Lawson Expands Retail Leadership with Restaurant Contracts.

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 1999--

Wins Major Restaurant Chains Including Einstein Bagels, Pinnacle,

Skippers; Lawson Web, Analytic Capabilities Key to Edge over SAP,

Peoplesoft, JD Edwards 

Lawson Software, the leading provider of Self-Evident Applications(TM) (SEA) for the NetGeneration, today announced contract wins with Einstein/Noah Bagel Corporation, Creative Resource Solutions (CRS), Skippers, Inc. and Pinnacle Restaurant Group, further establishing Lawson's enterprise software leadership in the food service industry. Lawson's retail industry initiative includes more than 300 corporate customers worldwide and is differentiated competitively by retail-specific functionality, scalability and tight integration capabilities. Lawson Software made the announcement today at the Retail Systems `99 Show in Chicago.

Einstein/Noah Bagel Corp. Selects Lawson Over PeopleSoft, SAP

Einstein/Noah Bagel Corporation (ENBC), (NASDAQ: ENBX), a $370 million restaurant chain operating under the names Einstein Bros. Bagels and Noah's New York Bagels, recently purchased LAWSON INSIGHT(R) II Financials, Procurement and Human Resource process suites, Lawson's Performance Indicator (P.I.) suite and Web Self-Service. The company, headquartered in Golden, Colo., has 536 stores and over 12,000 employees.

"We were seeking an integrated enterprise applications solution that would grow with the needs of our business," said Michael Furlow, chief information officer, ENBC. "We assembled a team of financial, human resources and information systems professionals to review the software alternatives. Lawson's broad-based functionality, experience within the retail/restaurant industry and customer relationships were important elements in our final decision."

Summit Group, a Lawson Global Alliance Integrated Network(TM) (GAIN) business partner, will provide implementation and consulting services for ENBC.

Pinnacle Collaborates with Stonebridge, E&Y for Lawson

Implementation

Pinnacle Restaurant Group, LLC, (Harrigan's Restaurants) headquartered in Irving, Tex., a 750-employee, $22 million restaurant company, recently purchased the LAWSON INSIGHT II Financial process suite.

"We were looking for a solution that runs on an NT platform, supports multiple ownership structures, tracks information outside our chart of accounts and utilizes flexible reporting to analyze our stores," said Stacy Riffe, chief financial officer, Pinnacle Restaurant Group. "Lawson Software was able to provide us with a solution to address our existing and anticipated requirements. Lawson's retail focus really puts their solutions ahead of competitors."

Lawson GAIN partners Stonebridge Technologies and Ernst & Young provided implementation, consulting, project management and modification services to Pinnacle Restaurant Group.

"The team approach taken by Stonebridge and Ernst & Young resulted in a two-month implementation of the LAWSON INSIGHT Financials process suite from project start-up to production," said Malcolm Hicks, project manager, Ernst & Young Entrepreneurial Services Consulting Practice.

Skippers Selects Lawson Financials/HR Over JD Edwards

Skippers, Inc., of Bellevue, Wash., a franchiser of Seattle Crab Company, Seattle Fish & Chips and Skippers Seafood `n Chowder restaurants, operates more than 85 stores staffed with 1,700 employees. Skippers purchased the LAWSON INSIGHT Human Resource and Financials process suites to run on its AS/400 platform. Lawson won the contract in competition with JD Edwards.

"We wanted a Web-based solution on an AS/400 platform," said Christine McNamara, management information systems manager, Skippers, Inc. "Lawson's vision of using self-service at remote locations and its HR/Payroll solution solidified our software decision. The extensive feature-rich functionality, ease of use and complete solution made the best choice obvious."

Lawson Software, a $238 million provider of Self-Evident Applications(TM) (SEA) for the NetGeneration, offers role-based Web solutions for financials, human resources, procurement, supply chain and performance management. Lawson has distinguished itself competitively through a unique blend of feature-rich customer solutions, technology innovation and user-friendly support. Lawson Software has been acclaimed by technology analysts for its innovative and unique use of leading-edge technologies, like Self-Evident Applications(TM) (SEA) on the Web, and Drill Around(TM) for integrated, cross-application data access.

Red Herring magazine names Lawson "the strongest private ERP company" and lists Lawson among the world's top 50 private companies. The Information Technology Association of America asserts Lawson is the first to be certified for Year 2000 compliance. Says the Meta Group, "Lawson gives its customers quantified savings by aiming their technology at saving corporations on overhead...a rare thing in the client/server world." Offering LAWSON INSIGHT(R) II for UNIX, NT and AS/400 platforms, Lawson has offices in 15 countries, more than 20 distributors worldwide and a 96 percent client retention over five years. The company is headquartered in Minneapolis and London. Additional information about Lawson Software is available on the company's Web site, http://www.lawson.com, or by calling [phone].

Lawson and LAWSON INSIGHT are registered trademarks of Lawson Software. Other company and product names are the trademarks of their respective companies.