UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
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                            The Steak n Shake Company
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         On March 30, 2001, The Steak n Shake Company issued the following press
release:

         Indianapolis,  Indiana,  March 30,  2001 -- The  Steak n Shake  Company
reported today that estimated  Fiscal Second  Quarter  earnings  should meet the
consensus estimates for the quarter.

         Improving results in existing restaurants,  new initiatives in consumer
marketing  activities  and  employee  retention  efforts have yielded same store
sales increases in excess of 6% for the Second Quarter ending April 11, 2001.

         The  Steak n Shake  Company  also  announced  today  that its  Board of
Directors intends to call a special meeting of stockholders in May, 2001 for the
purpose of considering and voting upon an amendment to the Company's Articles of
Incorporation  to authorize a new class of Preferred Stock. The terms of the new
shares would be determined  by the Company's  Board of Directors at the time the
shares are issued. Although the Company has no current plans to issue any of the
new shares, some of the shares could be utilized in connection with the adoption
by the Company of a Shareholder Rights Plan.

         Shareholders  of the  Company  should  read the proxy  statement  to be
provided in connection  with the special meeting when it is available as it will
contain important information relating to the proposal to be voted on. Copies of
the proxy  statement  will be  available  without  charge on the  website of the
Securities and Exchange Commission. (www.sec.org).

         On March 29, 2001, there were 378 Steak n Shake restaurants,  including
55 franchised, operating in seventeen states.

         To date,  the Company has purchased 60% of the Common Stock  authorized
by its 2,000,000 share Stock Repurchase Program.

         Steak n Shake is a full  service,  casual dining  restaurant  serving a
core menu of their  famous  Steakburgers,  thin `n crispy  French  Fries and old
fashioned hand-dipped Milk Shakes. Menu variety includes sandwiches, such as the
Turkey Melt and the Grilled Chicken Breast,  as well as Chili, home style soups,
fresh salads, mouth-watering desserts and breakfast. All of the food is prepared
to the customer's order and served by friendly, well-trained employees.

         Steak n Shake restaurants feature  full-service  dining areas,  counter
service and drive-thru windows.  Restaurants are open 24 hours a day, seven days
a week.

         Steak n Shake  started  in 1934 with its first  restaurant  in  Normal,
Illinois.  The  Steakburgers  were  made  with 100  percent  pure  ground  beef,
including  such  steak  cuts as  T-bone,  strip  steak  and  sirloin,  and  were
quick-seared to lock in the delicious taste.  Thick hand-dipped Milk Shakes with
real  milk and ice cream  were  added to the menu and this  combination  was the
foundation for the Company's name, Steak n Shake.

This press release contains various "forward looking statements" which represent
the Company's  expectations or beliefs  concerning future events.  Investors are
cautioned  that  reliance on "forward  looking  statements"  involves  risks and
uncertainties,  and although the Company  believes that the assumptions on which
the "forward looking statements" contained herein are based, are reasonable, any
of these assumptions could prove to be inaccurate and, as a result, the "forward
looking  statements"  based upon  those  assumptions  also  could be  incorrect.
Investors  are  referred  to the  full  discussion  of  risk  and  uncertainties
associated with "forward looking statements"  contained in the Company's filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:  Victor F. Yeandel
          Vice President, Marketing
          vic.yeandel@steaknshake.com
          www.steaknshake.com
          (317) 656-4514