Manhattan Bagel Captures Top Honors in Reader Surveys

New World Coffee-Manhattan Bagel, Inc. [7](Nasdaq: NWCI) recently announced its Manhattan Bagel subsidiary added to its string of "best of" awards when it was picked as the best bagel restaurant in New Jersey's Monmouth and Ocean counties for the second year in a row, and the best bagel restaurant in Central New Jersey. The winners were recently announced in customer choice surveys published by two sister publications, the Asbury Park Press and the Home News Tribune, respectively.

"Best of" winners in more than 40 "Best Eating and Drinking" categories were selected by readers of the two papers by ballot vote. Clearly, Manhattan Bagel's 34 locations in the two areas have made quite an impression on readers of the Asbury Park Press and the Home News Tribune, which are the second- and seventh-largest daily newspapers in New Jersey.

"Manhattan Bagel's lengthy track record of awards has helped distinguish us in our industry, and we will continue to combine this product strength with New World's award-winning coffee. We believe this will further raise our profile within the industry and among consumers," observed Ramin Kamfar, New World Chairman and CEO.

Manhattan Bagel's long list of accolades includes a series of "Best of..." and "Readers' Choice" awards in such publications as Philadelphia Magazine (1997 and 1996); Washingtonian (1997), Los Angeles Magazine (1997);

Orlando Magazine (1996); and Atlanta Magazine (1996). More recently, Connecticut magazine readers voted Manhattan Bagel as the best bagel in the state and Electric City magazine readers voted Manhattan Bagel as the "Best Bagel" in the Scranton, PA area. Additionally, in May 1997, a leading national magazine rated Manhattan Bagel as tops among all bagels tested.

New World Coffee-Manhattan Bagel Inc. currently franchises, licenses or owns stores under its three brands in 28 states and Washington, D.C. The Company is vertically integrated in bagel dough and cream cheese manufacturing, and coffee roasting, with plants in New Jersey, California and Connecticut.