May 23, 2000

Wetzel's Pretzels goes 'Down Under' and continues 'Rolling' into international territories

PASADENA, Calif. - Wetzel's Pretzels, the pretzel bakery chain renowned for its delicious '30 Minutes Fresh' hand-rolled soft pretzels, goes 'down under' and continues rolling into international territories. The company recently signed a master franchise agreement with Pacific Pretzels, Ltd., to develop 45 stores in Australia and New Zealand over the next five years. Worldwide, Wetzel's Pretzels will grow to 175 stores by year-end and proceed into other international territories with additional locations throughout Taiwan, Puerto Rico and Canada.

Since Wetzel's Pretzels Australian debut at the Westfield Miranda Mall in Sydney last December, pretzel popularity in Australia is on the rise. "Sales volume in our first store is well above our projections and we are finalizing deals for five more stores to be open by Christmas," said Rick Wetzel, president and co-founder of Wetzel's Pretzels. Beyond opening in traditional malls, stores are planned for stadiums, universities and busy transportation centers. The stores will have the same menu as their U.S. counterparts but, appealing to Aussie preference, Wetzel's Pretzels modified its 'grab-n-go' store design to feature additional seating.

"Having successfully rolled across the U.S., we've taken pretzels worldwide as they are convenient great-tasting hand-held snacks with cross-cultural appeal," stated Wetzel. "This agreement with Pacific Pretzels is a significant milestone for us, as aggressive expansion efforts will position Wetzel's as the industry leader in the international pretzel segment."

As the pretzel demand thrives throughout a variety of cultures, Wetzel's Pretzels is pursuing development in several other international markets. In addition to Australia, the company will continue expansion efforts with its first Taiwan unit expected to open in June 2000 in Taipei, Taiwan. Wetzel's Pretzels is also adding to its seven Puerto Rico locations with three new units scheduled to open this year in Plaza Centro, Prime Factory Outlet and Beltz Factory Outlet. In addition, the chain plans to open four new units in Canada, Wetzel's first international country, which was introduced in 1998. Since then, the company has 'twisted up' 28 Canadian locations from Toronto to Vancouver. Future expansion plans also include grand openings scheduled for 2001 in England and the Philippines.

Since Wetzel's Pretzels' inception, the company has literally bent the food industry out of shape and is looking forward to 'dipping' into an even greater share of the market with continued domestic and international development. The privately-held company's expansion in shopping centers, stadiums, airports, universities and movie theaters worldwide, has twisted traditional pretzels to an entirely new level. Growing strong with five years of fresh, all-natural fun, the company has plans to open 75 additional stores this year to curb the snack cravings of pretzel lovers everywhere. In the United States, Wetzel's Pretzels units currently stretch across the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas.

Known best for its mouth-watering Original Wetzel's Pretzel, the company uses its own blend of high-protein, soft winter wheat flour and all natural ingredients to serve up a variety of oversized, soft and chewy pretzels full of flavor. Hand-rolled and baked fresh, the company promises pretzels '30 Minutes Fresh' from the oven. If, after 30 minutes, someone hasn't given into temptation to buy that pretzel, it's fired! Yet with a menu of ten scrumptious pretzel flavors including MexiCali, Sinful Cinnamon and Three Cheese, few can resist the enticement of these aromatic, warm, melt-in-your mouth treats.

Wetzel brought his childhood taunts of "Hey Wetzel, you pretzel" to life when he and his partner Bill Phelps tied the entrepreneurial knot to form "Wetzel's Pretzels" in November 1994. Wetzel's Pretzels has quickly 'risen' to the top since the opening of its first unit and has become the model of a successful business. The Pasadena, Calif.-based company was recently rated one of the Top 50 Food Franchises in the world (April 2000) and ranked in the top ten of the Nation's Top 10 New Franchises (Feb. 2000) by Entrepreneur Magazine. Wetzel's Pretzels has also been recognized as Best Snack in Pasadena Weekly's "Best of" Reader's Poll.

For further information regarding Wetzel's Pretzels please contact Summer Heying or Farrah Voll of Morgan Marketing & Public Relations at (949) 261-2216, email summer@morganmaketingpr.com or click on www.wetzels.com

CONTACT: Summer Heying or Farrah Voll
Morgan Marketing & Public Relations
(949) 261-2216 / summer@morganmaketingpr.com