Bertucci's, Inc. announces 1996 first quarter earnings results.

WAKEFIELD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 1996--Bertucci's, Inc. (NASDAQ: BERT), today announced its financial results for the first 16-week quarter of fiscal year 1996. The company reported net revenues of $38.3 million ended April 20, 1996, a gain of 7.9 percent over net revenues of $35.4 million for the first quarter of 1995.

Net income for the 16-week period was $549,000, compared with $902,000 the previous year, representing a decrease of 39 percent. Earnings per share in the first quarter were $0.06, compared with $0.10 in the prior year. The earnings performance, although still disappointing, reflects an improvement over the final quarter of 1995, according to Norman Mallett, vice president of finance. He states that results would have been stronger had it not been for lower than expected revenues for the quarter.

For the quarter ended April 20, 1996, comparable store sales were flat, but the company estimates that more than 3.0 percentage of total sales was lost due to severe winter weather. The company's intensive marketing and advertising efforts, including a hard-hitting radio campaign created by the Boston-based agency Houston Herstek Favat, also are producing measurable results as indicated by comparable sales averaging over 6.0 percent increases during the latest three-week period.

Another positive note is the introduction of a new company strategic plan formulated by Theodore Barber, senior vice-president and chief operating officer. The plan has a dual focus: employee development and retention, and the imaging of Bertucci's as a growth company.

"We believe that we will accomplish these goals by motivating every employee in this company with achievement incentives, and creating a work enviornment that is both satisfying and fun," says Barber. The plan, which will be implemented by the end of May, should produce significant momentum within all levels of the organization.

Company-owned Bertucci's Brick Oven Pizzeria currently operates a chain of 77 casual full-service Italian restaurants in 12 states, primarily on the Eastern Seaboard, with major new markets in metropolitan Atlanta and Chicago. Since the end of fiscal year 1995, the company has opened four new restaurants, three in the Atlanta area and one in the Chicago area. Four more sites are projected to open in 1996. Bertucci's was founded in 1981 by Joey Crugnale, president and CEO. The first site was a small store in Somerville, Massachusetts. -0-

                           Bertucci's Inc.
                   Condensed Statement of Income

                                  16 Weeks Ended
                             April 20           April 22
                              1996                1995
                             (in thousands, except per share data)

Sales                      $    38,259         $  35,446
Net Income                         549               902
Earnings Per Share         $      0.06         $    0.10

Weighted Average Shares      8,892,502         8,890,120

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                           Bertucci's Inc.
              Consolidated Condensed Statement's of Income
                            (Unaudited)

                                        16 Weeks Ended
                              April 20, 1996        April 22, 1995

NET SALES                  $38,258,872  100.0%   $35,445,743  100.0%
COSTS AND EXPENSES:

  Costs of sales             9,797,707   25.61     9,051,050   25.53
  Operating expenses        19,881,497   51.97    17,325,797   48.88
  General and
   administrative expenses   2,477,232    6.47     2,641,460    7.45
  Depreciation and
   amortization              2,711,546    7.09     2,761,678    7.79
  Taxes other than income    2,100,646    5.49     1,931,538    5.45
    Total costs and
     expenses               36,968,628   96.63    33,711,523   95.10
  Operating income           1,290,244    3.37     1,734,220    4.90

INTEREST EXPENSE               418,307    1.09       323,080    0.91
INTEREST INCOME                  6,216    0.02         8,230    0.01
  Income before income
   tax expense                 878,153    2.30     1,419,370    4.00

INCOME TAX EXPENSE             329,000    0.86       517,307    1.46
NET INCOME                 $   549,153    1.44%  $   902,063    2.54%

EARNINGS PER SHARE         $      0.06           $      0.10

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
 OUTSTANDING                 8,892,502             8,890,120

CONTACT: Bertucci's Inc.

Norman Mallett, 617/246-6700