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[Bob Evans Farms, Inc. Logo]                                      Exhibit 99(a)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                        Contact:  Don Radkoski or
April 23, 1999                               Mary Cusick
                                             614-491-2225/800-272-7675

         Bob Evans Farms Divests Non-Core Food Products Assets

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Bob Evans Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ: BOBE) is divesting certain
non-core assets of its food products segment, announces Daniel E. Evans,
chairman of the board and chief executive officer. Royal Oak Sales, Inc. has
purchased the charcoal manufacturing operations of Hickory Specialties, Inc. and
Reser's Fine Foods, Inc. has purchased Mrs. Giles Country Kitchens, Inc., which
produces fresh, deli salads.

         Hickory Specialties' charcoal operations and Mrs. Giles were expected
to generate combined sales of approximately $46 million for Bob Evans Farms in
fiscal 1999, which ends April 30. The purchase prices for the two transactions
are expected to total approximately $29 million plus the assumption of roughly
$1 million of liabilities. The company does not expect to realize a significant
net gain or loss on the two transactions.

         "These divestitures will help us sharpen our focus on the many growth
opportunities in our restaurant and food products businesses and will free up
additional capital to support that growth, as well as to make further Bob Evans
stock repurchases. We anticipate a positive net impact on our earnings per share
in fiscal 2000," said Evans. "Owning these two quality operations enabled us to
build synergies with our core businesses. However, the opportunities for
long-term growth and profitability for the purchasers made the terms of the
transactions attractive to us and will provide growth opportunities for not only
these businesses but also their employees."

         Bob Evans Farms acquired Mrs. Giles in September 1991 and Hickory
Specialties in March 1992. Bob Evans will retain the Hickory Specialties liquid
smoke flavoring business.

         Bob Evans Farms owns and operates 420 full-service, family restaurants
in 20 states. Bob Evans Farms also produces and distributes food products in 31
states under the names of Bob Evans Sausage and Owens Country Sausage.


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         Reser's Fine Foods is a privately owned and operated manufacturer and
distributor of refrigerated foods, including chilled, processed salads; Mexican
foods; meat snack products; fresh pasta; and refrigerated potato products.

         Royal Oak Sales is the world's second largest charcoal sales and
marketing company with a full line of charcoal-related products for all classes
of trade, including retail, wholesale and food service.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995: The
statements contained in this release which are not historical fact are
"forward-looking statements" that involve various important risks, uncertainties
and other factors which could cause the company's actual results to differ
materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. These
important factors include, but are not limited to, changes in the prices to be
paid in the live hog market, the entrance of new competitors in the family-style
restaurant industry and increases in labor costs, as well as other risks
previously disclosed in the company's securities filings and press releases.






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