FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
August 2, 2005

NORTHLAKE FOODS, INC. SETTLES CUSTOMER LAWSUITS

(Washington, D.C.) African American, Hispanic and Asian American Plaintiffs, the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs, and Northlake Foods, Inc. announced today a settlement agreement that resolves four separate civil rights law suits pending in Richmond and Norfolk federal courts.

Among other things, the settlement agreement provides for enhanced compliance programs on the part of Northlake, to better assure that all customers at its restaurants enjoy full access and equal treatment,
irrespective of race, color, or national origin. The Washington Lawyers' Committee and Northlake hailed the Agreement as demonstrating the effectiveness of collaborative efforts between plaintiffs, advocacy
organizations and responsible businesses to implement the equal access promise of the federal civil rights statutes.

The Agreement comes after substantial discussions between Northlake and the Plaintiffs concerning customer civil rights issues at Northlake-owned restaurants in the Richmond and Norfolk, Va. areas. The settlement resolves four lawsuits in which each of the twelve plaintiffs alleged they were denied service or subjected to discriminatory service when they attempted to eat at a Northlake-owned restaurant. Working cooperatively and in the spirit of providing full and equal treatment to all of its customers,
representatives of Northlake and the Plaintiffs were able to soon reach an Agreement in Principle that provides the framework for the Settlement Agreement announced today.

Under the Settlement Agreement, Northlake agrees, among other things:

(1) to clarify its customer service, nondiscrimination policy to ensure that
all customers are treated equally, irrespective of race, color or national
origin;

(2) to retain a training consultant to design an enhanced training program
for its entire management and hourly workforce regarding customer
discrimination issues.

(3) to appoint a compliance officer, who will report directly to the
President of Northlake, to develop an improved policy with respect to the
manner in which Northlake will investigate and respond to future customer
discrimination complaints; and

(4) to provide periodic future reporting to the Washington Lawyers'
Committee, in an effort to work collaboratively with the Committee on
maintaining state-of-the-art policy and procedures on customer treatment.

"Northlake Foods is committed to providing quality food and service to all customers regardless of race, color or national origin," stated Northlake Foods President Daryl Saylor. "While Northlake does not believe it violated any laws, Northlake believes that its new partnership with the Washington Lawyers' Committee will greatly assist the Company's efforts to communicate its customer commitment to all of our employees."

Susan Huhta of the Washington Lawyers' Committee said, "Plaintiffs are delighted to reach this agreement with Northlake. Few things are more important than assuring full compliance with this country's civil rights laws. Northlake's commitment to ensure that it complies with federal law by providing equal and nondiscriminatory access at its restaurants will go far in achieving the objectives of the laws." Huhta also said that "from the outset of our discussions with Northlake, they displayed an understanding of
the importance of equal access and a willingness to find workable solutions to the concerns we raised."

The Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs (www.washlaw.org) served as counsel to the Plaintiffs in these cases, along with the law firms of Ross, Dixon & Bell; Kirkland & Ellis; Reed Smith; and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman.

The Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs is a nonprofit civil rights organization that has represented both individuals and groups seeking to vindicate their civil rights for over 35 years. It has handled over 5,000 civil rights cases, in employment, housing, public accommodations, and other aspects of urban life.

Northlake Foods, Inc. is headquartered in Tampa, Florida and owns and operates 149 restaurants in Florida, Georgia and Virginia.

For more information about Northlake Foods please email Vice President Erin Cockley
at: ecockley@Northlakefoods.com

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