   ========
 Per Share Data
  Basic:
   Weighted average
    number of
    common shares
    outstanding             3,484,849  3,462,824  3,482,406  3,462,810
   Net income              $     0.40 $     0.40 $     0.61 $     0.47
                           ========== ========== ========== ==========
  Assuming dilution:
   Weighted average 
    number of common
    shares outstanding      3,484,849  3,462,824  3,482,406  3,464,031
   Net income              $     0.40 $     0.40 $     0.61 $     0.47
                           ========== ========== ========== ==========
  Cash dividends           $     0.00 $     0.05 $     0.00 $     0.10
                           ========== ========== ========== ==========

                        ESKIMO PIE CORPORATION
                Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                             (Unaudited)
                  (In thousands, except share data)

                                           June 30,  Dec. 31, June 30,
 As of                                       2000      1999     1999
                                           -------   -------  -------
 Assets

 Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                $ 3,461   $ 1,751   $    55
  Receivables                                9,539     6,057    12,073
  Inventories                                3,854     4,032     5,227
  Prepaid expenses                             778       557       287
                                           -------   -------   -------
    Total current assets                    17,632    12,397    17,642

  Property, plant and equipment - net        6,160     6,578     6,839
  Goodwill and other intangibles            16,168    16,598    17,142
  Other assets                                 920       913     1,048
                                           -------   -------   -------
    Total assets                           $40,880   $36,486   $42,671
                                           =======   =======   =======

 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

 Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable                         $ 4,604   $ 3,208   $ 3,496
  Accrued advertising and promotion          3,851     2,217     4,562
  Accrued compensation and related
   amounts                                     261     1,033       386
  Other accrued expenses                       815     1,038     1,064
  Income taxes                                 725      --         250
  Current portion of long term debt            857       972     1,202
                                           -------   -------   -------
    Total current liabilities               11,113     8,468    10,960

 Long term debt                              2,500     2,929     5,033
 Postretirement benefits
  and other liabilities                      2,151     2,293     3,108

 Shareholders' equity:

  Preferred stock, $1.00 par value;
   1,000,000 shares authorized,
   none issued and outstanding                --        --        --
  Common stock, $1.00 par value;
   10,000,000 shares authorized,
   3,485,757 issued and outstanding
   in 2000, 3,464,050 at December 31,
   1999 and 3,462,824 at June 30, 1999       3,487     3,464     3,463
  Additional capital                         4,658     4,468     4,448
  Retained earnings                         16,971    14,864    15,659
                                           -------   -------   -------
    Total shareholders' equity              25,116    22,796    23,570
                                           -------   -------   -------
    Total liabilities and
     shareholders' equity                  $40,880   $36,486   $42,671
                                           =======   =======   =======


            

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