EXHIBIT 99
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                            Contact: Donald J. Radkoski or
Jan. 6, 2004                                     Mary Cusick (614) 491-2225





                            BOB EVANS FARMS ANNOUNCES
                            DECEMBER SAME-STORE SALES

         COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Bob Evans Farms, Inc. (Nasdaq: BOBE) today announced
that same-store sales in "core" restaurants (457 stores which were open for the
full 12 months in both fiscal years 2002 and 2003) for the fiscal 2004 month of
December (the five weeks ended December 26) increased 1.7 percent from the same
period a year ago. Average menu prices for the month were up approximately 1.7
percent. The company estimates that the timing of the Christmas holiday had a
favorable impact of approximately three percentage points on the same-store
sales comparison.

                  Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Stewart K.
Owens said, "Restaurant sales in our Midwestern and Northeastern markets were
significantly affected by severe winter weather on two consecutive weekends
during our December fiscal month. On the other hand, results in our food
products segment have been stronger than expected so far this quarter.
Nevertheless, given the December decline in restaurant same-store sales on an
adjusted basis, earnings per share for our third fiscal quarter may fall
slightly below our previous guidance range of $0.46 to $0.48, compared with
$0.47 reported a year ago."

         Financial results for the third fiscal quarter, which ends Jan. 23,
2004, will be released on Feb. 9, 2004.

         Bob Evans Farms, Inc. owns and operates 541 full-service, family
restaurants in 22 states. Bob Evans Restaurants are primarily located in the
Midwest, mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions of the United States, while Owens
Restaurants operate in Texas. The company is also a leading producer and
distributor of pork sausage and other convenience food items under the Bob Evans
and Owens brand names, which are available in 30 states. For more information
about Bob Evans Farms, Inc., visit the company's Web site at www.bobevans.com.


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         SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM
ACT OF 1995 The statements contained in this report which are not historical
fact are "forward-looking statements" that involve various important
assumptions, risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the
company's actual results for fiscal 2004 and beyond to differ materially from
those expressed in such forward-looking statements. These important factors
include, without limitation, changes in hog costs, the possibility of severe
weather conditions where the company operates its restaurants, the availability
and cost of acceptable new restaurant sites, shortages of restaurant labor,
acceptance of the company's restaurant concepts into new geographic areas as
well as other risks previously disclosed in the company's securities filings and
press releases.























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