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                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

           Contacts:        Jack M. Gallagher
                            President
                            Chief Executive Officer
                            (716) 647-6400

                            Catherine D'Amico
                            Sr. V.P. - Finance
                            Chief Financial Officer
                            (716) 647-6400

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



                       MONRO MUFFLER BRAKE TO ACQUIRE 205
                        SPEEDY MUFFLER STORES IN THE U.S.


ROCHESTER, N.Y., APRIL 13, 1998 -- MONRO MUFFLER BRAKE, INC. (NASDAQ: MNRO)
announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement with Speedy Muffler
King Inc. (TSE: SMK) of Toronto, Canada to acquire 192 company-operated and 13
franchised Speedy stores in the United States. Sales for the fiscal year ended
January 3, 1998 for the 192 company-operated stores, some of which were opened
only part of the year, were approximately $86.5 million. The all-cash purchase
transaction will be effected by the payment of $52 million and is subject to
customary terms and conditions, including review under the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Act, the obtaining of necessary consents, and Monro's securing of financing
necessary to consummate the transaction. The transaction is expected to close
this summer.

"We are delighted with the opportunity to substantially enhance our competitive
position in the attractive northeast market where both our Monro stores and the
Speedy stores to be acquired are located," said Jack Gallagher, Chief Executive
Officer of Monro Muffler Brake. "The purchase of these stores will grow our
store base to approximately 550 locations. While we expect the acquisition to
have a slightly dilutive impact on our fiscal 1999

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earnings per share while we integrate the business, we anticipate that these
operations should begin to contribute to our earnings per share during our
fiscal year 2000, and should be increasingly accretive in subsequent years.

"Like Monro, Speedy is a strong chain with an excellent reputation for providing
customer-oriented service. The similarities in fundamental strategy, management
infrastructure, geographic coverage, and store size, should enable Monro to
achieve immediate synergies and economies with the new locations. Changes in
inventory purchasing and distribution methods should provide a very strong
opportunity for increased margins in the acquired locations.

"Additionally, we expect the new stores will create substantial long-term
opportunities to improve margins and overall operating performance as Monro
diversifies and enhances the product and service offerings at the acquired
locations."

Mr. Gallagher explained, "Monro has aggressively responded to fundamental
changes in our industry's dynamics in recent years by expanding our focus beyond
exhaust systems to include brakes, steering and suspension systems, tires, and
batteries. In March, we completed the roll-out of our scheduled maintenance
services which offer customers a convenient and affordable way to keep their
automobiles in compliance with their warranty schedules. These are the types of
innovative programs that Monro has proactively implemented to remain competitive
in all types of environments. This acquisition will offer us a tremendous
opportunity to further capitalize on our strategy as we bring additional
products and services to these new locations."


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The Company noted that while the 205 Speedy stores are in the same general
markets in which Monro competes, Monro and Speedy locations are mainly situated
in non-overlapping areas. The Company expects to close less than 20
underperforming Speedy stores. Additionally, because of similarities in
management structures, Monro plans to retain all of Speedy's current store
personnel as well as "area" and "market" managers who function in similar
capacities as Monro's "regional" and "district" managers.

Monro Muffler Brake operates a chain of stores providing automotive undercar
repair services in the United States. The Company currently operates 350 stores
in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Connecticut, Massachusetts, West Virginia,
Virginia, Maryland, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, South
Carolina and Indiana. Monro's stores provide a full range of services for
mufflers and exhaust systems, brake systems, steering and suspension systems and
many vehicle maintenance services.


Certain statements made above may be forward-looking and are made pursuant to
the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward-looking statements involve uncertainties which may cause the
Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from those
expressed. These uncertainties include, but are not necessarily limited to,
uncertainties affecting retail generally (such as consumer confidence, and
national and local economic conditions); risks related to the level of demand
for auto repair; risks that the acquisition will not be accretive as soon as
anticipated by Monro or at all; risks that the acquisition will not result in
improved margins or overall operating performance, and in fact could negatively
impact Monro; risks relating to leverage and debt service (including sensitivity
to fluctuations in interest rates); dependence on, and competition within, the
primary markets in which the Company's stores are located; the need for, and
costs associated with, store renovations and other capital expenditures; and the
risks described from time to time in the Company's SEC reports which include the
report on Form 10K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997.

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