<PAGE>
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.12


                              TAX ESCROW AGREEMENT
                              --------------------
                                        
     AGREEMENT made as of December 18, 1998 by and among Merkert American
Corporation (formerly known as Monroe, Inc.), a Delaware corporation ("Buyer"),
Robert Q. Crane, as Stockholders' Representative (as defined in the Purchase
Agreement (as defined below)), and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as
escrow agent (the "Escrow Agent"). Capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise defined shall have the meaning provided in the Purchase Agreement, as
hereinafter defined.

     WHEREAS, Buyer, Merkert Enterprises, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation
("Merkert"), Eugene F. Merkert and the Merkert Stockholders are parties to a
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");

     WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 1.4 of the Purchase Agreement, Buyer has
agreed to deposit an amount of cash with the Escrow Agent to hold, invest and
deliver pursuant to this Agreement; and

     WHEREAS, the Escrow Agent is willing to enter into this Agreement and
perform as required herein in consideration of the premises and the mutual
obligations and promises contained in this Agreement on the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth herein.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows.

     1.   Appointment of the Escrow Agent.  Buyer and the Stockholders'
          -------------------------------                              
Representative hereby appoint and designate State Street Bank and Trust Company
as Escrow Agent for the property described herein.  The Stockholders'
Representative shall serve as exclusive representative of the Stockholders with
respect to the Escrow Fund and this Agreement.

     2.   Escrow Fund; Amounts Earned on Escrow Fund.  Buyer shall deposit with
          ------------------------------------------                           
the Escrow Agent and the Escrow Agent agrees to accept TWO HUNDRED THIRTY ONE
THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED EIGHT DOLLARS ($231,708) to be held in a designated
separate account of the Escrow Agent (the "Escrow Account").  The consideration
deposited hereunder, inclusive of any earnings on the same, shall be referred to
as the "Escrow Fund." The Escrow Fund shall be invested from time to time in
Eligible Investments (as defined in Section 22) pursuant to (and as specified
in) the written direction of Buyer received by the Escrow Agent (which direction
shall include maturity terms selected by Buyer).  The Escrow Agent shall be
entitled to presume that any maturity terms set forth in an investment
instruction from Buyer have been agreed to by Stockholders' Representative.  The
Escrow Agent is authorized to liquidate any such investment at any time when
necessary to pay any amount hereunder.  In no instance shall the Escrow Agent
have any liability for any loss on any such investment.
<PAGE>
 
     3.   Amounts Earned on Escrow Fund; Tax Matters.  All amounts earned, paid
          ------------------------------------------                           
or distributed with respect to the Escrow Fund (whether interest, dividends or
otherwise) shall become a part of the Escrow Fund and shall be held hereunder
upon the same terms as the original Escrow Fund.  The parties agree that (i) for
tax reporting purposes, and for any tax year, all interest or other income
earned from the investment of the Escrow Fund shall be allocable to Buyer and
(ii) to the extent permitted by applicable law, including Section 468B(g) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, Buyer will include all amounts earned
on the Escrow Fund in its gross incomes for federal, state and local income tax
(collectively, "income tax") purposes and pay any income tax resulting
therefrom.  Buyer and the Stockholders also agree for income tax purposes to
treat all amounts distributed to the Stockholders from the Escrow Fund as
increases in the cash portion of the Total Consideration paid by Buyer to the
Stockholders (subject to the application of Section 483 and/or 1274 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended).  Buyer agrees to provide the Escrow
Agent with a certified tax identification number by signing and returning a Form
W-9 to the Escrow Agent prior to the date on which interest or other income is
first earned by the Escrow Fund.  The parties hereto understand that, in the
event that such tax identification numbers are not certified to the Escrow Agent
prior to the date on which any income is first earned on the Escrow Fund, the
Internal Revenue Code, as amended from time to time, may require withholding of
a portion of any interest or other income earned on the investment of the Escrow
Fund.

     4.   Distribution of Escrow Fund.  Distributions from the Escrow Fund shall
          ---------------------------                                           
be made as follows:

          (a) Upon receipt by the Escrow Agent of joint written instructions
     signed by both Buyer and the Stockholders' Representative, the Escrow Agent
     shall make payments out of the Escrow Fund in accordance with such
     instructions in immediately available funds within five (5) business days
     after receipt of such instructions or as soon as possible thereafter.

          (b) Upon receipt by the Escrow Agent of a certificate (an "Interim
     Distribution Certificate") signed by Buyer certifying that (i) enclosed
     therewith is a true, accurate and complete copy of a demand for payment
     (including any assessment or determination of an amount due), relating to
     one or more Audits, from the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") and/or
     any taxing authority of any state or locality, including the Massachusetts
     Department of Revenue (any such taxing authority, the "DOR") or (ii) Buyer
     reasonably believes the amount instructed to be paid therein is payable to
     the IRS and/or the DOR, relating to one or more Audits, and instructing the
     Escrow Agent to pay to the IRS and/or the DOR, as the case may be, the
     amount set forth in such Interim Distribution Certificate, which Interim
     Distribution Certificate shall be accompanied by the demand for payment, if
     any, the Escrow Agent shall make payments to the IRS or the DOR out of the
     Escrow Fund in accordance with such Interim Distribution Certificate in
     immediately available funds within five (5) business days after receipt of
     such Interim Distribution Certificate or as soon as possible thereafter.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
          (c) Upon receipt by the Escrow Agent of a certificate (a "Final
     Distribution Certificate") signed by Buyer certifying that (i) full and
     final settlements with the IRS and the DOR of all matters relating to the
     Audits have been reached, and (ii) either (A) enclosed therewith is a true,
     accurate and complete copy of a demand for payment (including any
     assessment or determination of an amount due) from the IRS and/or the DOR
     or (B) Buyer reasonably believes the amount instructed to be paid therein
     to the IRS and/or the DOR is payable to the IRS and/or the DOR, and
     instructing the Escrow Agent to (x) pay to the IRS and/or the DOR, as the
     case may be, the amount set forth in such Final Distribution Certificate
     and (y) pay in accordance with such Final Distribution Certificate the
     remaining balance, if any, of the Escrow Fund, the Escrow Agent shall make
     payments out of the Escrow Fund in accordance with such Final Distribution
     Certificate in immediately available funds within ten (10) business days
     after receipt of such Final Distribution Certificate or as soon as possible
     thereafter.

Prior to making any payments out of the Escrow Fund pursuant to subparagraph (c)
of this Section 4, the Escrow Agent shall provide written notice to the
Stockholders' Representative that it has received a Final Distribution
Certificate (a copy of which shall accompany such notice) from Buyer.

     5.   Disputed Claims.  If a controversy arises between one or more of the
          ---------------                                                     
parties hereto, as to whether or not or to whom the Escrow Agent shall deliver
the Escrow Fund or as to any other matter arising out of or relating to the
Escrow Fund or this Agreement, the Escrow Agent shall not be required to
determine the same and thereafter shall not make any delivery of the Escrow Fund
but shall retain it until the Escrow Agent shall have either (i) received
written instructions signed by both Buyer and the Stockholders' Representative
or (ii) been directed by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction (the time
for all appeals therefrom having expired) as to the respective rights of Buyer
and the Stockholders' Representative with respect to the Escrow Fund, in which
case the Escrow Agent shall disburse the Escrow Fund in accordance with such
instructions or order within five (5) business days after the receipt thereof,
unless such instructions or order otherwise provide. The Escrow Agent shall be
entitled to assume that no such controversy has arisen unless it has received a
written notice that such a controversy has arisen which refers specifically to
this Agreement.  If a controversy of the type referred to in this Section 5
arises, the Escrow Agent may, in its sole discretion (but shall not be obligated
to), commence interpleader or similar actions or proceedings for determination
of the controversy pursuant to Section 9.

     6.   Termination.  This Agreement shall terminate when all amounts of the
          -----------                                                         
Escrow Fund have been distributed.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     7.   Scope of Undertaking.  The Escrow Agent shall have no responsibility
          --------------------                                                
or obligation of any kind in connection with this Agreement and the Escrow Fund,
and shall not be required to deliver the same or any part thereof or take any
action with respect to any matters that might arise in connection therewith,
other than to receive, hold, and make delivery of the Escrow Fund as herein
expressly provided or by reason of a judgment or order of a court of competent
jurisdiction.

     8.   Knowledge and Sufficiency of Documents.  The Escrow Agent shall not be
          --------------------------------------                                
bound by or have any responsibility with respect to compliance with any
agreement between any of the other parties hereto, irrespective of whether the
Escrow Agent has knowledge of the existence of any such agreement or terms and
provisions thereof, the Escrow Agent's only duty, liability, and responsibility
being to receive, hold and deliver the Escrow Fund as herein provided.  The
Escrow Agent shall not be required in any way to determine the validity or
sufficiency, whether in form or in substance, of the Escrow Fund or the
validity, sufficiency, genuineness or accuracy of any instrument, document,
certificate, statement or notice referred to in this Agreement or contemplated
hereby (including, without limitation, wire transfer instructions, whether
incorporated herein or provided in a separate written instruction); or the
identity or authority of the persons executing the same, and it shall be
sufficient if any writing purporting to be such instrument, document,
certificate, statement or notice is delivered to the Escrow Agent and purports
on its face to be correct in form and signed or otherwise executed by the party
or parties required to sign or execute the same under this Agreement.

     9.   Right of Interpleader.  Should any controversy arise between Buyer, on
          ---------------------                                                 
one hand, and the Stockholders' Representative, on the other, or any other
person, firm or entity, with respect to this Agreement, the Escrow Fund, or any
part thereof, or the right of any party or other person to receive the Escrow
Fund, or should such parties fail to designate another Escrow Agent as provided
in Section 17 hereof, or if the Escrow Agent should be in doubt as to what
action to take, the Escrow Agent shall have the right (but not the obligation)
to (i) withhold delivery of the Escrow Fund until the controversy is resolved as
provided in Section 5 hereof, the conflicting demands are withdrawn or its doubt
is resolved as provided in Section 5 hereof, or (ii) institute a bill of
interpleader in any court of competent jurisdiction to determine the rights of
the parties hereto (the right of the Escrow Agent to institute such bill of
interpleader, however, shall not be deemed to modify the manner in which the
Escrow Agent is entitled to make disbursements of the Escrow Fund as hereinabove
set forth, other than to tender the Escrow Fund into the registry of such
court).  Should a bill of interpleader be instituted, or should the Escrow Agent
be threatened with litigation or become involved in litigation in any manner
whatsoever on account of this Agreement or the Escrow Fund, then as between
themselves and the Escrow Agent, Buyer and the Stockholders, jointly and
severally, hereby bind and obligate themselves, their successors, heirs,
executors and assigns to pay the Escrow Agent its reasonable attorneys' fees and
any and all other disbursements, expenses, losses, costs and damages of the
Escrow Agent in connection with or resulting from such threatened or actual
litigation.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, as between themselves, Buyer and the
Stockholders shall each pay one-half of all amounts payable to the Escrow Agent
pursuant to this paragraph.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
     10.  Scope of Duties and Errors in Judgment.  It is expressly understood
          --------------------------------------                             
and agreed that the Escrow Agent shall be under no duty or obligation to give
any notice, or to do or to omit the doing of any action or anything with respect
to the Escrow Fund, except to hold the same (and any earnings thereon, pursuant
to the terms hereof) in the Escrow Account and to make disbursements in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, it is acknowledged and agreed that (i) no implied duties shall be
read into this Agreement on the part of the Escrow Agent, and (ii) the Escrow
Agent shall not be obligated to take any legal or remedial action which might in
its judgment involve it in any expense or liability for which it has not been
furnished acceptable indemnification.  The Escrow Agent, its directors, officers
and employees shall not be liable for any error in judgment or any act or steps
taken or permitted to be taken in good faith, or for any mistake of law or fact,
or for anything it may do or refrain from doing in connection herewith, except
for its own willful misconduct or gross negligence.

     11.  Indemnity.  As between themselves and the Escrow Agent, Buyer and the
          ---------                                                            
Stockholders, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify the Escrow Agent against
and hold the Escrow Agent harmless from any and all losses, costs, damages,
expenses, claims, and attorney's fees and expenses suffered or incurred by the
Escrow Agent as a result of, in connection with or arising from or out of the
acts or omissions of the Escrow Agent in performance of or pursuant to this
Agreement, except such acts or omissions as may result from the Escrow Agent's
willful misconduct or gross negligence.  In no event shall the Escrow Agent be
liable for indirect, punitive, special or consequential damages.

     Buyer and the Stockholders, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and
hold the Escrow Agent harmless from and against any taxes, additions for late
payment, interest, penalties and other expenses, that may be assessed against
the Escrow Agent with respect to any payment of Escrow Funds or other activities
under this Agreement.  Buyer and Stockholders' Representative undertake to
instruct the Escrow Agent in writing with respect to the Escrow Agent's
responsibility for withholding and other taxes, assessments, or other
governmental charges, certifications and governmental reporting in connection
with its acting as Escrow Agent under this Agreement.  Buyer and the
Stockholders, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold the Escrow
Agent harmless from any liability on account of taxes, assessments or other
governmental charges, including, without limitation, the withholding or
deduction or the failure to withhold or deduct the same, and any liability for
failure to obtain proper certifications or to properly report to governmental
authorities, to which the Escrow Agent may be or become subject in connection
with or which arises out of this Agreement, including costs and expenses
(including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses), interest and penalties.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, as between themselves, Buyer and the Stockholders
shall each pay one-half of all amounts payable to the Escrow Agent pursuant to
this paragraph. Notwithstanding any term hereof to the contrary, the terms of
this Section 11 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
     12.  Notices.  All notices under this Agreement will be in writing and will
          -------                                                               
be delivered by personal service or facsimile or certified mail (or, if
certified mail is not available, then by first class mail), postage prepaid, to
such address as may be designated from time to time by the relevant party, and
which will initially be as set forth below.  Copies of all notices shall be
given to Buyer, the Stockholders' Representative and the Escrow Agent; provided,
                                                                       -------- 
however, that the failure to give copies of such notice shall not render the
-------                                                                     
notice invalid or unenforceable.  Any notice sent by certified mail will be
deemed to have been given three (3) days after the date on which it is mailed.
Any notice transmitted by facsimile will be deemed given upon confirmation of
receipt.  All other notices will be deemed given when received.  No objection
may be made to the manner of delivery of any notice actually received in writing
by an authorized agent of a party.  Notices will be addressed as follows or to
such other address as the party to whom the same is directed will have specified
in conformity with the foregoing:

          (a)  If to Buyer:

               Merkert American Corporation
               490 Turnpike Street
               Canton, MA 02021
               Attn: President
               Facsimile:  (781) 828-8274

               With a copy to:

               Goodwin, Procter & Hoar  LLP
               Exchange Place
               53 State Street
               Boston, MA 02109
               Attn:  Robert P. Whalen, Jr., Esq.
               Facsimile: (617) 523-1231

          (b) If to the Stockholders' Representative:

               Robert Q. Crane
               7 Mountview Road
               Wellesley Hills, MA 02180

               with a copy to:

               Zack Kosnitzky, P.A.
               100 S.E. 2nd Street, Suite 2800
               Miami, FL  33131
               Attn:  Thomas O. Wells, Esq.
               Facsimile:  (305) 539-1307

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
          (c)  If to the Escrow Agent:

               State Street Bank and Trust Company
               Financial Markets Group
               Corporate Trust
               Attn: Merkert Tax Escrow Account
               Two International Place
               Boston, MA 02110
               Facsimile: (617) 664-5742

               With a copy to:

               Peabody & Arnold LLP
               50 Rowes Wharf
               Boston, MA 02110
               Attn:  Douglas C. Reynolds, Esq.
               Facsimile: (617) 951-2125

     13.  Consultation with Legal Counsel.  The Escrow Agent may consult with
          -------------------------------                                    
its in-house counsel or other counsel satisfactory to it in respect to questions
relating to its duties or responsibilities hereunder or otherwise in connection
herewith and shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted by
the Escrow Agent in good faith upon the advice of such counsel.  The Escrow
Agent may act through its officers, employees, agents and attorneys.

     14.  Choice of Laws; Cumulative Rights.  This Agreement and the disposition
          ---------------------------------                                     
hereunder shall be construed and regulated under and their validity and effect
shall be determined by The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  All of the Escrow
Agent's rights hereunder are cumulative of any other rights it may have by law
or otherwise.

     15.  Reimbursement of Expenses.  The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to
          -------------------------                                        
reimbursement from Buyer and the Stockholders of all its reasonable costs and
expenses, including reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel incurred by it
in connection with the preparation, operating, administration and enforcement of
this Agreement.  The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to reimbursement on demand
for all expenses incurred in connection with the administration of this
Agreement or the escrow created hereby which are in excess of its compensation
for normal services hereunder, including, without limitation, payment of any
legal fees and expenses incurred by the Escrow Agent in connection with
resolution of any claim by any party hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
as between themselves, Buyer and the Stockholders shall each pay one-half of all
amounts payable to the Escrow Agent pursuant to this paragraph.

     16.  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement evidences the entire agreement among
          ----------------                                                      
Buyer, the Stockholders, the Stockholders' Representative and the Escrow Agent
in connection with the Escrow Fund and no other agreement entered into between
the parties or any of them 

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
shall be considered or adopted or binding, in whole or in part, by or upon the
Escrow Agent, notwithstanding that any other such agreement may be deposited
herewith or the Escrow Agent may have knowledge thereof. This Agreement may be
amended only in writing signed by all of the parties hereto.

     17.  Resignation.  The Escrow Agent may resign upon 10 days' prior written
          -----------                                                          
notice to Buyer and the Stockholders' Representative, and upon the written
instruction of Buyer and the Stockholders' Representative, the Escrow Agent
shall deliver the Escrow Fund to any designated substitute Escrow Agent mutually
agreeable to such parties.  If Buyer and the Stockholders' Representative fail
to designate a substitute Escrow Agent within 10 days, the Escrow Agent, in its
sole discretion and its sole option, either may (i) continue to hold the Escrow
Fund, or (ii) institute a bill of interpleader as contemplated by Section 9
hereof.

     18.  Captions.  Section headings and captions have been inserted for
          --------                                                       
convenience only and do not in any way limit the provisions set out in the
various sections hereof.

     19.  Severability.  If one or more of the provisions contained herein for
          ------------                                                        
any reason shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect,
such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other
provisions hereof, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

     20.  Compensation.  Buyer and the Stockholders covenant and agree, jointly
          ------------                                                         
and severally, to pay to the Escrow Agent the fee determined by the Escrow
Agent, from time to time, to be applicable to this escrow and bear all costs and
expenses incurred by the Escrow Agent in connection therewith.  The Escrow
Agent's fees, as in effect on the date hereof, are attached hereto as Schedule
                                                                      --------
A.  Without altering or limiting the joint and several liability of Buyer and
the Stockholders hereunder, as between themselves, Buyer and the Stockholders
shall each pay one-half of all amounts payable to the Escrow Agent pursuant to
this Section 20.

     21.  Collected Funds; Collection of Items.  No monies shall be required to
          ------------------------------------                                 
be disbursed by the Escrow Agent until and unless it has collected funds.  The
Escrow Agent may pay out monies held in escrow due to any party by its check.
The Escrow Agent shall not be obligated to take any legal action to enforce
payment of any item deposited with it in escrow.

     22.  Investment.  Subject to Section 2(a) of this Agreement, the available
          ----------                                                           
uninvested portion of the Escrow Fund shall be invested (and reinvested, as the
case may be) from time to time by the Escrow Agent in any of the following
investments (collectively, "Eligible Investments"):

          (i) Short term obligations issued or guaranteed by The United States
of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof;

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
          (ii)  Certificates of deposit of or interest bearing accounts with
national banks or corporations endowed with trust powers, including the Escrow
Agent, having capital and surplus in excess of $100,000,000;

          (iii) Insured Money Market Account short term investments with
national banks or corporations endowed with trust powers, including the Escrow
Agent, having capital and surplus in excess of $100,000,000; or

          (iv)  Corporate bond funds with a rating of at least A+ or the
equivalent thereof by Standard & Poor's Corporation, at least A+ or the
equivalent thereof by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or an equivalent rating by
another nationally recognized rating agency.

     Investments pursuant to such investment instructions described above shall
in all instances be subject to availability (including any time-of-day
requirements).  In no instance shall Escrow Agent have any obligation to provide
investment advice of any kind.  The Escrow Agent shall not be required to invest
any funds held hereunder except as expressly provided in written instructions
received from Buyer pursuant to Section 2 hereof, and shall not be obligated to
pay interest on uninvested funds.  All amounts received by the Escrow Agent (and
any credits to the Escrow Account) shall be conditional upon collection (and
actual receipt by the Escrow Agent of final payment).  In no event shall the
Escrow Agent have any obligation to advance funds.

     The Escrow Agent may be authorized at all times and from time to time to
liquidate any investment of the Escrow Fund as may be necessary to provide
available cash to make any release, disbursement or payment called for under the
terms of this Agreement.  The Escrow Agent shall have no responsibility or
liability for any losses resulting from liquidation of the Escrow Fund (such as
liquidation prior to maturity).

     23.  Security Interest. The parties grant to the Escrow Agent a lien upon
          -----------------                                                   
and security interest in the Escrow Fund, to secure payment of the parties'
obligations and liabilities, both joint and several hereunder.

     24.  Execution in Counterparts.  For the convenience of the parties and to
          -------------------------                                            
facilitate execution, this Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall
constitute one and the same document and such counterparts may be delivered by
facsimile.

     25.  Consent to Jurisdiction and Service.  Buyer, each Stockholder and the
          -----------------------------------                                  
Stockholders' Representative hereby absolutely and irrevocably consents and
submits to the jurisdiction of the courts in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
and of any Federal court located in said Commonwealth in connection with any
actions or proceedings brought against Buyer, the Stockholders and/or the
Stockholders' Representative arising out of or relating to this Agreement.  In
any such action or process, Buyer, each Stockholder and the Stockholders'
Representative hereby absolutely and irrevocably waive personal service of any
summons, 

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
complaint, declaration or other process and hereby absolutely and irrevocably
agree that the service thereof may be made by certified or registered first-
class mail directed to Buyer and the Stockholders' Representative, as the case
may be, at their respective addresses in accordance with Section 12 hereof.

     26.  Force Majeure.  Neither Buyer, any Stockholder, nor the Stockholders'
          -------------                                                        
Representative nor the Escrow Agent shall be responsible for delays or failures
in performance resulting from acts beyond control.  Such acts shall include but
not be limited to acts of God, strikes, lockouts, riots, acts of war, epidemics,
governmental regulations superimposed after the fact, fire, communication line
failures, computer viruses, power failures, earthquakes or other disasters.

     27.  Binding Effect.  This Agreement shall be binding upon the respective
          --------------                                                      
parties hereto and their heirs, executors, successors and assigns.

     28.  Modifications.  This Agreement may not be altered or modified without
          -------------                                                        
the express written consent of the parties hereto.  No course of conduct shall
constitute a waiver of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, unless
such waiver is specified in writing, and then only to the extent so specified.
A waiver of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement on one occasion
shall not constitute a waiver of the other terms of this Agreement, or of such
terms and conditions on any other occasion.

     29.  Reproduction of Documents.  This Agreement and all documents relating
          -------------------------                                            
hereto, including, without limitation, (a) consents, waivers and modifications
which may hereafter be executed, and (b) certificates and other information
previously or hereafter furnished, may be reproduced by any photographic,
photostatic, microfilm, optical disk, micro-card, miniature photographic or
other similar process.  The parties agree that any such reproduction shall be
admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative
proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such
reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any
enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall
likewise be admissible in evidence.


                                 [End of Text]

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement in multiple
   counterparts, each of which is and shall be considered an original for all
       intents and purposes effective as of the date first written above.

                              MERKERT AMERICAN CORPORATION


                              By: /s/ Gerald R. Leonard
                                 ------------------------------------
                                 Gerald R. Leonard
                                 President

 
                              /s/ Robert Q. Crane
                              -----------------------------------------
                              Robert Q. Crane, as Stockholders'
                               Representative
 

                    STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, as Escrow Agent



                              By: /s/ Arthur Blakeslee
                                 ----------------------------
                                 Name:  Arthur Blakeslee
                                 Title: Assistant Vice President

                                       11