Tridex and FAST Announce Strategic Alliance

Leading Information Technology Providers to Integrate Restaurant Management Systems

Westport, Conn. and Stratford, Conn. – April 13, 2000 – In response to industry demand for interoperability between critical restaurant management systems, Tridex Corporation (Nasdaq: TRDX), a leading provider of retail technology solutions, and Food Automation – Service Techniques, Inc. (FAST), a leading supplier of process control systems for large restaurant chains, today announced a strategic alliance. Under terms of the agreement the two companies will utilize existing open database interfaces in their software to dynamically share information between systems. These systems include FAST's SCK® (Smart Commercial Kitchen) management system and appliance network and Progressive Software's IRIS Point-of-Sale and Back Office Software Solutions, including its IRIS Alerts, and IRIS Connect product. As a result, the foodservice industry will immediately have greater access to valuable information that influences bottom-line results.

Seth Lukash, President and CEO of Tridex, said, "Interoperability between Progressive Software's solutions and the FAST SCK system gives our customers new and exciting opportunities for tighter restaurant management and control in an increasingly competitive marketplace."

When integrated, FAST SCK software and Progressive's IRIS products will provide a complete digital nervous system for commercial restaurants allowing operators to track performance on important issues such as speed of service, product freshness, energy consumption, food costs, equipment maintenance, inventory, labor utilization and especially food safety. The "best in breed" open system architecture will allow each restaurant manager to configure where, when and how to utilize information from anywhere in the kitchen, such as food safety hazards, labor scheduling and inventory. This information can be routed to either the SCK or IRIS portions of the system, linking the feedback to the location where corrective action needs to be taken.

"Both Tridex and FAST have partnered with the industry's leading chain and independent operators and their suppliers during the past few years to provide some exciting technologies," said Ben Koether, Chairman/CEO of FAST. "Our customers have now articulated their need for scalable, open, and robust database management to improve profit margins and labor management in their restaurants. By taking advantage of the open database interfaces of both our (Tridex and FAST) systems, we can create a true plug-and-play environment for the user to harvest and utilize valuable data in whatever way he chooses."

Designed to eliminate the need for manual processes in the kitchen, FAST's SCK links appliances and other devices together and collects, shares and interprets data, allowing managers to automate production and preparation rates and monitor critical times and temperatures. The latest version of the SCK network (Version 2.0) includes a predictive cooking application that utilizes a Kitchen Status Monitor (KSM) to enhance labor efficiency by prompting the operator throughout the production process and acting as a "virtual" kitchen manager.

IRIS Quick Serve is a 32-bit Microsoft Windows NT-based system that combines advanced front-of-the-house POS capabilities and powerful back office resource planning services to manage every aspect of store operations. This includes an intuitive touchscreen POS for order entry, drive-thru and kitchen-display management, as well as full transactional integrity, data redundancy and replication.

IRIS Alerts is a management support tool that gives top management the ability to create alerts which

• Monitor labor costs and notify management if they are running too high or too low

• Alert in-store management of mistakes in progress

• Track inventory usage and notify the appropriate personnel of impending shortages

• Make a manager aware of correct employee clocking

• Track speed of service times to ensure excellent productivity.

About Tridex
Tridex, through its Progressive Software subsidiary, is a leading provider of POS and Back Office enterprise resource-management software, systems integration and related services for the foodservice and specialty retail markets. The company, headquartered in Westport, Conn., offers a full range of products and services for major chains as well as franchisees and multi-unit independents. Progressive Software is the solution of choice for Starbucks, Steak ‘n Shake, Golden Corral, Jack in the Box and many others.

About FAST
FAST, headquartered in Stratford, Conn., is the leading manufacturer of appliance controls specially developed for use in the foodservice and related industries. As the pioneer of process controls for multi-unit restaurants 30 years ago, FAST continues to lead the design and engineering of equipment controls that produce premium food quality and are easy to use. FAST is an approved controls supplier at leading quick service restaurants worldwide, including KFC, Burger King, Popeyes, Arby's, Churchs Chicken, Taco Bell, Jack in the Box, and others. More information about FAST's products and services can be found on the World Wide Web at www.fastinc.com, requested via e-mail at jdaniel@fastinc.com, or by calling 1-800-327-8766.

###