DDRX Diedrich Coffee (MM)

Diedrich Coffee to be Served in All Marie Callender's Restaurants Throughout U.S. IRVINE, Calif., March 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Diedrich Coffee, Inc. (NASDAQ:DDRX), a leading roaster and retailer of gourmet coffee in Southern California, announces that its premium roast coffee will be served at Marie Callender's restaurants throughout the United States. The agreement, which went into effect in February, provides for Diedrich Coffee to be the exclusive supplier of regular and decaffeinated coffee for the company-owned stores of the 141-location restaurant chain, which is based in Aliso Viejo, Calif. "This is an exciting partnership for Diedrich Coffee, bringing together two vibrant, Orange County-based brands with loyal, sophisticated customers," said Steven Heyman, vice president of sales for Diedrich Coffee. "Marie Callender's reputation for exceptional food and legendary pies is an ideal compliment to Diedrich's premium coffee roasts." "We are delighted to be able to establish a relationship with another distinguished Orange County-based company," said Nick Saba, Marie Callender's director of food and beverage. "At Marie Callender's, we are dedicated to consistently enhancing our menu, and the addition of Diedrich Coffee's delicious international coffee blends is the perfect example of our commitment to quality and to our customers." Known for its retail coffeehouse locations, Diedrich Coffee also operates a strong wholesale business as a leading supplier of premium roast coffees to the foodservice industry. "We are continually expanding Diedrich Coffee's wholesale presence by partnering with companies such as Marie Callender's that share an appreciation for quality, and recognize the cache of offering their customers a premium coffee brand," said Heyman. About Marie Callender's Restaurants The legacy of Marie Callender began in 1948 in Orange County, Calif. when Marie, an accomplished baker, first launched her legendary pie business, delivering freshly baked pies to area restaurants. The first pie and coffee shop was opened in 1964 in Orange, Calif. by Marie's son, Don. Other pie shops soon followed and in 1969, the pie shops started serving a full service restaurant menu. What began more than 50 years ago as a small pie baking operation is today the leader in the restaurant-bakery segment, with over 140 Marie Callender's restaurants in 10 states. Marie's commitment to freshly prepared foods using only the highest quality ingredients endures to this day in the restaurants. Today, Marie Callender's serves up a wide variety of classic American foods updated with today's flavors, including their signature Famous Pot Pies, Crisp Salads, Pasta, Grilled Steaks, Fresh Fish, Burgers, Sandwiches and more. Marie Callender's is known for their famous all-you-can-enjoy Salad Bar, freshly prepared homestyle soups, signature cornbread, baked fresh and served hot from the oven, and also serves a fabulous all-you-care-to-enjoy Sunday Brunch at most locations. Guests can relax with a glass of wine or beer and top off their dinners with a slice of freshly baked pie and Diedrich Coffee. For more information or restaurant locations, call (800) 776-7437 or visit http://www.mariecallenders.com/. About Diedrich Coffee With headquarters in Irvine, California, Diedrich Coffee specializes in sourcing, roasting and selling the world's highest quality coffees. The Company's three brands are Gloria Jean's Coffees, Diedrich Coffee, and Coffee People. The Company's 203 domestic retail outlets, the majority of which are franchised, are located in 33 states. Diedrich Coffee also sells its coffees through more than 460 wholesale accounts including office coffee service distributors, restaurants and specialty retailers, via mail order and the Internet. For more information about Diedrich Coffee, call 800/354-5282, or visit the Company's Web sites at http://www.diedrich.com/, http://www.gloriajeans.com/, or http://www.coffeepeople.com/. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this news release that relate to future plans, financial results or projections, events or performance are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and fall under the safe harbor. Actual results and financial position could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the successful management of Diedrich Coffee's growth strategy, risks that arise in the context of operating a business with significant franchise operations, the impact of competition, the availability of working capital and other risks and uncertainties described in detail under "Risk Factors and Trends Affecting Diedrich Coffee and its Business" in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended June 29, 2005. Contact: L. Alexis Eldridge For Diedrich Coffee (949) 260.6704 DATASOURCE: Diedrich Coffee, Inc. CONTACT: L. Alexis Eldridge of Diedrich Coffee, +1-949-260-6704, Web site: http://www.diedrich.com/ http://www.mariecallenders.com/

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