Bridgford Foods Corp. Announces Results for 2003 Fiscal Year.

Business Editors

ANAHEIM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 19, 2003

Bridgford Foods Corp. (Nasdaq: BRID) today announced a small increase in net income and a slight decrease in sales for the 2003 fiscal year. Sales for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2003 decreased 2.1% to $136,251,000 when compared to the prior fiscal year. Net income increased 6.3% to $1,210,000 for the comparable period. The company benefited from an effective income tax rate of 38.0% in 2003 compared to 49.9% in 2002.

In the 2003 fiscal year, the company adopted a quarterly reporting schedule that consists of 12, 24, 36 and 52 week periods compared to the previous schedule of four periods of 13 weeks each. Operating results in this fourth quarter report include 16 weeks in 2003 compared to 13 weeks in 2002. Average weekly sales in the fourth quarter of 2003 were 6% higher than the average weekly sales in the fourth quarter of 2002. The company recorded net income of $842,000 in the fourth quarter of 2003 compared to a loss of $1,482,000 sustained in the same period last year.

Bridgford Foods Corp., a producer of frozen dough, microwaveable sandwiches, dry sausages, processed meats and other convenience food products, currently has 10,261,000 shares of common stock outstanding.

                      BRIDGFORD FOODS CORPORATION
                         FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

                                  16 Weeks Ended       13 Weeks Ended
                                -------------------------------------
                                   Oct. 31, 2003         Nov. 1, 2002

Sales                               $ 44,755,000         $ 34,275,000
Cost of sales                       $ 28,647,000         $ 22,665,000
Selling, general &                  $ 13,410,000         $ 12,652,000
administrative expenses
Depreciation                        $  1,340,000         $    913,000
Income/(loss) before taxes          $  1,358,000         $ (1,955,000)
Income tax provision/(benefit)      $    516,000         $   (473,000)
Net income/(loss)                   $    842,000         $ (1,482,000)
Basic earnings/(loss) per share     $       0.08         $      (0.14)
Average shares outstanding            10,291,000           10,448,000

                                              52 Weeks Ended
                                 ------------------------------------
                                    Oct. 31, 2003        Nov. 1, 2002

Sales                                $136,251,000        $139,202,000
Cost of sales                        $ 86,211,000        $ 88,460,000
Selling, general &                   $ 43,776,000        $ 44,263,000
administrative expenses
Depreciation                         $  4,313,000        $  4,208,000
Income before taxes                  $  1,951,000        $  2,271,000
Income tax provision                 $    741,000        $  1,133,000
Net income                           $  1,210,000        $  1,138,000
Basic earnings per share             $       0.12        $       0.11
Average shares outstanding             10,381,000          10,448,000