FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT YEAR FORTUNE MAGAZINE NAMES STEW LEONARD'S AMONG THE 100 BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR

Opportunities for Growth, Camaraderie and Community Service are a Few of the Reasons Why

NORWALK, Conn., January 9, 2006 – Customers know that Stew Leonard's is a fun place to shop – from the country fair atmosphere with farm-fresh foods, costumed characters and animatronics, to team members who go out of their way to make sure that the customer not only comes back, but brings their friends.

The cornerstone of Stew Leonard's legendary customer service is "in order to be a great place to shop, first make it a great place to work." Today, FORTUNE magazine gave credence to Stew Leonard's efforts in this area by recognizing them as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" for the fifth straight year. Stew Leonard's was named No. 58 on the list. The full list of companies who made the 2006 list appears in the January 23 issue of FORTUNE magazine.

"The competition to stay on the list gets more challenging each year. In the past five years we have been participating, applications have increased almost 70 percent. We are constantly raising the bar and setting high standards for ourselves as an employer, and that is why we are so proud of this accomplishment," said Stew Leonard, Jr., president and CEO of Stew Leonard's. "This recognition enables us to attract and retain talented team members, such as our new COO Chris Williams, who joined the company in July. It gives credibility to the fact that we offer outstanding pay, health benefits and training programs that are competitive not only in the retailing sector but across all segments of the job industry."

88 Percent of Managers Promoted from Within the Company
With new stores in Connecticut and New York on the horizon, Stew Leonard's instituted a number of new training programs this year to give team members the opportunity to take on managerial positions that the additional locations will create. More than 100 team members were certified as Qualified Food Operators, while other team members participated in training programs ranging from culinary and computer skills to leadership development.

"I am proud to be part of a growing and respected company, and being given the opportunity to grow personally as well as professionally," said Chaz Fable, Executive Chef at the Danbury store and one of the people featured in the current issue of FORTUNE magazine.

Fostering Camaraderie
"One of the most rewarding aspects about being on the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For' list is that it is an endorsement from our team members that they embrace the culture we have created, since the bulk of the scoring is based on a random survey of 350 team members," said Jill Leonard Tavello, Executive Vice President of Culture and Communication at Stew Leonard's. "In addition to department appreciation dinners, annual outings like the summer picnic and holiday parties, more than 90 percent of team members participated in Recreation Association sponsored events last year, from ski trips to sporting events, which the company helps defray the costs for. These events help team members get to know each other outside of work, and promote camaraderie and team work that permeates the entire company."

Focus on Health
Another focus this year was health and wellness. Stew Leonard's developed and implemented a comprehensive wellness program that includes free safety and wellness seminars, free health screenings, walking clubs and discounts to local gyms. Despite double digit increases in health care costs, Stew Leonard's maintained free medical coverage for full-time hourly team members and medical benefits for part-time team members.

Giving Back in the Community
In addition to helping their team members, Stew Leonard's was also recognized for their active participation in community service – including a banner year for fundraising, underscored by a store record for raising $60,000 in one month for the AmeriCares tsunami relief fund, as well as $20,000 for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Team Members on every level are involved in the community, from volunteering at local soup kitchens, mentoring children, to providing all the food and cooking for Paul Newman's "Hole in the Wall Gang Camp" annual fundraising gala which raises $1 million dollars.

"What an honor to be named as one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For.' I am elated that we have made this prestigious list for five years in a row," said Stew Leonard's founder, Stew Leonard, Sr. "Bravo to all our team members!"

Stew Leonard's began as a small dairy store founded in Norwalk, Conn. in 1969 with just seven employees. Today, Stew Leonard's is still family-owned and operated, but has grown to become a nearly $300 million dollar business with 2,000 employees. In addition to the original store in Norwalk, Conn., Stew Leonard's has stores in Danbury, Conn. and Yonkers, NY., with additional stores planned in East Farmingdale, N.Y and Orange, Connecticut. For more information, visit Stew Leonard's website at www.stewleonards.com.