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                                                                   Exhibit 10.72

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

          AGREEMENT, dated as of the 15 day of July, 1999, between Michael
Foods, Inc., a Minnesota corporation having its principal executive offices in
Minneapolis, Minnesota (the"Company"), and Jeffrey M. Shapiro (the "Executive").

          WHEREAS, Executive currently serves as a senior executive officer of
the Company;

          WHEREAS, the Company recognizes the Executive's substantial
contribution to the growth and success of the Company, desires to provide for
the continued employment of the Executive and to make certain changes in the
Executive's employment arrangements with the Company, which the Board has
determined will reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication
to the Company of the Executive as a member of the Company's senior management
in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders;

          WHEREAS, the Executive is willing to continue to serve the Company on
the terms and conditions set forth below;

                 NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

          1.   EMPLOYMENT PERIOD. The Company hereby agrees to continue to
employ the Executive, and the Executive hereby agrees to continue in the employ
of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the
period commencing on the date hereof (the "Effective Date") and ending on
June 30, 2001 (the "Employment Period"), provided, however, that commencing on
June 30, 2000 and each June 30 thereafter, the Employment Period shall
automatically be extended for one additional year.

          2.   TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT.

               (a)  Position and Duties.

                    (i)  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve
     as Executive Vice President and Secretary of the Company with the
     appropriate authority, duties and responsibilities attendant to such
     position. Executive shall also serve, at the request of the Company, as a
     Director of the Company and each of its subsidiaries.
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                    (ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods
     of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the
     Executive agrees to devote substantially all of his attention and time
     during his normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company
     and, to the extent necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to
     the Executive hereunder, to use the Executive's reasonable best efforts to
     perform faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities.

               (b)  Compensation.

                    (i)  Annual Base Salary. Effective immediately, and during
     the Employment Period, the Executive shall receive an annual base salary
     ("Annual Base Salary") of at least $270,000, the competitiveness of which
     shall be periodically reviewed and adjusted in accordance with Company
     policy. Any increase in Annual Base Salary shall not serve to limit or
     reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this Agreement. Annual
     Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase and the term
     Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Annual Base
     Salary as so increased.

                    (ii) Annual Bonus. During the Employment Period, the
     Executive shall participate in the Michael Foods, Inc. 1994 Executive
     Incentive Plan (and successor plans) (the "IP") and such other bonus
     arrangements as may be approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board
     (the "Compensation Committee") (the aggregate of all payments made under
     such bonus arrangements being herein referred to as the "Annual Bonus").
     Executive's aggregate bonus opportunity will be no less than 100% of Annual
     Base Salary and the "Target Bonus" will be no less than 62.5% of Annual
     Base Salary or greater as determined by the Compensation Committee. The
     Annual Bonus shall be paid within two and one-half months of the end of the
     fiscal year of the Company to which it relates. If any extraordinary event,
     such as a reorganization, recapitalization, spinoff, stock split, stock
     dividend, merger of the Company, or sale of substantially all of the assets
     of the Company, occurs in any fiscal year, the Company shall equitably
     adjust the terms of the award under the IP. If a Change in Control occurs,
     the Executive shall be paid at least the Target Bonus for the year in which
     such Change in Control occurs and in each subsequent year of continuing
     employment until the end of the Employment Period.

                    (iii) Long-Term Incentive Plans. The Executive shall
     participate in long-term incentive plans including all stock option plans
     and other long-term incentive plans the Company may adopt from time to time
     on a basis no less favorable than that provided to any other executive
     officer of the Company.

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                    (iv) Other Employee Benefit Plans. During the Employment
     Period, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Executive shall
     be entitled to participate in all compensation, incentive, employee
     benefit, welfare and other plans, practices, policies and programs and
     fringe benefits (collectively, "Employee Benefit Plans") on a basis no less
     favorable than that provided to any other executive officer of the Company.

          3.   TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

               (a)  Death or Disability. The Executive's employment shall
terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment Period.
If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the Executive has
occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability
set forth below), it may give to the Executive written notice in accordance with
Section 9(b) of this Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executive's
employment. In such event, the Executive's employment with the Company shall
terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by the
Executive (the "Disability Effective Date"), provided that, within the 30 days
after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-time
performance of the Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Disability" shall mean a determination by the Company in its sole discretion
that Executive is unable to perform his job responsibilities as a result of
chronic illness, physical, mental or any other disability for a period of six
months or more.

               (b)  With or Without Cause.  The Company may terminate the
Executive's employment during the Employment Period with or without Cause. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean:

                    (i)  the continued failure of the Executive to perform
     substantially the Executive's duties with the Company or one of its
     affiliates (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to
     physical or mental illness), after a written demand for substantial
     performance is delivered to the Executive by the Board which specifically
     identifies the manner in which the Board believes that the Executive has
     not substantially performed the Executive's duties, or

                    (ii) the willful engaging by the Executive in illegal
     conduct or gross misconduct which is materially and demonstrably injurious
     to the Company, or

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                    (iii) conviction of a felony or guilty or nolo contendere
     plea by the Executive with respect thereto.

For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act, on the part of the
Executive, shall be considered "willful" unless it is done, or omitted to be
done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the
Executive's action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any
act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly
adopted by the Board or upon the instructions of the Chief Executive Officer
(while the Executive does not serve as such) or based upon the advice of counsel
for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be
done, by the Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Company.
The cessation of employment of the Executive shall not be deemed to be for Cause
unless and until there shall have been delivered to the Executive a copy of a
resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than 75% of the
entire membership of the Board (excluding the Executive) at a meeting of the
Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to
the Executive and the Executive is given an opportunity, together with counsel,
to be heard before the Board) finding that, in the good faith opinion of the
Board, the Executive is guilty of the conduct described in subparagraph (i),
(ii) or (iii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

               (c)  Good Reason. The Executive's employment may be terminated
by the Executive for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason"
shall mean in the absence of a written consent of the Executive:

                    (i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties
     inconsistent with the Executive's title and position (including status,
     offices and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities
     as contemplated by Section 2(a)(i) of this Agreement, or any other action
     by the Company which results in a diminution in such position, authority,
     duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated,
     insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is
     remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by
     the Executive; provided that it is specifically understood that within six
     months of a Change in Control that the Company shall have the flexibility
     to appoint the Executive to a reporting relationship different from that
     which existed prior to the Change in Control, to make an immaterial change
     in Executive's duties, or to change the Executive's title provided that
     Executive shall not have a stature less than that of Executive Vice
     President; it is understood that equivalent positions may have different
     titles;

                    (ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the
     provisions of Section 2 (b) of this Agreement or the failure by the Company
     to

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     increase such base salary each year after a Change in Control by
     an amount which at least equals on a percentage basis, the mean
     average percentage increase in base salary for all employees similarly
     situated during the two (2) full calendar years immediately preceding a
     Change in Control, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent
     failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company
     promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;

                    (iii) the failure of the Company upon a Change in Control to
     (A) continue in effect any employee benefit plan, compensation plan,
     welfare benefit plan or material fringe benefit plan in which Executive is
     participating immediately prior to such Change in Control or the taking of
     any action by the Company which would adversely affect Executive's
     participation in or reduce Executive's benefits under any such plan, unless
     Executive is permitted to participate in other plans providing Executive
     with substantially equivalent benefits, or (B) provide Executive with paid
     vacation in accordance with the most favorable past practice of the Company
     as in effect for Executive immediately prior to such Change in Control;

                    (iv) any purported termination by the Company of the
     Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this
     Agreement for Cause, death or Disability;

                    (v) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy
     Section 8(c) of this Agreement; or

                    (vi) any requirement that the Executive (A) be based
     anywhere more than fifty (50) miles from the office where the Executive is
     currently located or (B) travel on Company business to an extent
     substantially greater than the Executive's current travel obligations.

For purposes of this Section, any good faith determination of "Good Reason" made
by the Executive shall be conclusive. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Executive shall for all purposes of this Agreement be deemed to
have terminated his employment for Good Reason if he voluntarily terminates his
employment within sixty (60) days of the date six months following the
occurrence of a Change in Control.

               (d)  Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company or by
the Executive shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party
hereto given in accordance with Section 9(b) of this Agreement. For purposes of
this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice which (i)
indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii)
to the extent applicable,

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sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a
basis for termination of the Executive's employment under the provision so
indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than
the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date
shall be not more than thirty days after the giving of such notice). The failure
by the Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any
fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause
shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company, respectively,
hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company, respectively, from asserting
such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive's or the Company's rights
hereunder.

               (e)  Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" means (i) if the
Executive's employment is terminated by the Company other than for Disability,
the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified
therein within 30 days of such notice, (ii) if the Executive's employment is
terminated by reason of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be
the date of death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case
may be, and (iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Executive,
the Date of Termination shall be thirty days after the giving of such notice by
the Executive provided that the Company may elect to place the Executive on paid
leave for all or any part of such 30-day period.

               (f)  Change in Control. "Change in Control" means the occurrence
of any one of the following events:

                    (i) individuals who, on the date hereof, constitute the
     Board (the "Incumbent Directors") cease for any reason to constitute at
     least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director
     subsequent to the date hereof, whose election or nomination for election
     was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors
     then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy
     statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for
     director, without written objection to such nomination) shall be an
     Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no individual initially elected
     or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or
     threatened election contest (as described in Rule 14a-11 under the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act")) ("Election Contest") or other
     actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of
     any "person" (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Act and as
     used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Act) other than the Board
     ("Proxy Contest"), including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid
     or settle any Election Contest or Proxy Contest, shall be deemed an
     Incumbent Director;

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                    (ii) any person is or becomes a "beneficial owner" (as
     defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities
     of the Company representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of the
     Company's then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of
     the Board (the "Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that the
     event described in this paragraph (ii) shall not be deemed to be a Change
     in Control of the Company by virtue of any of the following acquisitions:
     (A) by the Company or any subsidiary, (B) by any employee benefit plan (or
     related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any subsidiary,
     (C) by any underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an
     offering of such securities, (D) pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction
     (as defined in paragraph (iii)), or (E) pursuant to any acquisition by the
     Executive or any group of persons including the Executive (or any entity
     controlled by the Executive or any group of persons including the
     Executive);

                    (iii) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, statutory
     share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries that requires the approval of the
     Company's stockholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of
     securities in the transaction (a "Reorganization"), or sale or other
     disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets to an
     entity that is not an affiliate of the Company (a "Sale"), unless
     immediately following such Reorganization or Sale: (A) more than 60% of the
     total voting power of (x) the corporation resulting from such
     Reorganization or the corporation which has acquired all or substantially
     all of the assets of the Company (in either case, the "Surviving
     Corporation"), or (y) if applicable, the ultimate parent corporation that
     directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of 100% of the voting
     securities eligible to elect directors of the Surviving Corporation (the
     "Parent Corporation"), is represented by Company Voting Securities that
     were outstanding immediately prior to such Reorganization or Sale (or, if
     applicable, is represented by shares into which such Company Voting
     Securities were converted pursuant to such Reorganization or Sale), and
     such voting power among the holders thereof is in substantially the same
     proportion as the voting power of such Company Voting Securities among the
     holders thereof immediately prior to the Reorganization or Sale, (B) no
     person (other than any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored
     or maintained by the Surviving Corporation or the Parent Corporation), is
     or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 20% or more of
     the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to
     elect directors of the Parent Corporation (or, if there is no Parent
     Corporation, the Surviving Corporation) and (C) at least a majority of the
     members of the board of directors of the Parent Corporation (or, if there
     is no Parent Corporation, the Surviving Corporation)

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     following the consummation of the Reorganization or Sale were Incumbent
     Directors at the time of the Board's approval of the execution of the
     initial agreement providing for such Reorganization or Sale (any
     Reorganization or Sale which satisfies all of the criteria specified
     in (A), (B) and (C) above shall be deemed to be a "Non-Qualifying
     Transaction"); or

                    (iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of
     complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control of the Company shall not be
deemed to occur solely because any person acquires beneficial ownership of more
than 20% of the Company Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of
Company Voting Securities by the Company which reduces the number of Company
Voting Securities outstanding; provided, that if after such acquisition by the
Company such person becomes the beneficial owner of additional Company Voting
Securities that increases the percentage of outstanding Company Voting
Securities beneficially owned by such person, a Change in Control of the Company
shall then occur.

             4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY UPON TERMINATION.

                (a) Death or Disability.  If, during the Employment
Period (other than any portion of the Employment Period occurring six months
following a Change in Control), the Executive's employment shall terminate on
account of death or Disability:

                    (i) the Company shall pay to the Executive or his estate in
     a lump sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination the sum of
     (x) the Executive's Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination to
     the extent not theretofore paid, and (y) the product of (1) the Target
     Bonus and (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of whole and
     partial months in the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs
     through the Date of Termination and the denominator of which is 12, to the
     extent not theretofore paid (the sum of the amounts described in clauses
     (x) and (y) shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Accrued Obligations");

                    (ii) to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, the
     Company shall timely pay or provide to the Executive or his estate or
     beneficiaries any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided
     or which the Executive is eligible to receive under any plan, program,
     policy or practice or contract or agreement of the Company and its
     affiliated companies through the Date of Termination (such other amounts
     and benefits shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Other Benefits");

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                    (iii) the Company shall pay to the Executive or his estate
     in a lump sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination an
     amount equal to the product of (x) one and one-half (1.5) and (y) the sum
     of the Executive's current Annual Base Salary and Target Bonus, and

                    (iv) all stock options shall vest and remain exercisable for
     the remainder of their term and all restricted stock awards and other
     awards shall vest and become immediately payable.

               (b)  By the Company for Cause; By the Executive Other than for
Good Reason. If the Executive's employment is terminated for Cause or the
Executive terminates his employment without Good Reason during the Employment
Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the
Executive other than the obligation to pay to the Executive (i) his Annual Base
Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent theretofore unpaid and (ii)
the Other Benefits.

               (c)  By the Company Other than for Cause, Death or Disability;
By the Executive for Good Reason. If, during the Employment Period but prior to
a Change in Control, the Executive's employment is terminated by the Executive
for Good Reason or by the Company other than for Cause and other than on account
of death or Disability:

                    (i)  the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in
     cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination the sum of:

                         (A)  the Accrued Obligations; and

                         (B)  the amount equal to the product of (x) one and
         one-half (1.5) and (y) the sum of the Executive's current Annual Base
         Salary and Target Bonus.

                    (ii) the Company shall provide the Executive with the Other
     Benefits.

                    (iii) all stock options shall vest and remain exercisable
     for the remainder of their term and all restricted stock awards and other
     awards shall vest and become immediately payable.

               (d)  After a Change in Control By the Company Other than for
Cause, By the Executive for Good Reason or Due to Death or Disability. If the
Executive's employment shall be terminated by the Company other than for Cause
or the

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executive terminates his employment for Good Reason within two (2) years
following a Change in Control, or the Executive's employment terminates due to
death or Disability within six (6) months following a Change in Control:

                    (i)  the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in
     cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination the sum of:

                        (A)   the Accrued Obligations;

                        (B)   the amount equal to the product of (x) two (2)
          and (y) the sum of the Executive's current Annual Base Salary and
          Target Bonus; and

                        (C)   any compensation previously deferred by Executive
          other than pursuant to a tax-qualified plan (together with any
          earnings and interest thereon).

                    (ii) for a period of two (2) years following Executive's
     Date of Termination the Company shall continue to provide medical, dental
     and life insurance benefits to the Executive, his spouse and children under
     age 25 on the same basis, including without limitation employee
     contributions, as such benefits are then currently provided to the
     Executive ("Welfare Benefits"); provided that such Welfare Benefits shall
     be secondary to any other medical coverage obtained by the Executive.

                    (iii) the Company shall provide the Executive with the Other
     Benefits.

                    (iv) all stock options shall vest and remain exercisable for
     the remainder of their term and all restricted stock awards and other
     awards shall vest and become immediately payable.

               5.   NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS.  Nothing in this Agreement shall
prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or future participation in any plan,
program, policy or practice provided by the Company or any of its affiliated
companies and for which the Executive may qualify, nor shall anything herein
limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have under any
contract or agreement with the Company or any of its affiliated companies.
Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled
to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of or any contract or
agreement with the Company or any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent
to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan,

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policy, practice or program or contract or agreement except as explicitly
modified by this Agreement; provided that the Executive shall not be eligible
for severance benefits under any other program or policy of the Company.

               6.   FULL SETTLEMENT. The Company's obligation to make the
payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations
hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment,
defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against the
Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other
employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable
to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement, and such amounts
shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other employment. The
Company agrees to pay as incurred, to the full extent permitted by law, all
legal fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of
any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) pursued or defended against in
good faith by the Executive regarding the validity or enforceability of, or
liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance
thereof (including as a result of any contest by the Executive about the amount
of any payment pursuant to this Agreement), plus in each case interest on any
delayed payment at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section
7872(f)(2)(A) of the Code.

               7.   CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.

                    (a)  Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding and except as set forth below, in the event it shall be
determined that any payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit
of the Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but determined without
regard to any additional payments required under this Section 7) (a "Payment")
would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any
interest or penalties are incurred by the Executive with respect to such excise
tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are
hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), then the Executive
shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an
amount such that after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any
interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including, without
limitation, any income taxes (and any interest and penalties imposed with
respect thereto) and Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive
retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon
the Payments. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Reduced Amount" shall
mean the greatest amount that could be paid to the Executive such that the
receipt of Payments would not give rise to any Excise Tax. Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this Section 7(a), if it shall be determined that the
Executive is entitled to a Gross-Up Payment, but that the Payments do not exceed
120% of the

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Reduced Amount, then no Gross-Up Payment shall be made to the Executive and the
Payments, in the aggregate, shall be reduced to the Reduced Amount.

               (b)  Subject to the provisions of Section 7(c), all
determinations required to be made under this Section 7, including whether and
when a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and
the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made
by the Company's independent auditors or such other certified public accounting
firm reasonably acceptable to the Executive as may be designated by the Company
(the "Accounting Firm") which shall provide detailed supporting calculations
both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business days of the receipt of
notice from the Executive that there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as
is requested by the Company. All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall
be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to
this Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive not later than the
due date for the payment of any Excise Tax. Any determination by the Accounting
Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive. As a result of the
uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the
initial determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that
Gross-Up Payments which will not have been made by the Company should have been
made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made
hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts its remedies pursuant to
Section 7(c) and the Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any
Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment
that has occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive.

               (c)  The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of
any claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require
the payment by the Company of the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be
given as soon as practicable but no later than ten business days after the
Executive is informed in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of
the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be
paid. The Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the
30-day period following the date on which it gives such notice to the Company
(or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with
respect to such claim is due). If the Company notifies the Executive in writing
prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim,
the Executive shall:

                    (i) give the Company any information reasonably requested by
     the Company relating to such claim,

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                    (ii) take such action in connection with contesting such
     claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time,
     including, without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect
     to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company,

                    (iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order to
     effectively contest such claim, and

                    (iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings
     relating to such claim;

provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and
expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection
with such contest and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an
after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest and
penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such representation and
payment of costs and expenses. Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of
this Section 7(c), the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection
with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and all
administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing
authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option, either direct
the Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim
in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to
a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial
jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall
determine; provided, however, that if the Company directs the Executive to pay
such claim and sue for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such
payment to the Executive, on an interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold
the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax
(including interest or penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to
such advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance;
and further provided that any extension of the statute of limitations relating
to payment of taxes for the taxable year of the Executive with respect to which
such contested amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested
amount. Furthermore, the Company's control of the contest shall be limited to
issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and
the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any
other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing
authority.

               (d)  If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount
advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 7(c), the Executive becomes entitled
to receive any refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall promptly
pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or
credited thereon after taxes

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<PAGE>   14

applicable thereto). If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount
advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 7(c), a determination is made that
the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim and
the Company does not notify the Executive in writing of its intent to contest
such denial of refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after such
determination, then such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to
be repaid and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof,
the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid.

          8.   SUCCESSORS.

               (a)  This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the
prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal
representatives.

               (b)  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

               (c)  The Company will require any successor (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume
expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same
extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession
had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as
hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as
aforesaid.

          9.   MISCELLANEOUS.

               (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota, without reference to
principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of
the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not
be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the
parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.

               (b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as
follows:

                           If to the Executive:

                           Jeffrey M. Shapiro

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15

                           2500 West Lake of the Isles Parkway
                           Minneapolis, MN  55405

                           If to the Company:

                           Michael Foods, Inc.
                           324 Park National Bank Building
                           5353 Wayzata Boulevard
                           Minneapolis, Minnesota 55416
                           Telecopy Number: (612) 546-3711
                           Attention: Secretary

or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective
when actually received by the addressee.

               (c)  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this
Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision
of this Agreement.

               (d)  The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this
Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be
withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

               (e)  The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon
strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert
any right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including, without
limitation, the right of the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason
pursuant to Section 3(c)(i)-(v) of this Agreement, shall not be deemed to be a
waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this
Agreement.

               (f)  From and after the Effective Date this Agreement shall
supersede any other employment agreement between the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof.

               (g)  Subject to the provisions of Section 3(d), there shall be no
limitation on the ability of the Company to terminate the Executive at any time
with or without Cause.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the
Executive's hand and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors,
the Company has

                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16

caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the
day and year first above written.

                                           /s/ Jeffery M. Shapiro
                                           -------------------------------------

                                           MICHAEL FOODS, INC.


                                           By Gregg A. Ostrander
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Title: President/CEO






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