Exhibit 99(a)
                       PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY
MARCH 16, 1999

CONTACT PERSON:         STACY DUCKETT, VICE PRESIDENT
                        INVESTOR RELATIONS
                        TCBY ENTERPRISES, INC.
                        (501) 688-8229


         TCBY REPORTS OPERATING RESULTS FOR FIRST QUARTER

 LITTLE  ROCK,  AR  -  (Tuesday,  March  16,  1999)  -  TCBY
 ENTERPRISES,  INC.  (NYSE:TBY)  today  announced  operating
 results for  the first  quarter of  1999.   Net income  was
 $598,563,  or  $.03  per  share  (basic  and  diluted),  as
 compared  to  $741,588,  or  $.03  per  share  (basic   and
 diluted), for  the  same period  in  1998.   The  Company's
 earnings  were   unfavorably  impacted   by   approximately
 $530,000 (pre-tax) during the first quarter of 1999 as  the
 Company   absorbed    incremental    costs    related    to
 TCBY(registered) products as a  result of record high  milk
 prices.  A  short-term dairy surcharge  was implemented  by
 the Company on March 15 to cover some of these dairy costs.

Sales and franchising revenues increased to $21,006,003 from
$19,208,525 for  the  same  period last  year.    This  nine
percent improvement resulted  from continued development  of
TCBY(registered)     co-branded     locations,     increased
distribution  of   TCBY(registered)   products   in   retail
channels,  and  expanded  manufacturing  of  private   label
products.  The  Company's international expansion  continued
with new agreements for franchise development in Taiwan  and
production in Ireland.   The production of  TCBY(registered)
products in Ireland is expected  to begin during the  second
quarter  and  should  result  in  lower  product  costs  for
franchisees throughout Europe and The Middle East.

"Our first  quarter results  showed continued  increases  in
revenue;  however,  record   level  milk  prices   prevented
improvement in our earnings,"  said Frank D.  Hickingbotham,
Chairman and Chief  Executive Officer.   "We have  responded
with a temporary price adjustment.  We expect that expansion
of the TCBY(registered) brand  will continue during 1999  in
both  our   traditional  and   non-traditional   locations."
Hickingbotham added, "Private label manufacturing sales  are
expected to  continue  to  grow  through  existing  and  new
customers, several of  which will  come on  line during  our
second quarter.  We remain committed to the long-term growth
of the TCBY(registered) brand."

The Company recently introduced to its franchisees its  1999
strategic marketing plan  at five regional  meetings in  Las
Vegas, Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago and Newark.  The plan is the
result of research  by NPD Crest,  a national research  firm
specializing in strategic consumer  research, and Fitch,  an
international firm  and leader  in brand  positioning.   The
plan seeks primarily to improve the financial performance of
the Company's  traditional  TCBY(registered)  locations  and
focuses  on   six   areas,  including   improving   customer
experience,   co-branding    or    relocating    traditional
TCBY(registered) stores, advertising, re-imaging, new  store
development and  neighborhood marketing.   The  neighborhood
marketing program  was developed  and implemented  utilizing
Tom Feltenstein  and the  Neighborhood Marketing  Institute,
one of the  nation's foremost marketing  authorities in  the
foodservice and  hospitality  industry.   In  addition,  the
Company  will  perform  media  tests  in  selected   markets
utilizing television and  radio or radio  and billboards  at
frequency  levels   significantly   higher   than   previous
programs.  These efforts to improve the financial results of
the  traditional  stores  have  been  well-received  by  the
franchise community  as evidenced  by the  responses of  the
franchisees at the 1999 Regional Meetings.

As of February 28,  1999, there were 2,972  TCBY(registered)
and Juice  Works(registered)  locations  open,  as  well  as
several thousand retail points of sale for  TCBY(registered)
products worldwide.    In  addition,  there  were  over  350
TCBY(registered) locations under agreement for  development.
Most of  the  TCBY(registered) locations  under  development
will be co-branded  locations with other  food or  petroleum
operations.

In December  1997, the  Board  of Directors  authorized  the
repurchase of  up to  two million  shares of  the  Company's
outstanding  common  stock.    To  date,  the  Company   has
purchased over 550,000 shares under this authorization.  All
purchases have been made  utilizing the Company's cash  from
operations.

The forward-looking statements contained in this release are
based upon certain assumptions  regarding U. S. and  foreign
economic conditions, no significant disruptions of  business
due to  the  Year  2000  issue,  competition,  cost  of  raw
materials (as previously announced,  dairy prices have  been
at historically high levels  until recently), unit  openings
and closings, sales  volumes per  unit, other  manufacturing
opportunities, no changes in governmental regulation of  the
food industry, and no material event which would impact  the
reputation of the  Company's manufacturing  facility or  the
Company's ability  to utilize  that  facility.   Should  the
Company's performance differ  materially on the  assumptions
regarding   these   areas,   actual   results   could   vary
significantly  from   the   performance  noted      in   the
forward-looking statements.    Thus,  the  Company  cautions
readers not to place  undue reliance on any  forward-looking
statements, which speak as of the date made.

TCBY  Enterprises,  Inc.,   through  subsidiary   companies,
manufactures and sells soft serve frozen yogurt and  sorbet,
hardpack frozen  yogurt and  ice cream,  and frozen  novelty
products, and markets foodservice  equipment.  The  Company,
through subsidiaries, develops locations and products  under
the TCBY(registered) and Juice Works(registered) brands.  

                      TCBY Enterprises, Inc.
                   Selected Financial Highlights
                 ($000, Except Per Share Amounts)
                            (Unaudited)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             Quarter Ended
                                   February 28           March 1
                                      1999                1998
<S>                                <C>                 <C>
Operating Results
Sales & Franchising Revenue        $ 21,006            $ 19,209
Net Income                         $    599            $    742
Basic Earnings Per Share           $    .03            $    .03
Average Shares Outstanding           22,899              23,468
Diluted Earnings Per Share         $    .03            $    .03
Diluted Shares                       23,328              24,165
Dividends Paid Per Share           $    .05            $    .05


</TABLE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                      February 28         November 29       
                                         1999                 1998             
<S>                                <C>                 <C>
Financial Position
Current Assets                       $ 43,113            $ 46,833
Current Liabilities                  $ 12,572            $ 11,984
Property, Plant & Equipment, net     $ 35,441            $ 35,992
Total Assets                         $ 93,056            $ 94,453
Long-term Debt, less current
portion                              $  2,151            $  2,953

Stockholders' Equity                 $107,090            $107,626    
   Less Treasury  Stock              $(32,077)           $(31,430)    
Total Stockholders' Equity           $ 75,013            $ 76,196


</TABLE>