EXHIBIT 99
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 Contact: Donald J. Radkoski (614) 492-4901
Oct. 14, 2004                                      or Mary Cusick (614) 492-4920

BOB EVANS FARMS COMMENTS ON SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS

     COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Bob Evans Farms, Inc. (Nasdaq: BOBE) today announced that
     it expects diluted earnings per share for its second fiscal quarter ending
     Oct. 29, 2004, to be between $0.25 and $0.30, which is below previous
     expectations.

         Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Stewart K. Owens
     said, "While same-store sales at Bob Evans Restaurants have improved
     slightly since the introduction of our new menu in mid-September, fiscal
     October same-store sales to date are approximately 3 percent lower than a
     year ago. Given the operating leverage inherent in this business, the
     continuing softness in same-store sales is having a significant negative
     impact on our restaurant operating margins. In addition, we have recently
     launched new customer satisfaction initiatives that are further increasing
     both food and labor costs. We continue to explore a variety of alternative
     strategies aimed at boosting sales and profitability at Bob Evans
     Restaurants over the next few quarters and the longer term."

         Further details will be available when final results for the quarter
are announced. The company plans to issue its second quarter earnings press
release on Nov. 15, 2004, and to host a conference call the following morning
for interested parties. Additional information regarding the conference call
will be released in advance of the event.

         Bob Evans Farms, Inc. owns and operates 577 full-service, family
restaurants in 21 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. In addition, the company operates 84 Mimi's Cafe
casual restaurants located in 11 states, primarily in California and other
western states. Bob Evans Farms, Inc. is also a leading producer and distributor
of pork sausage and a variety of complementary homestyle convenience food items
under the Bob Evans and Owens brand names. For more information about Bob Evans
Farms, Inc., visit the company's Web site at www.bobevans.com.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

The statements contained in this report which are not statements of historical
fact are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). In addition, certain
statements in future filings by the company with the SEC, in press releases and
in oral and written statements made by or with the approval of the company which
are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking



statements within the meaning of the Act. Examples of forward-looking statements
include statements of plans and objectives of the company or its management or
board of directors; statements regarding future economic performance; and
statements of assumptions underlying such statements. Words such as "plan,"
"believes," "anticipates," "expects" and "intends" and similar expressions are
intended to, but are not the exclusive means of, identifying those statements.

Forward-looking statements involve various important assumptions, risks and
uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the
forward-looking statements because of various factors and possible events,
including, 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
     -    Accurately assessing the value, future growth potential, strengths,
          weaknesses, contingent and other liabilities and potential
          profitability of Mimi's Cafe
     -    Unanticipated changes in business and economic conditions affecting
          Mimi's Cafe
     -    Other risks disclosed from time to time in the company's securities
          filings and press releases

There is also the risk that the company may incorrectly analyze these risks or
that the strategies developed by the company to address them will be
unsuccessful.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and
the company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to
reflect circumstances or events after the date on which the statement is made to
reflect unanticipated events. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking
statements attributable to the company or any person acting on behalf of the
company are qualified by the cautionary statements in this section.