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R&B Expects to Report Financial Results Below Analyst Estimates

1 September 1999

R&B Expects to Report Financial Results Below Analyst Estimates for the 1999 Third Quarter

    COLMAR, Pa., Sept. 1 -- R&B, Inc., today
announced that it expects earnings for the third quarter ending September 25th
will be well short of the consensus estimate of $0.35 per share.  The reduced
earnings are a result of lower than expected revenues due to a general
softening in the automotive aftermarket across all customer segments,
inventory reduction programs implemented by several major customers, mergers
within the customer base and fluctuations in customer ordering patterns,
specifically several new program roll outs that have been rescheduled from the
3rd to the 4th quarter.  These revenue shortfalls could hold earnings to as
little as half the $0.30 earned in the third quarter of last year.
    Mr. Richard Berman, Chairman, President and CEO said, "We are already
moving to reduce costs and expect revenue disappointment to be a temporary
phenomenon.  While it is too late to affect the highly disappointing third
quarter, we are confident of achieving positive results for the final three
months of the year."  Mr. Berman continued, "We are extremely disappointed
that the third quarter results will interrupt our consecutive string of
quarter-to-quarter growth of at least 15% and fully expect the third quarter
will prove to be an aberration."
    R&B, Inc. is a leading supplier of "hard-to-find" parts, fasteners and
service line products for the automotive aftermarket.  R&B's parts are
marketed under more than sixty proprietary brand names, through its Motormite
and Dorman divisions, as well as under the private labels of automobile
manufacturers, parts manufacturers, and national warehouse distributors.
    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 --
Investment Considerations."