<PAGE>
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.11

                         REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
                         -----------------------------


     REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") dated as of December 18,
1998, by and among Merkert American Corporation (formerly Monroe, Inc.), a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and each of the holders named on the
signature pages hereto (collectively, the "Holders" and each individually, a
"Holder").

     This Agreement is contemplated by Section 8.1(e) of that certain Stock
Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 20, 1998, amended as of November 18, 1998
and December 15, 1998 (as so amended, the "Purchase Agreement") by and among the
Company, Merkert Enterprises, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation, Eugene F.
Merkert and the Holders.

     The parties hereby agree as follows:

     Section 1.     Definitions.
                    ----------- 

     As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:

     "Business Day" means any day other than a day on which banks are authorized
      ------------                                                              
or required to be closed in the State of New York.

     "Closing Date" has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Purchase Agreement.
      ------------                                                             

     "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
      ----------                                               

     "Common Shares" means (i) the 1,166,667 shares of Common Stock received by
      -------------                                                            
the Holders pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and (ii) any shares of Common
Stock issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant,
right or other security which is issued as) a dividend or other distribution
with respect to, or in exchange for or in replacement of, the shares of Common
Stock described in the preceding clause (i).

     "Common Stock" means the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
      ------------                                                          
Company.

     "Company" has the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall include the
      -------                                                                 
Company's successors by merger, acquisition, reorganization or otherwise.

     "Controlling Persons" has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).
      -------------------                                            

     "Damages" has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).
      -------                                            
<PAGE>
 
     "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from
      ------------                                                            
time to time, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission promulgated thereunder.

     "Holder Information" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.
      ------------------                                         

     "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability
      ------                                                                   
company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated
organization or government or other agency or political subdivision thereof.

     "Prospectus" means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement
      ----------                                                             
(including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses information
previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration
statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, and by all other
amendments and supplements to the prospectus, including post-effective
amendments, and in each case including all material incorporated by reference or
deemed to be incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

     "Qualified Holder" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
      ----------------                                            

     "Registrable Securities" means the Common Shares except for (i) Common
      ----------------------                                               
Shares the sale of which is covered by a Registration Statement that has been
declared effective under the Securities Act and (ii) Common Shares which cease
to be outstanding.

     "Registration Expenses" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.
      ---------------------                                         

     "Registration Statement" means any registration statement of the Company
      ----------------------                                                 
that covers any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement and all amendments and supplements to any such registration statement,
including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus, all
exhibits, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

     "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to
      --------------                                                           
time, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
promulgated thereunder.

     "Selling Stockholders" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
      --------------------                                            

     "Suspension Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.
      -----------------                                         

     "Suspension Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.
      -----------------                                         

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     Section  2.    Piggy-back Registrations.
                    ------------------------ 

          (a) If at any time or times after the date hereof the Company shall
determine to register under the Securities Act any shares of Common Stock
(including, but not limited to, a registration statement for a secondary
offering, but excluding a registration statement on Form S-4 or S-8 (or then
equivalent forms) or a registration statement filed in connection with an
exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company's existing
securityholders) and the form of registration statement to be used permits the
registration of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall promptly give
written notice of such proposed registration to the Holders (but in no event
less than thirty (30) days prior to the anticipated effective date of the
registration statement) and will afford any Holder who, at the time such notice
is given, does not meet the requirements of Rule 144 promulgated under the
Securities Act for such Holder to sell all of such Holder's Registrable
Securities pursuant to such Rule during the four-week period immediately
preceding the anticipated effective date of such registration statement (a
"Qualified Holder"), the opportunity to include in such registration statement
all of the Registrable Securities held by such Qualified Holder.  If within
twenty (20) days after the receipt of such notice the Company receives a written
request from any Qualified Holder for the inclusion in such registration of some
or all of the Registrable Securities held by such Qualified Holder (which
request shall specify the number of Registrable Securities intended to be
disposed of by such Qualified Holder and the intended method of distribution
thereof), the Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause
such Registrable Securities to be included in such registration on the same
terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company or any other
securityholder included therein and to permit the sale or other disposition of
such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of
distribution thereof.  The Company may withdraw a registration under this
Section 2 at any time prior to the time it becomes effective, provided that the
Company shall give prompt notice of such withdrawal to the Qualified Holders
which requested to be included in such registration.

          (b) In connection with any offering under this Section 2 involving an
underwriting, the Company shall not be required to include a Holder's
Registrable Securities in the underwritten offering unless such Holder accepts
the terms of the underwriting as agreed upon between the Company and the
underwriters selected by the Company.  If the managing underwriter of an
underwritten offering with respect to which registration has been requested by
any Holder pursuant to this Section 2 has advised the Company in writing (a copy
of which shall be provided to the Qualified Holders requesting such
registration) that, in such underwriter's good faith judgment, the number of
securities to be sold in such offering by persons other than the Company
(collectively, "Selling Stockholders") is greater than the number which can be
offered without adversely affecting such offering, then the Company may reduce
the number of securities to be included in such offering for the accounts of
Selling Stockholders (including the Holders) to a number deemed satisfactory by
the managing underwriter, provided, however, that the securities to be excluded
                          --------  -------                                    
shall be determined in the following order of priority:  first, securities held
by any Selling Stockholder not having contractual, incidental registration
rights; and second, securities held by any Selling 

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
Stockholders (including the Holders) participating in such offering pursuant to
the exercise of contractual piggyback or demand registration rights, as
determined on a pro rata basis (based upon the aggregate number of securities
held by such Selling Stockholders). In addition, if, in the written opinion of
tax counsel to the Company or its independent auditors (a copy of which shall be
provided to the Qualified Holders requesting registration), the number of
securities to be sold by Selling Stockholders in an offering with respect to
which registration has been requested by any Holder pursuant to this Section 2
could jeopardize the status of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase
Agreement as exchanges qualifying under Section 351 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, then the Company may reduce the number of securities to be
included in such offering for the accounts of Selling Stockholders (including
the Holders) to a number deemed satisfactory by such tax counsel, in the order
of priority set forth in the immediately preceding sentence.

          (c) Each Holder hereby agrees that such Holder may not participate in
any underwritten offering hereunder unless such Holder (i) agrees to sell such
Holder's Registrable Securities on the basis provided in the underwriting
arrangements for such offering, and (ii) completes and executes all customary
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and
other documents reasonably required under the terms of the underwriting
arrangements; provided, however, that no Holder shall be required to provide any
indemnification greater in scope than the indemnification provided pursuant to
Section 6(b) of this Agreement.


     Section 3.     Registration Procedures.
                    ----------------------- 

     In connection with the obligations of the Company to register Registrable
Securities pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement:

          (a) The Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a
     Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act,
     which form shall comply as to form in all materials respects with the
     requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements
     required by the Commission to be filed therewith.

           (b) The Company shall (i) prepare and file with the Commission such
     amendments and post-effective amendments to any Registration Statement as
     may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective until the
     earlier of (A) one hundred eighty (180) days following the effectiveness of
     such Registration Statement; provided, however, that such 180-day period
     shall be extended by the number of days for which any Suspension Period is
     in effect during the effectiveness of such Registration Statement, or (B)
     the completion of the proposed offering of Registrable Securities pursuant
     to such Registration Statement, (ii) cause the prospectus included in such
     Registration Statement to be supplemented by any required prospectus
     supplement, and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under
     the Securities Act and 

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
     (iii) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act applicable to it
     with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by
     such Registration Statement.

          (c) The Company shall furnish to any Holder, without charge, such
     number of conformed copies of any Registration Statement and any post-
     effective amendment thereto and such number of copies of the Prospectus
     (including each preliminary Prospectus) and any amendments or supplements
     thereto, as such Holder may reasonably request in order to facilitate the
     sale of such Holder's Registrable Securities.

          (d) The Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to
     register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by any Registration
     Statement under such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such states of
     the United States as any Holder reasonably requests; provided, however,
                                                          --------  ------- 
     that the Company shall not be required (i) to qualify generally to do
     business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to
     qualify but for this Section 3(d), (ii) to file any general consent to
     service of process, or (iii) to subject itself to taxation in any
     jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be subject to taxation.

          (e) The Company shall promptly notify each Holder of the happening of
     any event which makes any statement made in any Registration Statement or
     related Prospectus untrue or which requires the making of any changes in
     such Registration Statement or Prospectus so that it will not contain any
     untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
     required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
     in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,
     and promptly following expiration of any Suspension Period, the Company
     shall prepare and file with the Commission and furnish a supplement or
     amendment to such Prospectus so that, as thereafter deliverable to the
     purchasers of Registrable Securities, such Prospectus will not contain any
     untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
     required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
     in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

          (f) The Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to
     prevent the issuance of any order suspending the effectiveness of any
     Registration Statement, and, if one is issued, the Company shall use all
     commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order as
     promptly as practicable.

          (g) The Company shall cause the Registrable Securities included in any
     Registration Statement to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange or such
     other securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
     Section 4.  Suspension Period.
                 ----------------- 

     Each Holder, upon receipt of any notice (a "Suspension Notice") from the
Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(e) or
of any event which, in the Company's reasonable business judgment, could become
such an event, shall immediately discontinue disposition of the Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable
Securities until such Holder has received copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(e) (the period from the date on which such
Holder receives a Suspension Notice to the date on which such Holder receives
copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus is referred to herein as the
"Suspension Period").  If so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver
to the Company all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such
Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that
is current at the time of receipt of such notice.  In the event that the Company
shall give any Suspension Notice, the Company shall use all commercially
reasonable efforts and take such actions as are reasonably necessary to end the
Suspension Period as promptly as practicable.


     Section 5.   Registration Expenses.
                  --------------------- 

     Subject to the proviso below, any and all expenses incident to the
Company's performance of or compliance with this Agreement, including without
limitation Commission and securities exchange registration and filing fees, fees
and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or
"blue sky" laws, printing expenses, fees and expenses incurred in connection
with the listing of the Registrable Securities and fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company and of the independent certified public accountants of
the Company and, in connection with any piggy-back registration under Section 2,
the reasonable fees and disbursements, not to exceed $5,000 in the aggregate for
such piggy-back registration, of one firm of counsel to the Holders (all such
expenses being herein called "Registration Expenses"), will be borne by the
Company; provided, however, that Registration Expenses shall not include (a)
         --------  -------                                                  
underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to
the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities (which shall be paid by the
selling Holders pro rata based on the number of Common Shares being sold by each
Holder), (b) any fees or expenses of any counsel (other than as provided above),
accountants or other persons retained or employed by the Holders, or (c) out-of-
pocket expenses of the Holders and their agents, including, without limitation,
any travel costs.


     Section 6.   Indemnification and Contribution.
                  -------------------------------- 

     (a) Indemnification by the Company.  The Company agrees to indemnify and
         ------------------------------                                      
hold harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, each Holder, its officers,
directors, trustees, employees and agents and each Person, if any, which
controls such Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities
Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, (collectively, 

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
"Controlling Persons"), from and against all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and expenses (including without limitation any legal or other fees
and expenses reasonably incurred by any Holder or any such Controlling Person in
connection with defending or investigating any action or claim in respect
thereof) (collectively, "Damages") to which any of them may become subject under
the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such Damages arise out of or are
based upon (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained
in any Registration Statement (including any related preliminary or final
Prospectus) pursuant to which Registrable Securities were registered under the
Securities Act, or (ii) any omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such
Damages arise out of or are based upon any such untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information furnished in writing
to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein.

     (b) Indemnification by the Holders.  Each Holder agrees to indemnify and
         ------------------------------                                      
hold harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors,
officers, employees and agents and each Controlling Person of the Company, from
and against any and all Damages to which any of them may become subject under
the Securities Act or otherwise to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity
from the Company to such Holder, but only to the extent such Damages arise out
or are based upon any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement
or omission based upon information furnished to the Company in writing by such
Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement.  In no event shall the
liability of any Holder for indemnification under this Section 6(b) in its
capacity as such (and not in such Holder's capacity as an officer or director of
the Company) exceed the proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of
Registrable Securities under such Registration Statement.

     (c) Indemnification Procedures.  In case any proceeding (including any
         --------------------------                                        
governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any Person in respect
of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above,
such Person (the "indemnified party") shall promptly notify the Person against
whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing and the
indemnifying party shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the
indemnifying party may designate in such proceedings and shall pay the fees and
disbursements of such counsel relating to such proceeding.  The failure or delay
of an indemnified party to notify the indemnifying party with respect to a
particular proceeding shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any
obligation or liability which it may have pursuant to this Agreement if the
indemnifying party is not prejudiced by such failure or delay.  In any such
proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of
such indemnified party.  The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent.  No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of any indemnified
party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect any settlement
of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which such indemnified
party is a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such
indemnified party, unless such settlement 

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability
on all claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and such settlement
does not admit to the participation or conduct of any criminal activity.

     (d) Contribution.  To the extent that the indemnification provided for in
         ------------                                                         
paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 6 is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any
Damages, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of
indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Damages (i) in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by
the Company on the one hand, and each Holder on the other, from the offering of
the Registrable Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i)
above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but
also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the
other, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
Damages, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative
fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Holders on the other hand shall
be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or written
information supplied by the Holders and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.

     If indemnification is available under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section
6, the indemnifying parties shall indemnify each indemnified party to the full
extent provided in such paragraphs without regard to the relative benefits to or
relative fault of said indemnifying party or indemnified party or any other
equitable consideration provided for in this Section 6(d).

     The Company and each Holder agrees that it would not be just or equitable
if contribution pursuant to this Section 6(d) were determined by pro rata
                                                                 --- ----
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of
the equitable considerations referred to herein.  The amount paid or payable by
an indemnified party as a result of the Damages referred to in this Section 6
shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred (and
not otherwise reimbursed) by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim.  In no event shall any
Holder be required to contribute an amount under this Section 6(d) in excess of
the proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities
under the relevant Registration Statement.  No Person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
     Section 7.   Restrictions on Sales by Holders.
                  -------------------------------- 

     In the event of an underwritten public offering of securities of the
Company with respect to which the piggy-back registration rights pursuant to
Section 2 apply, each Holder who beneficially owns 5% or more of the issued and
outstanding Common Stock and who either (i) elects not to exercise such piggy-
back registration rights or (ii) elects to exercise such piggy-back registration
and all of the Registrable Securities requested by such Holder to be included in
such offering are so included, then such Holder shall, if the managing
underwriter (or underwriters) of such offering requires each director, officer
and 5% stockholder of the Company to do so, agree not to effect any sale or
disposition of any securities similar to those being registered in such offering
(other than pursuant to such offering) for such period, not to exceed the 14
days immediately prior to and the 180-day period following the effective date of
the relevant Registration Statement, as such managing underwriter(s) shall
specify.  Such agreement shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the
Company and such underwriter.


     Section 8.   Information Furnished by Holders.
                  -------------------------------- 

     Each Holder shall furnish to the Company such information ("Holder
Information") regarding such Holder and such Holder's intended method of
distribution of the Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time
reasonably request in writing in order to comply with the Securities Act and the
provisions of this Agreement.  Each Holder agrees (a) to notify the Company as
promptly as practicable of any inaccuracy or change in Holder information
previously furnished by the Holder to the Company or of the occurrence of any
event, in either case as a result of which any Prospectus contains or would
contain an untrue statement of a material fact regarding the Holder or the
Holder's intended method of distribution of the Registrable Securities or omits
or would omit to state any material fact regarding the Holder or the Holder's
intended method of distribution of the Registrable Securities required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in
light of the circumstances then existing, and (b) to promptly furnish to the
Company any additional information required to correct and update any previously
furnished Holder Information or required so that the Prospectus shall not
contain, with respect to the Holder or the Holder's intended method of
distribution of the Registrable Securities, an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then
existing.


     Section 9.   Miscellaneous.
                  ------------- 

     (a) Amendments and Waivers.  The provisions of this Agreement, including
         ----------------------                                              
the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented,
and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be
given except pursuant to a written instrument signed by the Company and the
Holders of a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities then
outstanding.

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
     (b) Notices.  All notices and other communications provided for or
         -------                                                       
permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly
given if delivered personally or sent by registered or certified mail (return
receipt requested), postage prepaid or courier to the parties at their
respective addresses set forth on the signature pages hereof  (or at such other
address for any party as shall be specified by like notice, provided that
notices of a change of address shall be effective only upon receipt thereof).
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been received:  at
the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after
being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; and on the next
Business Day if timely delivered to a courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

     (c) Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
         ----------------------                                               
and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the
parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express
assignment, subsequent Holders.  If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire
Registrable Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise,
such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this
Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such person
shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of
the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such person shall be entitled to
received the benefits hereof.

     (d) Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of
         ------------                                                  
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

     (e) Headings.  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
         --------                                                        
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

     (f) Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
         -------------                                                       
accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts without regard to
principles of conflicts of law.

     (g) Severability.  In the event that any one or more of the provisions
         ------------                                                      
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity,
legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of
the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be in any way impaired
thereby, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of the Holders
shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
     (h) Entire Agreement.  This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final
         ----------------                                                       
expression of their agreement and is intended to be the complete and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein.  There are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein.
This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the
parties with respect to such subject matter.

     (i) Further Assurances.  Each party shall cooperate and take such action as
         ------------------                                                     
may be reasonably requested by another party in order to carry out the
provisions and purposes of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby.

     (j) Rule 144.  The Company shall timely file any reports required to be
         --------                                                           
filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act to the extent required
from time to time to enable the Holders to sell Registrable Securities without
registration under the Securities Act pursuant to the exemption provided by Rule
144 under the Securities Act.  Upon request of any Holder, the Company will
deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with
such requirements.

                                 [END OF TEXT]

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights
Agreement to be duly executed by their respective officers hereunto duly
authorized, as of the day and year first above written.

                              COMPANY:

                              MERKERT AMERICAN CORPORATION


                              By: /s/ Gerald R. Leonard
                                  ---------------------
                                  Gerald R. Leonard
                                  President
                                  490 Turnpike Street
                                  Canton, MA  02021


                              HOLDERS:


                              /s/ Edward Cassorla
                              -------------------
                              Edward Cassorla
                              40 Bristol Road
                              West Newton, MA  02165


                              /s/ Kenneth D. Chipman
                              ----------------------
                              Kenneth D. Chipman
                              31 Robin Road
                              Norfolk, MA  02056


                              /s/ Robert Q. Crane
                              -------------------
                              Robert Q. Crane
                              7 Mountview Road
                              Wellesley Hills, MA  02181


                              /s/ Manley J. Kiley, Jr.
                              ------------------------
                              Manley J. Kiley, Jr.
                              35 Mill Pond Land
                              Duxbury, MA  02332

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
                              /s/ Gerald R. Leonard
                              ---------------------
                              Gerald R. Leonard
                              339 Far Reach Road
                              Westwood, MA  02090

                    MERKERT ENTERPRISES, INC. EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN


                              By: /s/ James A. Schlindwein
                                  ------------------------
                                  James A. Schlindwein, as Trustee and not
                                  individually
                                  500 Turnpike Street
                                  Canton, MA  02021


                              /s/ Sidney D. Rogers, Jr.
                              -------------------------
                              Sidney D. Rogers, Jr.
                              11 Day Street
                              Norfolk, MA  02056


                              /s/ Murray C. Rosen
                              -------------------
                              Murray C. Rosen
                              11 Fairview Drive
                              N. Caldwell, NJ  07006

                    EUGENE F. MERKERT 1984 REVOCABLE TRUST


                              By: /s/ Eugene F. Merkert
                                  ---------------------
                                  Eugene F. Merkert, Trustee
                                  2359 South Ocean Boulevard
                                  Highland Beach, FL  33487-1834


                              By: /s/ Robert Q. Crane
                                  -------------------
                                  Robert Q. Crane, Trustee
                                  7 Mountview Road
                                  Wellesley Hills, MA  02181


                              By: /s/ Tuyet Payne
                                  ---------------
                                  Tuyet Payne, Trustee

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
                    EUGENE F. MERKERT 1991 CHARITABLE REMAINDER UNITRUST


                              By: /s/ Eugene F. Merkert
                                  ---------------------
                                  Eugene F. Merkert, Trustee
                                  2359 South Ocean Boulevard
                                  Highland Beach, FL  33487-1834



                              By: /s/ Robert Q. Crane
                                  -------------------
                                  Robert Q. Crane, Trustee
                                  7 Mountview Road
                                  Wellesley Hills, MA  02181

                                       14