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R&B, Inc. Reports Sales and Earnings for the Second Quarter Ended June 28, 2003

COLMAR, Pa., July 25 -- R&B, Inc. today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 28, 2003. For the second quarter ended June 28, 2003, sales increased 5% to $58.1 million from $55.5 million in the same period last year. Diluted earnings per share in the second quarter of 2003 were $0.39 compared to $0.46 in the same period last year, which included an after-tax gain of $0.15 per share on the sale of the Company's specialty fastener business. Net income in the second quarter of 2003 was $3.5 million compared to net income of $4.1 million in the same period last year, which included the above-mentioned after-tax gain of $1.3 million. Excluding the gain for comparison purposes, fully diluted earnings per share increased 26% in the second quarter.

For the six months ended June 28, 2003, sales increased 2% to $108.3 million from $106.5 million in the same period last year. Diluted earnings per share for the first six months of 2003 were $0.64 compared to $0.70 in the same period last year, which included the after-tax gain of $0.15 per share. Net income for the first six months of 2003 was $5.8 million compared to net income of $6.3 million in the same period last year, which included the above- mentioned after-tax gain of $1.3 million. Excluding the gain for comparison purposes, fully diluted earnings per share increased 16% for the first six months of 2003.

Sales volume in 2003 increased as a result of shipments to a new customer for the Company's Allparts brake business, but this growth was partially offset by lower levels of new product introductions and line updates earlier in the year. The favorable effects of foreign currency exchange resulted in a 2% year over year increase in sales, however this benefit was offset by the elimination of $2.1 million in revenues from the specialty fastener business sold in May 2002.

Net debt (total debt less cash and short-term investments) increased $0.2 million in the quarter to $36.4 million. The slightly higher net borrowing level was due to an increase in accounts receivable as a result of higher sales in the second quarter. Inventory levels during the quarter were flat, but have increased $5.0 million since year end due to inventory builds for customer programs scheduled to ship in the third quarter and higher safety stock levels given recent world events. Inventories are expected to decline in the second half of the year as safety stocks are reduced and customer programs ship.

Mr. Richard Berman, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are pleased to be able to report solid results despite the challenging economic climate. Second quarter sales benefited from seasonally higher order levels and an increased level of line updates and new product introductions. We believe that these new product introductions as well as the releases we have slated for the rest of this year will continue to drive future sales growth. We remain committed to our strategy of accelerating opportunities for our customers and our businesses through continued investment in new product development, initiatives designed to create and grow aftermarket demand for new and existing products, and supply chain excellence to ensure that the right parts are available at the right time."

R&B, Inc. is a leading supplier of OE Dealer "Exclusive" automotive replacement parts, automotive hardware and brake products to the automotive aftermarket and household hardware to the general merchandise markets. R&B's products are marketed under more than thirty proprietary brand names, through its Motormite, Dorman, Allparts, Scan-Tech, MPI and Pik-A-Nut businesses.

Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date hereof. Factors that cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, those factors discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K under "Business - Risk Factors."

                        R&B, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  Consolidated Statements of Operations
                 (in thousands, except per-share amounts)

                                    13 Weeks               13 Weeks
  Second Quarter (unaudited)  6/28/03       Pct.      6/29/02     Pct.
  Net sales                   $58,068      100.0      $55,455    100.0
  Cost of goods sold           36,885       63.5       35,106     63.3
  Gross profit                 21,183       36.5       20,349     36.7
  Selling, general and
   administrative expenses     14,811       25.5       14,949     27.0
  Other income (1)                  -          -       (2,143)    (3.9)
  Income from operations        6,372       11.0        7,543     13.6
  Interest expense, net           884        1.5        1,111      2.0
  Income before income taxes    5,488        9.5        6,432     11.6
  Provision for income taxes    1,963        3.4        2,317      4.2
  Net income                   $3,525        6.1       $4,115      7.4
  Earnings per share
    Basic                       $0.41          -        $0.48        -
    Diluted                     $0.39          -        $0.46        -
  Average shares outstanding
    Basic                       8,627          -        8,485        -
    Diluted                     9,033          -        8,939        -

                                     26 Weeks               26 Weeks
  Second Quarter (unaudited)  6/28/03       Pct.      6/29/02     Pct.
  Net sales                  $108,340      100.0     $106,535    100.0
  Cost of goods sold           68,559       63.3       67,780     63.6
  Gross profit                 39,781       36.7       38,755     36.4
  Selling, general and
   administrative expenses     29,071       26.8       29,034     27.3
  Other income (1)                  -          -       (2,143)    (2.0)
  Income from operations       10,710        9.9       11,864     11.1
  Interest expense, net         1,775        1.7        2,136      2.0
  Income before income taxes    8,935        8.2        9,728      9.1
  Provision for income taxes    3,185        2.9        3,466      3.2
  Net income                   $5,750        5.3       $6,262      5.9
  Earnings per share
    Basic                       $0.67          -        $0.74        -
    Diluted                     $0.64          -        $0.70        -
  Average shares outstanding
    Basic                       8,564          -        8,479        -
    Diluted                     8,996          -        8,917        -

(1) In the second quarter of 2002, the Company sold its specialty fastener business, resulting in a pre-tax gain of $2.1 million, which is reported as other income. The gain after-tax was $1.3 million, or $0.15 per fully diluted share.

                        R&B, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                       Consolidated Balance Sheets
                              (in thousands)

                                           6/28/03         12/28/02
  Assets:                               (Unaudited)
  Cash and short term investments          $16,506          $19,171
  Accounts receivable                       53,682           48,769
  Inventories                               52,237           47,217
  Prepaid expenses and other                 9,608            9,046
  Total current assets                     132,033          124,203
  Property & equipment                      16,486           16,591
  Goodwill                                  28,850           28,607
  Other assets                                 873              727
  Total assets                            $178,242         $170,128

  Liability & Shareholders' Equity:
  Current portion of long-term debt         $9,144           $9,291
  Accounts payable                          12,607           11,813
  Accrued expenses and other                11,882           11,759
  Total current liabilities                 33,633           32,863
  Long-term debt                            43,785           44,218
  Deferred income taxes                      4,127            3,475
  Shareholders' equity                      96,697           89,572
  Total Liabilities and Equity            $178,242         $170,128

   Selected Cash Flow Information:
  (in thousands)                   13 Weeks                 26 Weeks
                             6/28/03      6/29/02      6/28/03    6/29/02
  Depreciation and
   amortization               $1,227       $1,569       $2,419     $3,155
  Capital Expenditures        $1,418         $636       $2,303     $1,122

  Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures (Unaudited):

In the second quarter of fiscal 2002, R&B, Inc. sold its specialty fastener business, resulting in an after-tax gain of $1.3 million. The gain from the sale has been excluded from comparisons to net income and earnings per share to enhance comparability due to the size and infrequent nature of this gain.

  (In thousands)
                                 13 Weeks        13 Weeks          Pct.
                                  6/28/03        06/29/02        Change
  Fully diluted earnings
   per share (as reported)          $0.39           $0.46          -15%
  Less: gain on sale, net of tax        -           (0.15)
                                    _____           _____           ___
  Net Income (as adjusted)          $0.39           $0.31           26%

                                 26 Weeks        26 Weeks          Pct.
                                  6/28/03        06/29/02        Change
  Fully diluted earnings
   per share (as reported)          $0.64           $0.70           -9%
  Less: gain on sale, net of tax        -           (0.15)
                                    _____           _____           ___
  Net Income (as adjusted)          $0.64           $0.55           16%