Mrs. Fields Original Cookies Concludes Master Franchise Agreements for Switzerland and Japan

Mrs. Fields' Original Cookies Inc. (Mrs. Fields Famous Brands), the world's leading retailer of "baked on premises" cookies and bakery products, announced that it has concluded a Master franchise agreement which will bring the Mrs. Fields brand to Switzerland and Japan.

Since the appointment of Bob Soria as Vice President of International Development for Mrs. Field Famous Brands in July 2000, the companies international business has skyrocketed from zero growth in 1999 to represent $4.5 million of the companies total $900 million in revenue in 2001.

"We have been pushing hard to generate expansion into territories that range from Australia to the Middle East," said Bob Soria, Vice President of International Development for Mrs. Fields' Original Cookies Inc. "We recently added a TCBY Yogurt & Ice Cream in India and some of our brands in Dubai. Switzerland will be the first Mrs. Fields operation to open in Europe, and most important for the growth of our international business. Japan is also a key market; their first store will open later this year."

Mrs. Fields Famous Brands, which includes Mrs. Fields' Cookies, Original Cookie Company, Great American Cookies, Pretzel Time, Pretzelmaker, Hot Sam and TCBY Yogurt & Ice Cream, has distinguished itself with innovative leadership which has turned the company into the largest, most widely recognized and respected brand name in the category of fresh-based products. Currently, Mrs. Fields Famous Brands operates 4200 locations nationwide and 80 international locations. In addition, there are over 450 company-owned and franchised Mrs. Fields Cookies stores now operating in the U.S. Mrs. Fields Cookie stores, first established in 1977, are in 57 countries throughout the world, including Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Bahrain, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Taiwan.