Buffets, Inc. Announces Move to Zero Trans Fat Frying Oils

EAGAN, Minn.-- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Buffets, Inc. (“Buffets”), announced today a program to convert all of its restaurants to zero trans fat frying oils by the end of the current calendar year. Buffets, with such popular brands as HomeTown Buffet^?, Old Country Buffet^?, Ryan’s^? and Fire Mountain^? has been closely reviewing its cooking methods and recipes and working with its suppliers in an effort to offer its guests great tasting foods without the added trans fat.

“We have been working to remove the trans fats from our frying oils without sacrificing food quality or flavor. We are committed to providing our guests a wide variety of great foods at reasonable prices offered in a family friendly environment,” said Mike Andrews, Buffets’ Chief Executive Officer.

About Buffets

Buffets, Inc. currently operates 644 restaurants in 39 states comprised of 633 buffet restaurants and eleven Tahoe Joe’s Famous Steakhouse^? restaurants. The buffet restaurants are principally operated under the Old Country Buffet?, HomeTown Buffet?, Ryan’s? and Fire Mountain? brands. Buffets also franchises eighteen buffet restaurants in seven states. Buffets, Inc. employs approximately 38,000 team members and serves more than 200 million customers annually.

Buffets, Inc. is a subsidiary of Buffets Holdings, Inc. and was founded in 1983. All of our Buffets restaurants are generally open weekdays from 11:00 am through 8:30 or 9:00 pm., and Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 am until 8:30 or 9:00 pm. For more information, please visit us at www.buffet.com, or www.ryansrg.com.

Buffets Holdings, Inc.

A. Keith Wall, 651-365-2784

Chief Financial Officer