<PAGE>
 
                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.2.1


                           364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT

                         Dated as of December 23, 1997

                                     among

                             RYKOFF-SEXTON, INC.,
                                      and
                      JP FOODSERVICE DISTRIBUTORS, INC.,

                           THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO,

                              NATIONSBANK, N.A.,
                           as Administrative Agent,

                    NATIONSBANC MONTGOMERY SECURITIES, INC.
                                      and
                            CHASE SECURITIES, INC.,
                               as Co-Arrangers,

                           THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                             as Syndication Agent,

                                      and

                           BANK OF AMERICA, NT & SA,
                            as Documentation Agent
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE> 

<S>                                                                         <C> 
ARTICLE I  DEFINITIONS.......................................................1
      SECTION 1.01.  Defined Terms...........................................1
                     -------------
      SECTION 1.02.  Accounting Terms, Etc..................................31
                     ---------------------
      SECTION 1.03.  Terms Generally........................................31
                     ---------------
      SECTION 1.04.  Directly or Indirectly.................................31
                     ----------------------

ARTICLE II.  THE LOANS......................................................32
      SECTION 2.01.  Revolving Loans........................................32
                     ---------------
      SECTION 2.02   Competitive Loan Subfacility...........................35
                     ---------------------------
      SECTION 2.03.  Voluntary Termination..................................37
                     ---------------------
      SECTION 2.04.  Fees...................................................38
                     ----

ARTICLE III.  ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS REGARDING LOANS.........................38
      SECTION 3.01.  Default Rate...........................................38
                     ------------
      SECTION 3.02.  Prepayments............................................38
                     -----------
      SECTION 3.03.  Extension and Conversion...............................40
                     ------------------------
      SECTION 3.04.  Alternate Rate of Interest.............................40
                     --------------------------
      SECTION 3.05.  Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances..........41
                     ---------------------------------------------
      SECTION 3.06.  Change in Legality.....................................42
                     ------------------
      SECTION 3.07.  Indemnity..............................................43
                     ---------
      SECTION 3.08.  Mandatory Assignment; Commitment Termination...........43
                     --------------------------------------------
      SECTION 3.09.  Concerning Joint and Several Liability of the 
                     ---------------------------------------------
                     Borrowers..............................................44
                     ---------

ARTICLE IV.  PAYMENTS; PRO RATA TREATMENT; COMPUTATIONS; U.S. 
             TAXES; EVIDENCE OF LOANS.......................................46
      SECTION 4.01.  Payments and Computations..............................46
                     -------------------------
      SECTION 4.02.  Pro Rata Treatment.....................................46
                     ------------------
      SECTION 4.03.  Sharing of Payments....................................47
                     -------------------
      SECTION 4.04.  Net Payments...........................................47
                     ------------
      SECTION 4.05.  U.S. Taxes.............................................48
                     ----------
      SECTION 4.06.  Evidence of Loans......................................50
                     -----------------

ARTICLE V.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT............................................50
      SECTION 5.01.  Conditions to Closing Date.............................50
                     --------------------------
      SECTION 5.02.  Each Extension of Credit...............................52
                     ------------------------

ARTICLE VI.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; INFORMATION..............................53
      SECTION 6.01.  Reporting Requirements.................................53
                     ----------------------

ARTICLE VII.  INSPECTION OF PROPERTIES AND BOOKS............................58
      SECTION 7.01.  Inspection Rights of Administrative Agent and Lenders..58
                     -----------------------------------------------------

ARTICLE VIII.  COVENANTS....................................................59
      SECTION 8.01.  Maintenance of Certain Financial Conditions............59
                     -------------------------------------------
</TABLE> 


                                       i
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 

<S>                                                                         <C> 
      SECTION 8.02.  Debt Incurrence; Restricted Subsidiary Debt............59
                     -------------------------------------------
      SECTION 8.03.  Liens..................................................60
                     -----
      SECTION 8.04.  Sale Leasebacks........................................63
                     ---------------
      SECTION 8.05.  Restricted Payments; Restricted Investments............63
                     -------------------------------------------
      SECTION 8.06.  Subsidiary Stock and Debt..............................65
                     -------------------------
      SECTION 8.07.  Consolidation, Merger, Sale of Assets, etc.............66
                     ------------------------------------------
      SECTION 8.08.  Transactions with Affiliates; Tax Consolidation........67
                     -----------------------------------------------
      SECTION 8.09.  Nature of Business.....................................68
                     ------------------
      SECTION 8.10.  Books and Records; Fiscal Year.........................68
                     ------------------------------
      SECTION 8.11.  Corporate Existence; Licenses..........................69
                     -----------------------------
      SECTION 8.12.  Payment of Taxes, Claims for Labor and Materials, etc..69
                     -----------------------------------------------------
      SECTION 8.13.  Maintenance of Properties..............................69
                     -------------------------
      SECTION 8.14.  Insurance..............................................69
                     ---------
      SECTION 8.15.  Compliance with Laws...................................70
                     --------------------
      SECTION 8.16.  Environmental Matters..................................71
                     ---------------------
      SECTION 8.17.  Maintenance of Office..................................71
                     ---------------------
      SECTION 8.18.  Future Restricted Subsidiaries.........................71
                     ------------------------------
      SECTION 8.19.  Year 2000..............................................72
                     ---------

ARTICLE IX.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BORROWERS................72
      SECTION 9.01.  Organization and Authority of the Borrowers, etc.......72
                     ------------------------------------------------
      SECTION 9.02.  Subsidiaries...........................................73
                     ------------
      SECTION 9.03.  Qualification..........................................73
                     -------------
      SECTION 9.04.  Financial Statements...................................74
                     --------------------
      SECTION 9.05.  Changes, etc...........................................74
                     -------------
      SECTION 9.06.  Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, etc...........74
                     --------------------------------------------
      SECTION 9.07.  Consents and Approvals.................................75
                     ----------------------
      SECTION 9.08.  Debt, etc..............................................75
                     ----------
      SECTION 9.09.  Title to Property; Leases; Investments; Existing 
                     ------------------------------------------------
                     Affiliate Agreements...................................75
                     --------------------
      SECTION 9.10.  Litigation.............................................76
                     ----------
      SECTION 9.11.  Taxes..................................................76
                     -----
      SECTION 9.12.  Compliance with ERISA..................................77
                     ---------------------
      SECTION 9.13.  Use of Loan Proceeds; Margin Regulations...............78
                     ----------------------------------------
      SECTION 9.14.  Licenses, Patents, Trademarks, Authorizations, etc.....78
                     --------------------------------------------------
      SECTION 9.15.  Status Under Certain Statutes; Other Regulations.......79
                     ------------------------------------------------
      SECTION 9.16.  Labor Matters..........................................79
                     -------------
      SECTION 9.17.  Full Disclosure........................................79
                     ---------------
      SECTION 9.18.  Environmental Matters..................................79
                     ---------------------
      SECTION 9.19.  Solvency...............................................80
                     --------

ARTICLE X.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT...............................................80
      SECTION 10.01.  Events of Default.....................................81
                      -----------------
      SECTION 10.02.  Acceleration; Remedies................................84
                      ----------------------

ARTICLE XI.  ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT...........................................85
      SECTION 11.01.  Appointment and Authorization.........................85
                      -----------------------------
</TABLE> 


                                       ii
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 

<S>                                                                         <C> 
      SECTION 11.02.  General Immunity......................................85
                      ----------------
      SECTION 11.03.  Consultation with Professionals.......................85
                      -------------------------------
      SECTION 11.04.  Documents.............................................85
                      ---------
      SECTION 11.05.  Rights as a Lender....................................86
                      ------------------
      SECTION 11.06.  Responsibility of Administrative Agent................86
                      --------------------------------------
      SECTION 11.07.  Action by Administrative Agent........................86
                      ------------------------------
      SECTION 11.08.  Notices of Event of Default, Etc......................87
                      ---------------------------------
      SECTION 11.09.  Indemnification of Administrative Agent...............87
                      ---------------------------------------
      SECTION 11.10.  No Representations....................................87
                      ------------------
      SECTION 11.11.  Resignation; Removal..................................88
                      --------------------
      SECTION 11.12.  Syndication Agent, Documentation Agent and 
                      ------------------------------------------
                      Co-Arrangers..........................................89
                      ------------

ARTICLE XII.  MISCELLANEOUS.................................................89
      SECTION 12.01.  Notices...............................................89
                      -------
      SECTION 12.02.  Survival of Agreement.................................90
                      ---------------------
      SECTION 12.03.  Binding Effect........................................90
                      --------------
      SECTION 12.04.  Benefit of Agreement..................................90
                      --------------------
      SECTION 12.05.  No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative........................92
                      ------------------------------
      SECTION 12.06.  Payment of Expenses, Etc..............................92
                      -------------------------
      SECTION 12.07.  Amendments, Waivers and Consents......................93
                      --------------------------------
      SECTION 12.08.  Counterparts..........................................93
                      ------------
      SECTION 12.09.  Headings..............................................94
                      --------
      SECTION 12.10.  Survival of Indemnification...........................94
                      ---------------------------
      SECTION 12.11.  Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Venue; 
                      ------------------------------------------------
                      Waiver of Jury Trial..................................94
                      --------------------
      SECTION 12.12.  Severability..........................................95
                      ------------
      SECTION 12.13.  Term..................................................95
                      ----
      SECTION 12.14.  Entirety..............................................95
                      --------
</TABLE> 


                                      iii
<PAGE>
 
                                   SCHEDULES
                                   ---------

Schedule I       Lenders, Lender Addresses and Commitment Percentages
Schedule II      Intentionally Left Blank
Schedule III     Form of Guarantor Joinder Agreement
Schedule IV      Form of Guaranty Agreement
Schedule V       Form of Notice of Borrowing
Schedule VA-1    Form of Competitive Bid Request
Schedule VA-2    Form of Notice of Receipt of Competitive Bid Request
Schedule VA-3    Form of Competitive Bid
Schedule VA-4    Form of Competitive Bid Accept/Reject Letter
Schedule VI      Form of Notice of Extension/Conversion
Schedule VII     Existing Investments of the Borrowers and Subsidiaries
Schedule VIII    Information Concerning Subsidiaries and Qualification
Schedule IX      Existing Debt of the Borrowers and Subsidiaries
Schedule X       Existing Affiliate Agreements
Schedule XI      Environmental Matters
Schedule XII     Approvals
Schedule XIII    Existing Leases of the Borrowers and Subsidiaries
Schedule XIV     Form of Lender Assignment Agreement
Schedule XV      Anticipated RSI Sales

                                      iv
<PAGE>
 
THIS 364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT (as amended from time to time, the "Agreement"),
                                                                  ---------   
dated as of December 23, 1997, is made by and among RYKOFF-SEXTON, INC., a
Delaware corporation, and JP FOODSERVICE DISTRIBUTORS, INC., a Delaware
corporation; the lenders listed on Schedule I (the "Lenders"); NATIONSBANK,
                                   ----------       -------                
N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the
"Administrative Agent"); NATIONSBANC MONTGOMERY SECURITIES, INC. and CHASE
---------------------                                                     
SECURITIES, INC., as Co-Arrangers; THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Syndication
Agent; and BANK OF AMERICA, NT & SA, as Documentation Agent.

WHEREAS, the Borrowers have requested that the Lenders provide a $200 million
364-day revolving credit facility for the purposes hereinafter set forth;

WHEREAS, the Lenders have agreed to make the requested credit facility available
to the Borrowers on the terms and conditions hereafter set forth;

NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the premises and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the
parties hereto agree as follows:


                                   ARTICLE I

                                  DEFINITIONS

     SECTION 1.01.  Defined Terms.
                    ------------- 

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

     "Acquired Assets" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
      ---------------                                                     
definition of "Operating Cash Flow".

     "Acquired Subsidiary" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
      -------------------                                                     
definition of "Operating Cash Flow".

     "Acquired Unit Adjustment" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
      ------------------------                                                 
the definition of "Operating Cash Flow".

     "Additional Portion" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
      ------------------                                                 
Section 8.07(f)(ii).

     "Administrative Agent" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
      --------------------                                                     
heading hereof.

     "Administrative Agent's Fee Letter" means that letter agreement dated as of
      ---------------------------------                                         
August 15, 1997 among the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, as amended and
modified.
<PAGE>
 
     "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any designated Person, any other
      ---------                                                              
Person (a) directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries,
controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with
such designated Person, (b) which beneficially owns or holds 5% or more of the
shares of any class of Voting Stock (or in the case of a Person which is not a
corporation, 5% or more of the equity interest) of such designated Person, or
(c) 5% or more of any class of the Voting Stock (or in the case of a Person
which is not a corporation, 5% or more of the equity interest) of which is
beneficially owned or held by such designated Person; provided, however, that
                                                      --------  -------      
none of the Lenders shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Borrowers or any
of their Subsidiaries solely by reason of ownership of any obligations of the
Borrowers to such Lender hereunder and under the other Credit Documents or by
reason of having the benefits of any agreements or covenants of the Borrowers
contained in this Agreement.  For purposes of this definition, "control"
(including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlled by" and "under
common control with"), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the
ownership of Voting Stock (or other equity interest) or by contract or
otherwise.

     "Agents' Fees" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
      ------------                                                         
2.04(b).

     "Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the heading
      ---------                                                             
hereof.

     "Anticipated RSI Sales" shall mean the sale by either Borrower or any of
      ---------------------                                                  
their Restricted Subsidiaries of assets listed for sale (i) as of the Closing
Date, as identified on Schedule XV attached, or expected to be sold in
                       -----------                                    
connection with the integration of the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries
following the consummation of the Merger Transaction, including the
manufacturing business and redundant assets from mergers and acquisitions, and
(ii) after the Closing Date as the Borrowers may request, subject to the
reasonable review and approval by the Administrative Agent, provided that the
Board of Directors shall determine that such assets are redundant and provide an
explanation for its conclusion and the sale shall be identified and approved
within a period of two (2) years from the Closing Date (although consummation of
any such sale may occur thereafter).

     "Applicable Margin" shall mean, for purposes of calculating (i) the
      -----------------                                                 
applicable interest rate for any day for any Eurodollar Loan or (ii) the
applicable rate for the Facility Fee for any day for purposes of Section
2.04(a), the applicable margin corresponding to the Total Debt Ratio described
below in effect as of the most recent Determination Date:

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
                                                   Applicable
                                                     Margin     Applicable
                                                      for         Margin
  Pricing                 Total Debt               Eurodollar      for
   Level                     Ratio                   Loans     Facility Fee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>           <C>                                  <C>         <C>
    VI        Greater than 4.5 to 1.0               57.5 bps     17.5 bps
        
    V         Equal to or less than 4.5 to 1.0      47.5 bps     15.0 bps
              but greater than 4.0 to 1.0
        
    IV        Equal to or less than 4.0 to 1.0      37.5 bps     12.5 bps
              but greater than 3.5 to 1.0
        
   III        Equal to or less than 3.5 to 1.0      30.0 bps     10.0 bps
              but greater than 3.0 to 1.0
        
    II        Equal to or less than 3.0 to 1.0      24.5 bps     8.0 bps
              but greater than 2.5 to 1.0
        
    I         Equal to or less than 2.5 to 1.0      19.5 bps     5.5 bps
</TABLE>

Determination of the appropriate Applicable Margins based on the Total Debt
Ratio shall be made as of each Determination Date.  The Total Debt Ratio in
effect as of a Determination Date shall establish the Applicable Margins that
shall be effective as of the date designated by the Administrative Agent as the
Applicable Margin Change Date.  The Administrative Agent shall determine the
Applicable Margins as of each Determination Date occurring after the Closing
Date and shall promptly notify the Borrowers and the Lenders of the Applicable
Margins so determined and of the related Applicable Margin Change Date.  Such
determinations by the Administrative Agent of the Applicable Margin shall be
rebuttably presumptive evidence thereof absent manifest error.  As of the
Closing Date and until the first Applicable Margin Change Date, (a) the
Applicable Margin for purposes of calculating the applicable interest rate for
any Eurodollar Loan shall be 47.5 bps and (b) the Applicable Margin for purposes
of calculating the Facility Fee shall be 15.0 bps.

     "Applicable Margin Change Date" shall mean, with respect to any
      -----------------------------                                 
Determination Date, a date designated by the Administrative Agent that is not
more than five (5) Business Days after receipt by the Administrative Agent of
the Required Financial Information for such Determination Date.

     "Asset Disposition" means (i) the sale or other disposition of any property
      -----------------                                                         
or asset by the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries other than as
permitted by the provisions of Section 8.07(a) through (e), and (ii) receipt by
the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries of any cash insurance proceeds
or condemnation award payable by reason of theft, loss, physical destruction or
damage, taking or similar event with respect to their property or assets; but
excluding, in any event, Anticipated RSI Sales and Tax Reduction Transactions.

     "Attributable Debt" shall mean, with respect to any Sale Leaseback which
      -----------------                                                      
occurs after the date hereof (other than a Sale Leaseback which shall have been
entered into in compliance 

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
with Section 8.04(b)), as of any date of determination, the lesser of (a) the
fair market value of the property subject to such Sale Leaseback (as determined
by the Board of Directors) at the time of sale thereof and (b) the present value
(discounted in accordance with GAAP at the debt rate implicit in the lease of
such property) as of such date of determination of all amounts (whether
designated as rentals or additional or supplemental rentals or otherwise)
payable by the lessee during the remaining term of such Sale Leaseback
(including any period for which such Sale Leaseback has been extended and any
renewal periods as to which the lessor has the option), excluding, however,
amounts so payable on account of maintenance, ordinary repairs, insurance,
taxes, assessments and other charges which cover the cost of, or reimburse the
lessor for, costs related to such Sale Leaseback or the property subject thereto
or to the use, holding or operation thereof.

     "Base Rate" shall mean, for any day, a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if
      ---------                                                                
necessary, to the nearest whole multiple of 1/16 of 1%) equal to the greater of
(a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1% or (b)
the Prime Rate in effect on such day.  For purposes hereof, (i) "Prime Rate"
shall mean the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time
by NationsBank as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in Charlotte,
North Carolina; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective on the date
such change is publicly announced as effective and (ii) "Federal Funds Effective
Rate" shall mean, for any day, the weighted average of the rates on overnight
Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System, or, if
such rate is not so released for any day which is a Business Day, the arithmetic
average (rounded upwards to the next 1/100th of 1%), as determined by the
Administrative Agent, of the quotations for the day of such transactions
received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of
recognized standing selected by it.  If for any reason the Administrative Agent
shall have determined (which determination shall be rebuttably presumptive
evidence thereof absent manifest error) that it is unable to ascertain the
Federal Funds Effective Rate for any reason, including the inability of the
Administrative Agent, despite its reasonable efforts, to obtain sufficient
quotations in accordance with the terms hereof, the Base Rate shall be
determined without regard to clause (a) of the first sentence of this definition
until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist.  Any
change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds
Effective Rate shall be effective on the effective date of such change in the
Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

     "Base Rate Loan" shall mean any Loan bearing interest at a rate determined
      --------------                                                           
by reference to the Base Rate in accordance with the provisions of Article II.

     "Board of Directors" shall mean, the Board of Directors of a Borrower or a
      ------------------                                                       
duly authorized committee of directors lawfully exercising the relevant powers
of such Board of Directors.

     "Borrower Group Member" shall mean the Borrowers, each Subsidiary, and each
      ---------------------                                                     
of their respective predecessors and (a) each corporation that is or was at any
time a member of the same controlled group of corporations (within the meaning
of Section 414(b) of the Code) as the Borrowers or any Subsidiary, or any of
their respective predecessors, (b) each trade or business,

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
whether or not incorporated, that is or was at any time under common control
(within the meaning of Section 414(c) of the Code) with the Borrowers or any
Subsidiary, or any of their respective predecessors, and (c) each trade or
business, whether or not incorporated, that is or was at any time a member of
the same affiliated service group (within the meaning of Sections 414(m) and (o)
of the Code) as the Borrowers or any Subsidiary, or any of their respective
predecessors.

     "Borrower Premises" shall mean real property in which the Borrowers, any
      -----------------                                                      
Subsidiary, or any Person which has been a Subsidiary at any time has or ever
had any direct or indirect interest, including, without limitation, ownership
thereof, or any arrangement for the lease, rental or other use thereof, or the
retention or claim of any mortgage or security interest therein or thereon.

     "Borrowers" means JPFDI and RSI, together with successors and permitted
      ---------                                                             
assigns.

     "Business Day" shall mean any day (other than a day which is a Saturday,
      ------------                                                           
Sunday or legal holiday in the State of North Carolina) on which banks are open
for business in Charlotte, North Carolina and New York, New York; provided,
                                                                  -------- 
however, that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term
-------                                                                
"Business Day" shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for
dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

     "Business or Condition", of any Person, shall mean the business,
      --------    ---------                                          
operations, assets, properties, earnings or condition (financial or other) of
such Person, provided that, such term, when used without reference to any
             --------                                                    
particular Person, shall mean the Business or Condition of the Borrowers and
their Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

     "Capital Lease" shall mean, as applied to any Person, any lease of any
      -------------                                                        
property (whether real, personal or mixed) by such Person as lessee which would,
in accordance with GAAP, be required to be classified and accounted for as a
capital lease on the balance sheet of such Person or in the notes thereto, other
than, in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary, any such lease under which a
Borrower or a Predominantly Owned Restricted Subsidiary is the lessor.

     "Capital Lease Obligation" shall mean, as at any date, with respect to any
      ------------------------                                                 
Capital Lease, the amount of the obligation of the lessee thereunder which
would, in accordance with GAAP, appear on a balance sheet of such lessee or in
the notes thereto in respect of such Capital Lease.

     "Change of Control" shall mean any acquisition subsequent to the Closing
      -----------------                                                      
Date by any Person or group of Persons (within the meaning of Section 13 or 14
of the Exchange Act), of (a) beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of a majority of the Voting Stock of the Company
or (b) all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company.
For purposes of this definition, "acquisition" by any Person or Persons of the
Voting Stock or properties and assets referred to in the preceding sentence
shall mean the earlier of (i) the actual possession thereof and (ii) the
consummation of any transaction or series of transactions which, with the
passage of time, will give such Person or Persons the actual possession thereof.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
     "Change of Control Offer" shall mean the offer by RSI to purchase the
      -----------------------                                             
Indenture Notes required to be made pursuant to Article XI of the Indenture as a
result of and following consummation of the Merger Transaction.

     "Chase" shall mean The Chase Manhattan Bank, a New York state banking
      -----                                                               
association.

     "Closing Date" shall mean the date of this Agreement.
      ------------                                        

     "Closing Date Intangibles" shall mean all goodwill and other intangible
      ------------------------                                              
assets that appear on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrowers and their
Restricted Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP as of the Closing Date
immediately after giving effect to the consummation of the Merger Transaction.

     "Co-Arrangers" shall mean NationsBanc Montgomery Securities, Inc. and Chase
      ------------                                                              
Securities, Inc.

     "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any
      ----                                                                   
successor statute thereto, as interpreted by the rules and regulations issued
thereunder, in each case as in effect from time to time.

     "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission and any
      ----------                                                           
other similar or successor agency of the Federal government administering the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

     "Commitment" shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of
      ----------                                                            
such Lender to make Revolving Loans in an aggregate principal amount at any time
outstanding of up to such Lender's Commitment Percentage multiplied by the
Revolving Committed Amount (as such Revolving Committed Amount may be reduced
from time to time pursuant to Section 2.03).

     "Commitment Percentage" shall mean, for each Lender, the percentage
      ---------------------                                             
identified as its Commitment Percentage opposite such Lender's name on Schedule
                                                                       --------
I, as such percentage may be modified in connection with any assignment made in
-                                                                              
accordance with the terms of Section 12.04(b).

     "Company" means JP Foodservice, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
      -------                                                     

     "Competitive Bid" means an offer by a Lender to make a Competitive Loan
      ---------------                                                       
pursuant to the terms of Section 2.02.

     "Competitive Bid Rate" means, as to any Competitive Bid made by a Lender in
      --------------------                                                      
accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02, the fixed rate of interest
offered by the Lender making the Competitive Bid.

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
     "Competitive Bid Request" means a request by a Borrower for Competitive
      -----------------------                                               
Bids in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02(b).

     "Competitive Bid Request Fee" shall have the meaning assigned to such term
      ---------------------------                                              
in Section 2.04(c).

     "Competitive Loan" means a loan made by a Lender in its discretion pursuant
      ----------------                                                          
to the provisions of Section 2.02.

     "Competitive Loan Lenders" means, at any time, those Lenders which have
      ------------------------                                              
Competitive Loans outstanding.

     "Competitive Loan Maximum Amount" shall have the meaning assigned to such
      -------------------------------                                         
term in Section 2.02(a).

     "Computation Period" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
      ------------------                                                 
Section 8.05.

     "Consolidated Net Income" shall mean, for any period, the net income (or
      -----------------------                                                
deficit) of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries for such period
(taken as a cumulative whole) determined in accordance with GAAP on a
consolidated basis, after deducting portions of income properly attributable to
outside minority interests, if any, in the stock and surplus of any Restricted
Subsidiary; provided, however, that there shall in any event be excluded from
            --------  -------                                                
Consolidated Net Income (without duplication):

          (a) amortization of Closing Date Intangibles;

          (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it
     becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with a
     Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary;

          (c) any amount representing the interest of a Borrower or any
     Restricted Subsidiary in the earnings of any Person other than a Restricted
     Subsidiary, except to the extent that any such earnings have been actually
     received by a Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in the form of cash
     dividends or similar distributions;

          (d) any portion of the net income of a Restricted Subsidiary which for
     any reason is unavailable for the payment of dividends to a Borrower or
     another Restricted Subsidiary;

          (e) any deferred credit (or amortization of a deferred credit)
     representing the excess of the equity in any Person at the date of
     acquisition thereof over the cost of the Investment in such Person;

          (f) the proceeds of any life insurance policy;

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
          (g) any item properly classified as extraordinary in accordance with
     GAAP; and

          (h) all non-cash, non-recurring expenses, to the extent taken into
     account in computing earnings or unusual or extraordinary items, charges
     taken with respect to mergers and other expenses funded by equity such as
     401(k) stock contributions, performance stock awards and the like;

and provided further, however, that (x) in determining Consolidated Net Income
    -------- -------  -------                                                 
for any period during which JPFDI shall have sold the Everett Facility, losses
from such sale or other disposition shall be disregarded to the extent the
aggregate amount of all such losses (computed without regard to Closing Date
Intangibles allocable to such facility) does not exceed $3,300,000 on an after
tax basis and (y) gains in excess of losses during any period from the sale or
other disposition by the Borrowers or the Restricted Subsidiaries in the
ordinary course of business of trucks, forklifts, trailers, scrubbers, sweepers,
refrigerators or like equipment shall not be excluded from Consolidated Net
Income for such period.

     "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" shall mean, as of any date, the
      --------------------------------                                 
consolidated assets of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries appearing
on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrowers and their Restricted
Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date plus all
receivables outstanding under Permitted Receivables Financings less the sum
(without duplication) of all amounts which would appear on such balance sheet in
respect of (a) reserves for depreciation, depletion, obsolescence and/or
amortization of properties and all other reserves properly attributable to
assets set aside in connection with the business conducted by the Borrowers and
their Restricted Subsidiaries, (b) goodwill, trademarks, tradenames, copyrights,
patents, licenses, permits, franchises, unamortized debt discount and expense,
experimental and organization expense and all other assets which under GAAP are
deemed intangible, (c) any write-up in the book value of any assets subsequent
to the date of the most recent audited financial statements referred to in
Section 9.04, (d) Restricted Investments (valued at the book value thereof) and
(e) all liabilities other than minority interests, deferred taxes and Funded
Debt.

     "Consolidated Net Worth" shall mean, as of any date, (a) the sum of capital
      ----------------------                                                    
stock (but excluding capital stock subscribed for but unissued) and surplus
(including retained earnings, additional paid-in capital and the balance of the
current profit and loss account not transferred to surplus) accounts of the
Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries appearing on a consolidated balance
sheet of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries prepared in accordance
with GAAP as of such date, after eliminating all amounts properly attributable
to outside minority interests in Restricted Subsidiaries plus (b) the amount of
the aggregate amortization of Closing Date Intangibles expensed in accordance
with GAAP subsequent to the Closing Date to and including such date of
determination to the extent such amortization has reduced the surplus accounts
of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries appearing on a balance sheet
of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with
GAAP as of the Closing Date (after giving effect to the consummation of the
Merger Transaction).

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
     "Credit Documents" shall mean this Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement
      ----------------                                                   
(including any Guarantor Joinder Agreement) and all other related agreements and
documents issued or delivered under this Agreement or under the Guaranty
Agreement (including any Guarantor Joinder Agreement) or pursuant hereto or
thereto.

     "Credit Obligations" shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.09(b).
      ------------------                                                     

     "Debt" shall mean, as applied to any Person, as of any date of
      ----                                                         
determination (without duplication):

          (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or evidenced by
     bonds, debentures, notes, drafts or similar instruments, or upon which
     interest payments are customarily made except for all such obligations of
     each Restricted Subsidiary or Borrower to one or more of the Company, the
     Borrowers and the other Restricted Subsidiaries;

          (b) all obligations of such Person for all or any part of the deferred
     purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable
     arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue by more
     than 45 days or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate
     proceedings) or for the cost of property constructed or of improvements;

          (c) all obligations secured by any Lien other than a Lien deemed to
     exist in connection with any Permitted Receivables Financing (including any
     related filings of financing statements) provided that (i) for purposes of
     Section 8.01(c), all Permitted Receivables Financing Amounts shall be
     considered Debt, (ii) the Borrowers or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries
     may consummate a Permitted Receivables Financing otherwise permitted by the
     terms of this Agreement notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.02, and
     (iii) for no purpose other than determination of "Total Debt Ratio" as used
     herein (including as used in the definition of "Applicable Margin" and in
     Section 8.01(c)) shall any obligation incurred by the Borrowers or any of
     their Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to any Permitted Receivables
     Financing be considered Debt, and it being understood and agreed that the
     Permitted Receivables Financing Amount in respect of any Permitted
     Receivables Financing shall be deemed to be an obligation secured by Liens
     in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing on or payable out of
     the proceeds of production from property owned or held by such Person even
     though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such
     obligations;

          (d) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person;

          (e) all preferred stock issued by such Person or required by the terms
     thereof to be redeemed, or for which mandatory sinking fund payments are
     due, by a fixed date;

          (f) the aggregate amount of the net liability exposure of such Person
     under all Hedging Agreements relating to speculative hedge arrangements
     (those hedge 

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
     arrangements which are required to be marked-to-market under GAAP) as
     determined under GAAP; and

          (g) all Guaranties by such Person of or with respect to obligations of
     the character referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (f) of
     another Person;

provided, however, that in determining the Debt of JPFDI, so long as the Sara
--------  -------                                                            
Lee Offset Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall be
effective to permit the offset of principal and interest due under the Sara Lee
Note against principal and interest due under PYA's Note (or to establish
JPFDI's obligation in respect of the indebtedness evidenced by the Sara Lee Note
from and after a prepayment in full of PYA's Note as the remaining principal
balance of the Sara Lee Note after offset against amounts owing thereon of the
principal of and accrued and unpaid interest to the date of prepayment on the
PYA Note), the Debt evidenced by the Sara Lee Note shall be deemed equal to the
net amounts for which JPFDI is obligated under the Sara Lee Offset Agreement.

     "Default" shall mean the occurrence of any default which upon notice, lapse
      -------                                                                   
of time or both would constitute an Event of Default.

     "Determination Date" shall mean each date which shall be the last day of a
      ------------------                                                       
fiscal quarter of the Borrowers.

     "Disposed Assets" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
      ---------------                                                     
definition of "Operating Cash Flow".

     "Disposed Subsidiary" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
      -------------------                                                     
definition of "Operating Cash Flow".

     "Disposed Unit Adjustment" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
      ------------------------                                                 
the definition of "Operating Cash Flow".

     "Documentation Agent" means Bank of America, NT & SA, as identified in the
      -------------------                                                      
heading hereto.

     "Dollars", "dollars" or "$" shall mean lawful money of the United States of
      -------    -------      -                                                 
America.

     "Eligible Assignee" shall mean (i) any Lender or any Affiliate or
      -----------------                                               
Subsidiary of a Lender, and (ii) any other commercial bank reasonably acceptable
to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers.

     "Environmental Claims" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
      --------------------                                                 
Section 9.18(c).

     "Environmental Law" shall mean any past, present or future Federal, state
      -----------------                                                       
or local law, or any regulation, ordinance, code, plan, Order, permit, grant,
franchise, concession, restriction or agreement issued, entered, promulgated or
approved thereunder, relating to (a) the environment, 

                                      10
<PAGE>
 
human health or safety, including, without limitation, emissions, discharges,
releases or threatened releases of Hazardous Substances into the environment, or
(b) the manufacture, generation, refining, processing, distribution, use, sale,
treatment, receipt, storage, disposal, transport, arranging for transport, or
handling of Hazardous Substances.

     "Environmental Permits" shall mean, collectively, any and all permits,
      ---------------------                                                
consents, licenses, approvals and registrations of any nature at any time
required pursuant to or in order to comply with any Environmental Law.

     "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
      -----                                                                    
amended, and any successor statute thereto, as interpreted by the rules and
regulations thereunder, all as the same may be in effect from time to time.
References to sections of ERISA shall be construed also to refer to any
successor sections.

     "Eurocurrency Liabilities" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
      ------------------------                                                 
Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in
effect from time to time.

     "Eurodollar Loan" shall mean any Revolving Loan bearing interest at a rate
      ---------------                                                          
determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate in accordance with the provisions
of Article II.

     "Eurodollar Rate" shall mean for the Interest Period for each Eurodollar
      ---------------                                                        
Loan comprising part of the same borrowing (including conversions, extensions
and renewals), a per annum interest rate equal to the per annum rate determined
by the Administrative Agent on the basis of the offered rates for deposits in
dollars for a period of time corresponding to such Interest Period (and
commencing on the first day of such Interest Period), which appear on the
Reuters Screen LIBO Page as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) Business Days
before the first day of such Interest Period (provided that, if at least two
                                              --------                      
such offered rates appear on the Reuters Screen LIBO Page, the rate in respect
of such Interest Period will be the arithmetic mean of such offered rates).  As
used herein, "Reuters Screen LIBO Page" means the display designated as page
"LIBO" on the Reuters Monitor Money Rates Service (or such other page as may
replace the LIBO page on that service for the purpose of displaying London
interbank offered rates of major banks).

     "Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage" shall mean, in respect of any Lender
      ----------------------------------                                      
and any Interest Period relating to any Eurodollar Loan of such Lender, the
reserve percentage applicable to such Lender during such Interest Period under
Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or, if
more than one such percentage shall be so applicable, the daily average of such
percentages for those days in such Interest Period during which any such
percentages shall be so applicable) for determining the reserve requirement
(including, without limitation, any marginal reserve requirement) for such
Lender with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including
Eurocurrency Liabilities (such Eurocurrency Liabilities having a term equal to
such Interest Period).

     "Event of Default" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
      ----------------                                                         
10.01.

                                      11
<PAGE>
 
     "Everett Facility" shall mean the facility owned by JPFDI on the date
      ----------------                                                    
hereof in Everett, Massachusetts.

     "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any
      ------------                                                        
similar Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, all as the same may be in effect from time to time.

     "Existing Affiliate Agreements" shall have the meaning assigned to such
      -----------------------------                                         
term in Section 8.08(a).

     "Extension of Credit" shall mean the making of any Loan hereunder.
      -------------------                                              

     "Facility Fee" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
      ------------                                                         
2.04(a).

     "Federal Funds Effective Rate" shall have the meaning assigned to such term
      ----------------------------                                              
within the definition of "Base Rate".

     "Fees" shall mean all fees payable pursuant to Section 2.04.
      ----                                                       

     "Five Year Credit Agreement" shall mean that Five Year Credit Agreement
      --------------------------                                            
dated as of the date hereof, as amended and modified from time to time, among
the Borrowers, the Lenders identified therein and NationsBank, as Administrative
Agent.

     "Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" shall mean, for the Borrowers and their
      ---------------------------                                         
Restricted Subsidiaries, as of any Determination Date, the number obtained by
dividing (a) Net Income Available for Fixed Charges for the period ("Coverage
                                                                     --------
Period") of four consecutive fiscal quarters ended on such Determination Date
------                                                                       
(on a pro forma basis (after giving effect to the Merger Transaction) for any
Determination Date that occurs prior to the third quarter of fiscal year 1999)
by (b) Fixed Charges for such Coverage Period.

     "Fixed Charges" shall mean, for any period, the sum of the following
      -------------                                                      
amounts:  (a) Interest Expense for such period, plus (b) the aggregate amount of
                                                ----                            
Operating Lease Rentals accrued (whether or not actually paid) during such
period.

     "Foreign Bank" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
      ------------                                                     
definition of "Restricted Investment".

     "Fractional Share Cash Payments" shall mean payments of cash by the Company
      ------------------------------                                            
in lieu of issuance of fractional shares of common stock of the Company in
connection with the Merger Transaction.

     "Funded Debt" shall mean, as applied to any Person, as of any date of
      -----------                                                         
determination thereof, all Debt of such Person, whether secured or unsecured,
having a final maturity (or which, pursuant to the terms of a revolving credit
agreement or otherwise, is renewable or extendable at the option of such Person
for a period ending) more than one year after such date of 

                                      12
<PAGE>
 
determination, notwithstanding the fact that (a) payments in respect thereof
(whether installment, serial maturity or sinking fund payments or otherwise) are
required to be made by such Person on demand or within one year after such date
or (b) all or any part of the amount thereof is at the time also included in
current liabilities of such Person.

     "Further Period" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
      --------------                                                         
8.07(f)(ii).

     "GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles as from time to
      ----                                                                     
time set forth in the opinions of the Accounting Principles Board of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and in statements by the
Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such opinions and statements of such
other entities as shall be approved by a significant segment of the accounting
profession in the United States of America, but subject to Section 1.02.

     "Governmental Body" shall mean any Federal, state, municipal, local or
      -----------------                                                    
other governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency,
instrumentality, political subdivision or taxing authority, of any country.

     "Guarantors" shall mean the Company and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries
      ----------                                                                
of the Borrowers which is a party to the Guaranty Agreement, including each
Subsidiary of the Borrowers which becomes a party to the Guaranty Agreement
pursuant to a Guarantor Joinder Agreement.

     "Guarantor Joinder Agreement" shall mean a Guarantor Joinder Agreement
      ---------------------------                                          
substantially in the form of Schedule III.
                             ------------ 

     "Guaranty" shall mean, as applied to any Person, any direct or indirect
      --------                                                              
liability, contingent or otherwise, of such Person with respect to any
indebtedness, lease, dividend or other obligation of another, including, without
limitation, any such obligation directly or indirectly guaranteed, endorsed
(otherwise than for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business) or
discounted or sold with recourse by such Person, or in respect of which such
Person is otherwise in any manner directly or indirectly liable, including,
without limitation, any such obligation in effect guaranteed by such Person
through any agreement (contingent or otherwise) to (a) purchase, repurchase or
otherwise acquire such obligation or any security therefor, or to provide funds
for the payment or discharge of such obligation (whether in the form of loans,
advances, stock purchases, capital contributions or otherwise), or (b) maintain
the solvency or any balance sheet or other financial condition of the obligor of
such obligation, or (c) make payment for any products, materials or supplies or
for any transportation or services regardless of the non-delivery or non-
furnishing thereof, in any such case if the purpose or intent of such agreement
is to provide assurance that such obligation will be paid or discharged, or that
any agreements relating thereto will be complied with, or that the holders of
such obligation will be protected against loss in respect thereof.  For purposes
of all computations made under this Agreement, the amount of any Guaranty shall
be equal to the amount of the obligation guaranteed or, if not stated or
determined, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof
(assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such
Person in good faith.

                                      13
<PAGE>
 
     "Guaranty Agreement" shall mean the Guaranty Agreement in the form attached
      ------------------                                                        
as Schedule IV.
   ----------- 

     "Hazardous Substances" shall mean and include those substances included
      --------------------                                                  
within the definitions of "hazardous substances," "hazardous materials," "toxic
substances" or "solid waste" in the Comprehensive Environmental Response
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. (S) 9601 et seq.) , as amended
                                                           -- ----              
by Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (Pub. L. (S) 99-499 100
Stat. 1613), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. (S)
6901 et seq.) and the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, (49 U.S.C. (S)
     -- ----                                            
1801 et seq.), and in the regulations promulgated pursuant to said laws, all as
     -- ----                                            
amended; and in any event shall include medical wastes, infectious wastes,
asbestos, paint containing lead, and urea formaldehyde.

     "Hedging Agreement" shall mean any agreement entered into by a Person for
      -----------------                                                       
protection against future fluctuations in interest rates, foreign exchange
rates, commodities prices, or the like (including, but not limited to, interest
rate and/or currency swap arrangements, interest rate, currency and/or
commodities future or option contracts, and other similar agreements) and which
creates a contingent obligation of such Person to make any payments (other than
payments in respect of any fee or charge for contracting to provide the
protection provided by such agreement) to the holder(s) thereof or
counterparty(ies) thereunder upon the culmination or termination of such
agreement or otherwise.

     "IDB Debt" shall mean Debt incurred to finance the construction or
      --------                                                         
acquisition of industrial or pollution control facilities pursuant to state or
local law, and recourse to a Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect
of which is limited solely to the property subject to such Liens.

     "Indenture" shall mean the Indenture dated as of November 1, 1993 between
      ---------
RSI and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A., as trustee, pursuant to which RSI issued
the Indenture Notes, as amended by the Supplemental Indenture dated as of May
17, 1996 by and among RSI, the guarantors set forth therein, and Norwest Bank
Minnesota, N.A., as trustee, as the same may be further restated, extended,
renewed, amended or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time.

     "Indenture Guarantees" shall mean those certain Indenture Guarantees from
      --------------------                                                    
JPFDI and each Subsidiary of the Borrowers which as of the Closing Date shall be
a Restricted Subsidiary, substantially in the form of Exhibit B to the Indenture
                                                      ---------                 
as originally executed and delivered, providing among other things for the
subordinated guaranty by JPFDI and each Restricted Subsidiary party thereto of
all amounts from time to time owing by RSI under the Indenture, as such
Indenture Guarantees may be amended or otherwise modified from time to time
(including by any joinder agreement effective to constitute as a Guarantor under
and within the meaning thereof any Subsidiary which on or following the Closing
Date shall be designated or redesignated a Restricted Subsidiary and which shall
be or concurrently become a Guarantor under and within the meaning of the
Indenture Guarantees in compliance with Section 8.18).

                                      14
<PAGE>
 
     "Indenture Note" shall mean any one of the 8-7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes
      --------------                                                            
due 2003 issued by RSI pursuant to the Indenture, as the same may be restated,
extended, renewed, amended, or otherwise modified and in effect from time to
time.

     "Interest Expense" shall mean, as applied to any Person, for any period,
      ----------------                                                       
the sum of the following amounts for such Person:  (a) the aggregate amount of
all interest accrued (whether or not actually paid) during such period on Debt
(including, without limitation, (i) imputed interest on Capital Lease
Obligations and (ii) all imputed interest, whether in the form of "yield",
"discount" or other similar item, that accrues in respect of the Permitted
Receivables Financing Amount of any Permitted Receivables Financing entered into
by such Person (or by any Subsidiary of such Person or any other Person
"controlled" (as such term is defined in the Securities Act) by such Person),
together with any fees payable thereunder, plus (b) amortization of debt
                                           ----                         
discount and expense during such period (excluding deferred financing
amortization), plus (c) all fees and commissions payable in connection with any
               ----                                                            
letters of credit during such period.  Unless otherwise specified, any reference
to Interest Expense for any period is intended as a reference to the sum for
such period of said amounts for the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries
on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP after eliminating all amounts
properly attributable to outside minority interests in Restricted Subsidiaries.

     "Interest Payment Date" shall mean (i) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last
      ---------------------                                                   
day of each March, June, September and December, the date of repayment of the
principal of such Loan and the Maturity Date and (ii) as to any Eurodollar Loan
or Competitive Loan, the last day of each Interest Period for such Loan and the
Maturity Date, and in addition where the applicable Interest Period is more than
3 months, then also on the date 3 months from the beginning of the Interest
Period, and each 3 months thereafter.  If an Interest Payment Date falls on a
date which is not a Business Day, such Interest Payment Date shall be deemed to
be the next succeeding Business Day, except that in the case of Eurodollar Loans
where the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar
month, then on the next preceding Business Day.

     "Interest Period" shall mean (i) as to any Eurodollar Loan, a period of
      ---------------                                                       
one, two, three or six months' duration, as the Borrowers may elect, commencing
in each case on the date of the borrowing (including conversions, extensions and
renewals) and (ii) as to any Competitive Loan, a period commencing in each case
on the date of borrowing and ending on the date specified in the applicable
Competitive Bid whereby the offer to make such Competitive Loan was extended
(such ending date in any event to be not less than 7 nor more than 180 days from
the date of borrowing); provided, however, (A) if any Interest Period would end
                        --------  -------                                      
on a day which is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to
the next succeeding Business Day (except that, with respect to any Eurodollar
Loan, where the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next succeeding
calendar month, then on the next preceding Business Day), (B) no Interest Period
shall extend beyond the Maturity Date, (C) as to Competitive Loans, no Interest
Period shall extend beyond the Revolving Period Termination Date, and (D) in the
case of Eurodollar Loans, where an Interest Period begins on a day for which
there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month in which the
Interest Period is to end, such Interest Period shall, subject to clause (A)
above, end on the last Business Day of such calendar month.

                                      15
<PAGE>
 
     "Investment" shall mean, as applied to any designated Person, any direct or
      ----------                                                                
indirect purchase or other acquisition by such designated Person for cash or
other property of (a) stock, debt or other securities of any other Person, or
any direct or indirect loan, advance, extension of credit or capital
contribution by such designated Person to any other Person or any Guaranty by
such designated Person with respect to the Debt of such other Person, including
all Debt of and accounts receivable from any such other Person which are not
current assets or did not arise from sales to such other Person in the ordinary
course of business, or (b) any interest in any kind of property or assets,
whether real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible.  In computing the
amount involved in any Investment, (i) undistributed earnings of, and interest
accrued in respect of Debt owing by, any such other Person accrued after the
date of such Investment shall not be included, (ii) there shall not be deducted
from the amounts invested in any such other Person any amounts received as
earnings (in the form of dividends, interest or otherwise) on such Investment or
as loans or advances from such other Person, and (iii) unrealized increases or
decreases in value, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs, of Investments in
any such other Person shall be disregarded.

     "JPFDI" means JP Foodservice Distributors, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
      -----                                                                  

     "Lenders" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the heading
      -------                                                             
hereof.  The term "Lenders" shall also include within the meaning thereof any
Person which becomes a Lender in accordance with the terms of Section 12.04(b).

     "Licenses" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.14.
      --------                                                               

     "Lien" shall mean, as to any Person, any mortgage, lien (statutory or
      ----                                                                
other), pledge, assignment, hypothecation, adverse claim, charge, security
interest or other encumbrance in or on, or any interest or title of any vendor,
lessor, lender or other secured party to or of such Person under any conditional
sale, trust receipt or other title retention agreement or Capital Lease with
respect to, any property or asset of such Person, or the signing or filing of a
financing statement which names such Person as debtor, or the signing of any
security agreement authorizing any other party as the secured party thereunder
to file any financing statement which names such Person as debtor.  For purposes
of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be the owner of any property
which it has placed in trust for the benefit of holders of Debt of such Person
which Debt is deemed to be extinguished under GAAP but for which such Person
remains legally liable, and such trust shall be deemed to be a Lien.

     "Loan" or "Loans" shall mean the Revolving Loans (or any Revolving Loan
      ----      -----                                                       
bearing interest at the Base Rate or the Eurodollar Rate and referred to as a
Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Loan) and/or the Competitive Loans, individually
or collectively, as appropriate.

     "Mandate Letter" shall mean the letter agreement dated August 15, 1997,
      --------------                                                        
among the Borrowers, NationsBank and NationsBanc Montgomery Securities, Inc.
<PAGE>
 
     "Material Adverse Change"; "Material Adverse Effect"; "Materially Adverse"
      -----------------------    -----------------------    ------------------ 
in, on or to, as appropriate, any Person, shall mean a material adverse change
in such Person's Business or Condition, a material adverse effect on such
Person's Business or Condition or an event which is materially adverse to such
Person's Business or Condition; provided that, (a) any such term, when used
                                --------                                   
without reference to any particular Person, shall mean such change in or effect
on or event adverse to, as the case may be, the Borrowers and their Restricted
Subsidiaries taken as a whole, and (b) any impairment in any material respect of
the ability of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole
to pay any principal, interest or Fees in accordance with the terms hereof and
of the other Credit Documents, any material impairment of the ability of the
Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole to perform the
other material obligations of such Persons under this Agreement and the other
Credit Documents, or any circumstance or occurrence which (except a default by
the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, the Co-Arrangers, the Syndication Agent
or the Documentation Agent) would impair the enforceability as against the
Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary of any material term of this Agreement or
any of the other Credit Documents, shall in any case be deemed to have resulted
in a material adverse change in, to have a material adverse effect on, and to be
materially adverse to, the Borrowers' Business or Condition.

     "Maturity Date" shall have the meaning given to the term "Maturity Date" in
      -------------                                                             
the Five Year Credit Agreement as in effect on the Revolving Period Termination
Date.

     "Merger Agreement" shall mean the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
      ----------------                                                          
June 30, 1997, as amended as of September 3, 1997 and November 5, 1997, together
with all exhibits and schedules thereto, by and among the Company, Hudson
Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and RSI.

     "Merger Transaction" shall mean the transaction in which, among other
      ------------------                                                  
things, (i) RSI shall be merged with and into Hudson Acquisition Corp., a wholly
owned subsidiary of the Company, and (ii) each issued and outstanding share of
common stock of RSI, other than shares, if any, owned by RSI, the Company or
Hudson Acquisition Corp. shall be converted into the right to receive 0.775 of a
share of common stock of the Company, all upon the terms and conditions set
forth in the Merger Agreement.

     "Merger Transaction Costs" shall mean costs associated with the Merger
      ------------------------                                             
Transaction, which costs shall not be materially greater than the amounts
disclosed in the Registration Statement (approximately $107,000,000 pre-tax),
including, without limitation, the following costs:  (i) legal, accounting,
financial advisory and other professional fees; (ii) employee severance and
change in control costs; (iii) costs of facility consolidations; (iv)
governmental filing fees and printing costs related to the Registration
Statement; and (v) the makewhole amounts payable in connection with payment of
the Notes; provided that such costs may exceed the amount so disclosed so long
as the payment or incurrence  of such excess costs does not have a Material
Adverse Effect.

     "Moody's" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of
      -------                                                                   
"Restricted Investment".

                                      17
<PAGE>
 
     "Multiemployer Plan" shall mean a plan defined as such in Section 3(37) of
      ------------------                                                       
ERISA to which any Borrower Group Member is making or incurring an obligation to
make, or has made or incurred an obligation to make, contributions.

     "Multiple Employer Plan" shall mean a Plan to which any Borrower Group
      ----------------------                                               
Member, and at least one employer other than a Borrower Group Member, is making
or incurring an obligation to make contributions or has made or incurred an
obligation to make contributions.

     "NationsBank" shall mean NationsBank, N.A., a national banking association.
      -----------                                                               

     "Net Income Available for Fixed Charges" shall mean, for any period, (a)
      --------------------------------------                                 
the net income (or deficit) of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP after eliminating all
non-cash or nonrecurring items (whether cash or non-cash and whether or not
deemed extraordinary in accordance with GAAP) for such period, plus (b) the sum
                                                               ----
of the following amounts, in each case to the extent deducted in arriving at the
amount determined in accordance with the foregoing subdivision (a): (i) Interest
Expense, (ii) provisions for taxes imposed on or measured by income or excess
profits, (iii) Operating Lease Rentals accrued (whether or not actually paid),
and (iv) provision for depreciation and amortization; provided, however, that in
                                                      --------  -------
determining the net income (or deficit) of the Borrowers and their Restricted
Subsidiaries pursuant to the foregoing subdivision (a) for any period during
which JPFDI shall have sold or otherwise disposed of the Everett Facility,
losses from such sale or other disposition shall be disregarded to the extent
the aggregate amount of all such losses (computed without regard to Closing Date
Intangibles attributable to such facility) does not exceed $3,300,000 on an
after tax basis.

     "Net Receivables" shall mean, on any day, in respect of any Permitted
      ---------------                                                     
Receivables Financing, the outstanding balance of accounts receivable sold,
transferred, pledged or otherwise subject to Liens, in each case, to or in favor
of a Receivables Financier (as hereinafter defined) in connection with such
Permitted Receivables Financing, excluding any accounts receivable not included
in the calculation of the Receivables Financier's percentage interest in the
Transferred Assets (as hereinafter defined) (it being understood that only the
percentage interest shall be included in this calculation) or borrowing base
(such excluded accounts receivable may include, without limiting the foregoing
in any manner, any such accounts receivable (x) not meeting the eligibility
criteria under such Permitted Receivables Financing, (y) exceeding the
applicable concentration limits set forth for such Permitted Receivables
Financing, or (z) which are or become defaulted, delinquent, charged-off or
otherwise cease to be creditworthy as set forth in, and as determined in
accordance with, such Permitted Receivables Financing).

     "Net Sale Proceeds" shall mean, with respect to any sale of assets, an
      -----------------                                                    
amount equal to the excess of

               (i)  the greater of (x) the aggregate gross sale price of the
     assets sold in such sale and (y) the fair market value of such assets (as
     determined by the Board of Directors at the time of such sale) over

                                      18
<PAGE>
 
               (ii) the reasonable and customary costs and expenses incurred by
     a Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in effecting such sale.

     "Net Worth Minimum" shall mean, as of any date, the sum of (i) eighty-five
      -----------------                                                        
percent (85%) of Consolidated Net Worth as of December 31, 1997 (after giving
effect to the consummation of the Merger Transaction and after giving effect to
all Merger Transaction Costs) plus (ii) on the last day of each fiscal quarter
                              ----                                            
to occur after the Closing Date an amount (but not less than zero) equal to 50%
of the Consolidated Net Income of the Borrowers and their Restricted
Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter, such increases to be cumulative, plus
                                                                       ----
(iii) eighty percent (80%) of the effect (positive or negative) on Consolidated
Net Worth from acquisitions permitted hereunder.

     "Note" shall mean any one of the 8.55% Senior Notes due 2004 issued by
      ----                                                                 
JPFDI pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreements, as the same may be restated,
extended, renewed, amended, or otherwise modified and in effect from time to
time.

     "Note Guaranties" shall mean those certain Guaranty Agreements dated as of
      ---------------                                                          
November 10, 1994, from each Subsidiary of JPFDI which as of the Closing Date
shall be a Restricted Subsidiary, substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1 to
each of the Note Purchase Agreements as originally executed and delivered,
providing among other things for the guaranty by each Restricted Subsidiary
party thereto of all amounts from time to time owing by JPFDI under the
respective Note Purchase Agreements, as such Guaranty Agreements may be amended
or otherwise modified from time to time (including by any joinder agreement in
the form of Exhibit B-2 to each of said Note Purchase Agreements effective to
constitute as a Guarantor under and within the meaning thereof any Subsidiary of
JPFDI which on or following the Closing Date shall be designated or redesignated
a Restricted Subsidiary and which shall be or concurrently become a Guarantor
under and within the meaning of the Guaranty Agreements in compliance with
Section 8.18).

     "Note Purchase Agreement" shall mean any one of the Note Purchase
      -----------------------                                         
Agreements dated as of November 10, 1994, as amended as of November 10, 1994 and
as of May 29, 1996, by and between JPFDI and the holder of the Note, as the same
may be further restated, extended, renewed, amended or otherwise modified and in
effect from time to time.

     "Notice of Borrowing" shall mean a written notice of borrowing in
      -------------------                                             
substantially the form of Schedule V, as required by Section 2.01(b).
                          ----------                                 

     "Notice of Extension/Conversion" shall mean a written notice of continuance
      ------------------------------                                            
or conversion of one or more Loans in substantially the form of Schedule VI, as
                                                                -----------    
required by Section 3.03.

     "Officers' Certificate" shall mean a certificate executed on behalf of a
      ---------------------                                                  
Borrower by two of its executive officers, one of whom shall be its Chairman of
the Board of Directors (if an officer) or its Chief Executive Officer, or
President or one of its Senior Vice Presidents, and one of whom shall be its
Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer.

                                      19
<PAGE>
 
     "Operating Cash Flow" shall mean, for any period, (a) the net income (or
      -------------------                                                    
deficit) of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP after eliminating all non-cash or
nonrecurring items (whether cash or non-cash and whether or not deemed
extraordinary in accordance with GAAP) for such period; plus (b) the sum of the
                                                        ----                   
following amounts, in each case to the extent deducted in arriving at such
amount determined in accordance with the foregoing subdivision (a):

          (i)    Interest Expense,

          (ii)   provisions for taxes imposed on or measured by income or
     excess profits, and

          (iii)  provisions for depreciation and amortization, plus (c) the sum
                                                               ----
     (without duplication) of the following items to the extent not included in
     the amounts determined pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) above (such sum
     being herein called the "Acquired Unit Adjustment"):
                              ------------------------ 

          (i)    the net income (or net deficit) for such period of each Person
     which shall have become a Restricted Subsidiary during such period (an
     "Acquired Subsidiary") after eliminating all non-cash or nonrecurring items
     --------------------                                                       
     (whether cash or non-cash and whether or not deemed extraordinary in
     accordance with GAAP),

          (ii)   the net income (or net deficit) derived during such period from
     any operating assets acquired by the Borrowers or a Restricted Subsidiary
     during such period ("Acquired Assets"), and
                          ---------------       

          (iii)  the sum (without duplication) of the following items to the
     extent deducted in determining net income of any Acquired Subsidiary or
     derived from any Acquired Assets for such period:  (A) Interest Expense of
     such Acquired Subsidiary or associated with such Acquired Assets, (B)
     provisions for taxes imposed on or measured by income or excess profits of
     such Acquired Subsidiary or associated with such Acquired Assets, and (C)
     provisions for depreciation and amortization of such Acquired Subsidiary or
     associated with such Acquired Assets;

minus (d) the sum of the following items to the extent included in the amounts
-----                                                                         
determined pursuant to subdivisions (a), (b) and (c) above (such sum being
herein called the "Disposed Unit Adjustment"):
                   ------------------------   

          (i)    the net income (or net deficit) for such period of each Person
     which shall have ceased to be a Restricted Subsidiary during such period (a
     "Disposed Subsidiary") after eliminating all non-cash or nonrecurring items
      -------------------                                                       
     (whether cash or non-cash and whether or not deemed extraordinary in
     accordance with GAAP),

                                      20
<PAGE>
 
          (ii)   the net income (or net deficit) derived during such period from
     any assets which were sold or otherwise disposed of by the Borrowers or a
     Restricted Subsidiary during such period ("Disposed Assets"), and
                                                ---------------       

          (iii)  the sum (without duplication) of the following items to the
     extent deducted in determining net income of any Disposed Subsidiary or
     derived from any Disposed Assets for such period:  (A) Interest Expense of
     such Disposed Subsidiary or associated with such Disposed Assets, (B)
     provisions for taxes imposed on or measured by income or excess profits of
     such Disposed Subsidiary or associated with such Disposed Assets for such
     period, and (C) provisions for depreciation and amortization of such
     Disposed Subsidiary or associated with such Disposed Assets;

provided, however, that (1) for purposes of determining Operating Cash Flow for
--------  -------                                                              
any period, the Acquired Unit Adjustment and the Disposed Unit Adjustment shall
be determined by the Borrowers in accordance with sound financial practice (and
on the basis, to the extent available, of appropriate financial statements and
tax returns for such period) and shall be set forth in a certificate of the
principal financial officer of each of the Borrowers accompanied by calculations
in reasonable detail showing the manner of determination thereof, which
certificate shall be furnished to the Administrative Agent and each of the
Lenders not later than the certificate required to be furnished by the Borrowers
in respect of such period pursuant to Section 6.01(c), and (2) no amount shall
in any event be includable in Operating Cash Flow pursuant to subdivision (c) of
this definition for any period in respect of any Acquired Unit Adjustment unless
the amount and calculation thereof, as set forth in the certificate for such
period required by the foregoing clause (1), shall be reasonably acceptable to
the Required Lenders; and provided further, however, that in determining the net
                          -------- -------  ------- 
income (or deficit) of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant
to the foregoing subdivision (a) for any period during which JPFDI shall have
sold or otherwise disposed of the Everett Facility, losses from such sale or
other disposition shall be disregarded to the extent the aggregate amount of all
such losses (computed without regard to Closing Date Intangibles attributable to
such facility) does not exceed $3,300,000 on an after tax basis.

     "Operating Lease" shall mean an operating lease of property in accordance
      ---------------                                                         
with GAAP (real, personal or mixed) having an original term (including terms of
renewal or extension at the option of the lessor or the lessee, whether or not
any such option has been exercised) of more than one year, other than (a) a
Capital Lease and (b) in the case of any Subsidiary, any such lease under which
a Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary is the lessor.

     "Operating Lease Rentals" shall mean, as applied to the Borrowers and their
      -----------------------                                                   
Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the total amount (whether designated as
rentals or additional or supplemental rentals or otherwise) payable as lessee
under all Operating Leases during such period, including amounts so payable
during such period by reason of a lease termination or a surrender of property
but excluding amounts so payable on account of maintenance, ordinary repairs,
insurance, taxes, assessments and other charges which cover the cost of, or
reimburse the lessor for, costs related to the applicable Operating Lease or the
property subject thereto or to the use, holding or operation thereof.

                                      21
<PAGE>
 
     "Order" shall mean any order, writ, injunction, decree, judgment, award,
      -----                                                                  
determination, direction or demand.

     "Participation Interest" shall mean the extension of credit by a Lender by
      ----------------------                                                   
way of a purchase of a participation in any Loans as provided in Section 4.03.

     "PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established
      ----                                                                 
pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA and any successor thereof.

     "Permitted Payments" shall mean any payments of, or any payments made in
      ------------------                                                     
connection with or related to, (i) Merger Transaction Costs, (ii) Fractional
Share Cash Payments, (iii) a Change of Control Offer, (iv) a Redemption of the
Indenture Notes or (v) the prepayment of the Notes.

     "Permitted Receivables Financing" shall mean any transaction involving one
      -------------------------------                                          
or more sales, contributions or other conveyances by a Borrower and/or any
Restricted Subsidiary of any accounts receivable (together with certain related
property relating thereto and the right to collections thereon, being the
"Transferred Assets") to a Subsidiary (including a Subsidiary which is a
-------------------                                                     
Restricted Subsidiary) or Affiliate of a Borrower (with respect to any such
transaction, the "Receivables Financing SPC"), which Receivables Financing SPC
                  -------------------------                                   
then either (x) sells (as determined in accordance with GAAP) such Transferred
Assets (or undivided interests therein) to any Person that is not a Subsidiary
or Affiliate of a Borrower (with respect to any such transaction, the
"Receivables Financier"), (y) borrows from such Receivables Financier and
 ---------------------                                                   
secures such borrowings by a pledge of such Transferred Assets and/or (z)
otherwise finances its acquisition of such Transferred Assets and, in connection
therewith, conveys an interest in such Transferred Assets to the Receivables
Financier, provided that (i) such receivables financing shall not involve any
           --------                                                          
recourse to a Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Receivables
Financing SPC) for any reason other than (A) repurchases of non-eligible
receivables, (B) indemnifications for losses (including any adjustments for
dilutions), other than credit losses related to the receivables transferred in
such financing, and (C) payment of costs, fees, expenses and indemnities
relating to such receivables financing, (ii) such receivables financing shall
not include any Guaranty by a Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, it being
understood that payment by a Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any amount
of the type described in the immediately preceding clause (i) which is owing by
it to the Receivables Financing SPC shall not be deemed to be a Guaranty
notwithstanding that an identical amount may be owing by the Receivables
Financing SPC to the Receivables Financier, (iii) the Administrative Agent shall
be reasonably satisfied with the structure of and documentation for any such
transaction and the terms of such transaction, including any applicable discount
at which receivables are sold to the Receivables Financier and any termination
events, shall be (in the good faith understanding of the Administrative Agent)
consistent with those prevailing in the market for similar transactions
involving receivables and originators of similar credit quality and a
receivables pool of similar characteristics or shall otherwise be reasonably
acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and (iv) the documentation for such
transaction shall not be amended or modified to permit the acquisition of
interests in the Transferred Assets by the Receivables 

                                      22
<PAGE>
 
Financier in excess of the Permitted Receivables Financing Over-
Collateralization Amount, to change or modify any provision of any Subordinated
Intercompany Revolving Note or any provision of any agreement relating to the
calculation of any amount due or to become due in respect thereof, or in any
other manner which, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent, is
materially inconsistent with the terms and provisions hereof (and/or any other
amendment which deals with the requirements for a Permitted Receivables
Financing) (other than, in each case, for the requirement that any such
amendment or modification (or any of the relevant documents affected thereby)
satisfy the requirements set forth in the immediately preceding clause (iii))
without the prior written approval of the Administrative Agent (which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld). Each of the Pre-Existing Receivables
Financings constitutes a Permitted Receivables Financing.

     "Permitted Receivables Financing Amount" shall mean at any time with
      --------------------------------------                             
respect to any Permitted Receivables Financing, the aggregate balance of all
cash received by the Receivables Financing SPC from the Receivables Financier in
respect of purchase proceeds or principal under such financing minus the
aggregate amount of all payments received by the Receivables Financier and
applied to the repayments of such amounts; it being understood and agreed that
any amounts previously applied as aforesaid which are subsequently required to
be repaid, disgorged or otherwise returned by the Receivables Financier shall be
deemed to have never been received and applied by the Receivables Financier.

     "Permitted Receivables Financing Over-Collateralization Amount" shall mean,
      -------------------------------------------------------------             
with respect to any Permitted Receivables Financing, the excess from time to
time of (x) the outstanding face amount of the Net Receivables subject to the
Receivables Financier's interest in connection with such financing (it being
understood that if such interest is a percentage interest only that percentage
of such Net Receivables shall be included in this calculation) over (y) the
Permitted Receivables Financing Amount of such Permitted Receivables Financing.

     "Person" shall mean any individual, corporation, association, partnership,
      ------                                                                   
joint venture, limited liability company, trust or estate, organization,
business, government or agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other
entity.

     "Plan" shall mean any employee pension benefit plan (as defined in Section
      ----                                                                     
3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, subject to Title IV of ERISA or
the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of
ERISA and established, maintained or contributed to at any time by any Borrower
Group Member.

     "Predominantly Owned Restricted Subsidiary" shall mean any Restricted
      -----------------------------------------                           
Subsidiary at least 80% of all of the equity interests of each class of which
and at least 80% of the voting interests of which shall at the time be owned by
a Borrower either directly or through one or more other Predominantly Owned
Restricted Subsidiaries.

     "Pre-Existing Receivables Financings" shall mean the transactions provided
      -----------------------------------                                      
for in the Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of May 30, 1996 among JPFDI,
Illinois Fruit & Produce Corp., Sky Bros., Inc., JPFD Funding Company and JP
Foodservice, Inc. and the 

                                      23
<PAGE>
 
Transfer and Administration Agreement dated as of May 30, 1996 among Enterprise
Funding Corporation, JPFD Funding Company, JPFDI, NationsBank and certain other
financial institution investors, and the transactions contemplated in the 
Rykoff-Sexton Receivables Master Trust Pooling Agreement dated as of November
15, 1996 (the "Rykoff-Sexton Pooling Agreement") among RF Funding, Inc., US
               -------------------------------
Foodservice, Inc. and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as supplemented by the Series
1996-1 Supplement thereto dated as of November 15, 1996, including all fundings,
financings, facilities and purchases of accounts receivable outstanding under
such agreements as of the Closing Date and any subsequent increases or
extensions of such fundings, financings, facilities or purchases (including, in
the case of the Rykoff-Sexton Pooling Agreement, the issuance of additional
certificates).

     "Prime Rate" shall have the meaning assigned to such term within the
      ----------                                                         
definition of "Base Rate".

     "Priority Debt Amount" shall mean, as of any date, that portion of Debt in
      --------------------                                                     
an amount equal to the sum (without duplication) of (a) all Attributable Debt of
the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date, plus (b) the
                                                                 ----        
aggregate principal amount outstanding on such date of all Debt of the Borrowers
and their Restricted Subsidiaries secured by Liens (other than Liens permitted
by Section 8.03(a) through (g)), plus (c) the aggregate principal amount
                                 ----
outstanding on such date of all Debt of Restricted Subsidiaries (exclusive of
(x) Debt of any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the Guaranty Agreement and the
Guaranty Agreement under the Five Year Credit Agreement, (y) to the extent not
exceeding in aggregate principal amount for all Restricted Subsidiaries the
aggregate original principal amount of the Indenture Notes, Debt of any
Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the Indenture Guarantees, and (z) to the
extent not exceeding in aggregate principal amount for all Restricted
Subsidiaries the aggregate original principal amount of the Notes, Debt of any
Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the Note Guaranties).

     "PYA" shall mean PYA/Monarch, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
      ---                                                       

     "PYA's Note" shall mean that certain promissory note of PYA, dated March
      ----------                                                             
10, 1989, in the original principal amount of $110,000,000, and payable to
JPFDI, which bears interest at rates between 10.35% and 10.8% per annum, as such
note shall be in effect on the Closing Date.

     "Receivables Financier" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
      ---------------------                                                     
definition of "Permitted Receivables Financing" set forth in this Section 1.01.

     "Receivables Financing SPC" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
      -------------------------                                                 
the definition of "Permitted Receivables Financing" set forth in this Section
1.01.

     "Redemption of the Indenture Notes" shall mean (i) a redemption of the
      ---------------------------------                                    
Indenture Notes, in whole or in part, by RSI pursuant to Article III of the
Indenture or (ii) a purchase of the Indenture Notes by the Company, a Borrower
or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to a tender offer or one or more privately
negotiated transactions.

                                      24
<PAGE>
 
     "Registration Statement" shall mean the Company's Registration Statement on
      ----------------------                                                    
Form S-4 (File No. 333-32711) declared effected by the Commission on November
24, 1997.

     "Reportable Event" shall mean any of the events set forth in Section
      ----------------                                                   
4043(b) of ERISA or the regulations thereunder.

     "Required Financial Information" shall mean, with respect to the applicable
      ------------------------------                                            
Determination Date, (i) the financial statements of each of the Borrowers
required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 for the fiscal period or
quarter ending as of such Determination Date, and (ii) the Officers' Certificate
required by Section 6.01 to be delivered with the financial statements described
in clause (i) above.

     "Required Lenders" shall mean, at any time, Lenders which are then in
      ----------------                                                    
compliance with their obligations hereunder (as reasonably determined by the
Administrative Agent) and holding in the aggregate at least 51% of (i) the
Commitments to make Revolving Loans or (ii) if the Commitments have been
terminated, the outstanding Loans and Participation Interests.

     "Responsible Officer" shall mean any officer of a Borrower who shall be
      -------------------                                                   
permitted to sign an Officers' Certificate (as provided in the definition of
that term set forth in this Section) and any other officer of such Borrower who
shall at any time hereafter perform substantially the same duties as are
performed on the date hereof by any such officer permitted to sign an Officers'
Certificate.

     "Restricted Investments" shall mean all Investments other than:
      ----------------------                                        

           (a) Investments in (i) readily marketable direct obligations of the
     United States of America or of any agency or instrumentality thereof the
     obligations of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United
     States of America or readily marketable obligations unconditionally
     guaranteed by the United States of America or by any such agency or
     instrumentality, in each case maturing within three years from the date of
     acquisition thereof, (ii) U.S. dollar denominated certificates of deposit,
     time deposits or bankers' acceptances maturing within 270 days from the
     date of acquisition thereof of any commercial bank (x) which is organized
     under the laws of and located in the United States of America or a State
     thereof ("U.S. Bank") or Canada, Japan or a member country of the European
               ---------    
     Economic Community ("Foreign Bank"), (y) which has combined capital,
                          ------------
     surplus and undivided profits of at least, in the case of a U.S. Bank,
     $100,000,000 and, in the case of a Foreign Bank, $500,000,000, and (z) the
     long-term debt obligations of which are rated at least A3 by Moody's
     Investors Service Inc. ("Moody's") or A- by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group
                              -------
     ("S&P"), (iii) money-market preferred stock or auction rate preferred
       ---
     stock, in each case maturing or redeemable at the option of the holder
     thereof no more than one year after the date of acquisition thereof and
     having a rating of at least A-2 by Moody's or A by S&P; (iv) obligations of
     any state of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, the
     interest with respect to which is exempt from federal income taxation under
     Section 103 of the Code, having a long term rating of at least Aa-3 or AA-
     by Moody's or S&P, respectively, and maturing within three years from the
     date 

                                      25
<PAGE>
 
     of acquisition thereof; (v) open market commercial paper of United States
     corporations maturing not later than 270 days after the issuance thereof
     and having a rating of at least P-2 by Moody's or A-2 by S&P, and (vi)
     Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets, in money
     market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of
     1940, as amended, which are administered by reputable financial
     institutions having capital of at least $100,000,000 and the portfolios of
     which are limited to Investments of the character described in the
     foregoing subdivisions (a)(i) through (a)(v);

           (b) Investments in a Borrower or Subsidiaries of the Borrowers
     existing on the date hereof, and other Investments existing on the date
     hereof and described in Schedule VII;
                             ------------ 

           (c) Investments in any Restricted Subsidiary or in any Person which
     simultaneously therewith becomes a Restricted Subsidiary;

           (d) Investments consisting of stock, obligations, securities or other
     property received by the Borrowers or a Restricted Subsidiary in settlement
     of accounts receivable (created in the ordinary course of business) from
     bankrupt obligors;

           (e) Investments consisting of Guaranties by the Borrowers and their
     Restricted Subsidiaries of the obligations of other Persons so long as at
     the time of and immediately after giving effect to each such Investment,
     the Borrowers are in compliance with Section 8.01(c) and Section 8.02;

           (f) Investments by the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries in
     property to be used in the ordinary course of their business as permitted
     to be conducted pursuant to Section 8.09; and

           (g) Investments in addition to those described in the foregoing
     subdivisions (a) through (f) of this definition, provided that, the amount
                                                      --------                 
     of all such additional Investments shall not exceed $10,000,000 in the
     aggregate.

     "Restricted Payment" shall mean any payment or distribution or the
      ------------------                                               
incurrence of any liability to make any payment or distribution, in cash,
property or other assets (other than shares of common stock of a Borrower) upon
or in respect of any share of any class of capital stock of the Borrowers or any
warrants, rights or options evidencing a right to purchase or acquire any
securities of a Borrower, including, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, payments or distributions as dividends and payments or distributions
for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring, retiring or redeeming any such shares
of stock (or any warrants, rights or options to purchase or acquire any such
securities) or the making of any other distribution in respect of any such
shares of stock (or any warrants, rights or options evidencing a right to
purchase or acquire any such securities).
<PAGE>
 
     "Restricted Subsidiary" shall mean each Subsidiary existing on the date
      ---------------------                                                 
hereof which is not designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in Schedule VIII,
                                                                ------------- 
each other Subsidiary which is not hereafter designated by the Board of
Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, and each Unrestricted Subsidiary which
is hereafter designated by the Board of Directors as a Restricted Subsidiary;
provided, however, that (a) any Restricted Subsidiary may be redesignated an
--------  -------                                                           
Unrestricted Subsidiary as and to the extent provided in the definition of
"Unrestricted Subsidiary" set forth in this Section 1.01; (b) any Subsidiary
which shall be an Unrestricted Subsidiary at the commencement of any period of
30 consecutive months and which shall have been redesignated a Restricted
Subsidiary during such period may, following such redesignation, be further
redesignated an Unrestricted Subsidiary during such period but may not,
following such further redesignation, again be redesignated a Restricted
Subsidiary during such period; and (c) notwithstanding any provision hereof to
the contrary, no Person which hereafter becomes a Subsidiary may be designated a
Restricted Subsidiary and no Subsidiary which is designated an Unrestricted
Subsidiary may be redesignated a Restricted Subsidiary unless:

               (i)    immediately after giving effect to such designation or
     redesignation, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
     continuing,

               (ii)   in the case of any such redesignation of an Unrestricted
     Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, no property or assets of such
     Subsidiary shall at the time of such redesignation be subject to any Liens
     which would not have been permitted to be created by such Subsidiary
     pursuant to Section 8.03, and

               (iii)  such Subsidiary shall have become, in compliance with
     Section 8.18, a Guarantor under and within the meaning of the Guaranty
     Agreement.

     "RSI" shall mean, prior to the effective time of the Merger Transaction,
      ---                                                                    
Rykoff-Sexton, Inc., a Delaware corporation incorporated in 1961, and from and
after the effective time of the Merger Transaction, the successor to such
corporation in the Merger Transaction whose corporate name shall be changed to
Rykoff-Sexton, Inc. in connection with consummation of the Merger Transaction.

     "Revolving Committed Amount" shall have the meaning assigned to such term
      --------------------------                                              
in Section 2.01(a).

     "Revolving Loans" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
      ---------------                                                         
2.01(a).

     "Revolving Period Termination Date" shall mean the date which is 364 days
      ---------------------------------                                       
after the Closing Date, or if extended in accordance with the provisions of
Section 2.01(e) hereof, such later date not more than 364 days after the then
applicable Revolving Period Termination Date.

     "S&P" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of
      ---                                                                   
"Restricted Investment".

                                      27
<PAGE>
 
     "Sale Leaseback" shall mean any transaction or arrangement or series of
      --------------                                                        
transactions or arrangements pursuant to which the Borrowers or any Restricted
Subsidiary shall become obligated as lessee under any lease of property, whether
real, personal or mixed (except for (i) leases in connection with Tax Reduction
Transactions, (ii) leases for a term of not more than three years, (iii) any
lease by a Restricted Subsidiary under which a Borrower or a Predominantly Owned
Restricted Subsidiary is lessor and (iv) leases of property executed prior to,
at the time of or within 180 days after the later to occur of the acquisition or
the commencement of commercial operation of such property) which property (a) is
now owned or hereafter acquired by a Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary (or
which a Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary intends to use for substantially
the same purpose as any other property now owned or hereafter acquired by a
Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) and (b) has been or is to be sold or
transferred to any other Person.

     "Sara Lee" shall mean Sara Lee Corporation, a Maryland corporation.
      --------                                                          

     "Sara Lee Note" shall mean that certain promissory note of JPFDI, dated
      -------------                                                         
August 19, 1989, issued in the original principal amount of $112,000,000 and
payable to PYA, which bears interest at the rate of 11% per annum, as such note
shall be in effect on the Closing Date.

     "Sara Lee Offset Agreement" shall mean the Amended and Restated Note Offset
      -------------------------                                                 
Agreement, dated as of July 3, 1989, by and between PYA and JPFDI, providing,
among other things, for the settlement of maturities of principal and accrued
interest under the Sara Lee Note, on the one hand, and under PYA's Note, on the
other hand, by offsetting the respective amounts due thereunder.

     "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, or any similar
      --------------                                                       
Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all
as the same shall be in effect from time to time.

     "Subordinated Debt" shall mean any Debt of the Borrowers or any Restricted
      -----------------                                                        
Subsidiary which is subordinated in right of payment to any other Debt of such
Person.

     "Subordinated Intercompany Revolving Note" shall mean, with respect to any
      ----------------------------------------                                 
Permitted Receivables Financing, any note issued by a Receivables Financing SPC
in favor of the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection therewith.

     "Subsidiary" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any corporation,
      ----------                                                          
partnership or other entity of which more than 50% of the Voting Stock or other
ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the
board of directors or other managers of such corporation, partnership or other
entity is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by, or the management is
otherwise controlled by, such Person and/or one or more of its other
Subsidiaries.  Unless otherwise specified, any reference to a Subsidiary is
intended as a reference to a Subsidiary of a Borrower.

     "Syndication Agent" means The Chase Manhattan Bank, as identified in the
      -----------------                                                      
heading hereto.

     "Tax Reduction Transaction" shall mean any transaction in which one or more
      -------------------------                                                 
Borrowers and Restricted Subsidiaries convey real and/or personal property
assets to a governmental authority, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, in
exchange for nominal consideration and a reduction in the real and/or personal
property taxes that are payable by the applicable Borrowers and Restricted
Subsidiaries with respect to the assets so conveyed, provided that the
applicable Borrowers and Restricted Subsidiaries shall have the right to
reacquire such assets for nominal consideration, and "Tax Reduction
Transactions" shall mean all such transactions.

     "Termination Event" shall mean (a) with respect to any Plan, the occurrence
      -----------------                                                         
of a Reportable Event or an event described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA, or (b)
the withdrawal of any Borrower Group Member from a Multiple Employer Plan during
a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as such term is defined in
Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA), or the termination of a Multiple Employer Plan, or
(c) the distribution of a notice of intent to terminate a Plan or Multiemployer
Plan pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) or 4041A of ERISA or the treatment of a Plan
amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or (d) the
institution of proceedings to terminate a Plan or Multiemployer Plan by the PBGC
under Section 4042 of ERISA, or (e) any other event or condition which would
constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the
appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan or Multiemployer Plan or (f)
the complete or partial withdrawal of any Borrower Group Member from a
Multiemployer Plan.

     "Total Debt" shall mean, for the Borrowers and their Restricted
      ----------                                                    
Subsidiaries as of any date, the aggregate amount of all Debt of the Borrowers
and their Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date (including, without
limitation, Debt evidenced by the Notes), determined on a consolidated basis.

     "Total Debt Ratio" shall mean, as of any date, the number obtained by
      ----------------                                                    
dividing (a) Total Debt as of such date by (b) Operating Cash Flow for the
period ("Cash Flow Period") of four consecutive fiscal quarters ended on such
         ----------------                                                    
date or (if such date shall not be a Determination Date) most recently prior to
such date.

     "Transferred Assets" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
      ------------------                                                     
definition of "Permitted Receivables Financing" set forth in this Section 1.01.

     "Unfunded Current Liability" of any Plan shall mean the amount, if any, by
      --------------------------                                               
which the present value of the accrued benefits under such Plan (based on those
assumptions used to fund such Plan) as of the close of its most recent plan year
exceeds the then current value of the assets of such Plan allocable to such
benefits.

     "Unrestricted Subsidiary" shall mean each Subsidiary designated as an
      -----------------------                                             
Unrestricted Subsidiary in Schedule VIII and each other Subsidiary which is
                           -------------                                   
hereafter designated by the Board of Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary;
provided, however, that (a) any Unrestricted 
--------  -------

                                      28
<PAGE>
 
Subsidiary may be redesignated a Restricted Subsidiary as and to the extent
provided in the definition of "Restricted Subsidiary" set forth in this Section
1.01; (b) any Subsidiary which shall be a Restricted Subsidiary at the
commencement of any period of 30 consecutive months and which shall have been
redesignated an Unrestricted Subsidiary during such period may, following such
redesignation, be further redesignated a Restricted Subsidiary during such
period but may not, following such further redesignation, again be redesignated
an Unrestricted Subsidiary during such period; and (c) notwithstanding any
provision hereof to the contrary, no Subsidiary which is a Restricted Subsidiary
may be redesignated an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless

        (i)   immediately after giving effect to such redesignation, no Default
     or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and

        (ii)  such Subsidiary does not own (directly or through its
     Subsidiaries) any shares of stock or other securities of (or warrants,
     rights or options to acquire stock or other securities of) any Restricted
     Subsidiary or hold any Debt of the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary
     and, at the time of such redesignation, all Debt and shares of stock of
     such Subsidiary which are owned by the Borrowers and their Restricted
     Subsidiaries could be sold in compliance with Section 8.06 (in which case,
     such redesignation shall be deemed a disposition of assets for purposes of
     Section 8.07).

Any Subsidiary of any Person which shall at any time be an Unrestricted
Subsidiary shall itself be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for so long as such Person
shall remain an Unrestricted Subsidiary (and thereafter for so long as such
Subsidiary shall not have been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary in
compliance with the definition herein of that term).

     "U.S. Bank" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition
      ---------                                                                
of "Restricted Investment".

     "Voting Stock" shall mean capital stock of a corporation the holders of
      ------------                                                          
which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to elect a
majority of the corporate directors (or persons performing similar functions) of
such corporation.

     "Weighted Average Life to Maturity" shall mean, as applied to any Debt at
      ---------------------------------                                       
any date, the number of years (or portions of years) obtained by dividing (a)
the then outstanding principal amount of such Debt into (b) the total of the
products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining
installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payment of
principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the
number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) which will elapse
between such date and the date on which such payment is to be made.

     "Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary" shall mean any Restricted Subsidiary
      ----------------------------------                                      
100% of all of the equity interests (except directors' qualifying shares) and
voting interests of which shall at the time be owned by a Borrower either
directly or through one or more other Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.


                                      29
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 1.02.  Accounting Terms, Etc.
                    ----------------------

     Except as specifically provided herein, all accounting terms used herein
which are not expressly defined in this Agreement have the meanings given to
them in accordance with GAAP and all computations made pursuant to this
Agreement shall be made in accordance with GAAP.  All balance sheets and other
financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 shall be prepared in
accordance with GAAP.  If any changes in accounting principles from those used
in the preparation of the most recent financial statements referred to in
Section 6.01 are hereafter required or permitted by the rules, regulations,
pronouncements and opinions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (or successors thereto) and
are adopted by the Borrowers with the agreement of their respective independent
certified public accountants and such changes result or could result (for any
present or future period) in a change in the method of calculation of any of the
financial covenants, standards or terms in or relating to Article VIII, the
parties hereto agree to enter into discussions with a view to amending such
provisions so as to equitably reflect such changes with the desired result that
the criteria for evaluating the financial condition of the Borrowers and their
Restricted Subsidiaries shall be the same after such changes as if such changes
had not been made, provided that, no change in GAAP that would affect or could
                   --------                                                   
affect (for any present or future period) the method of calculation of any of
said financial covenants, standards or terms shall be given effect in such
calculations until such provisions are amended, in a manner satisfactory to the
Borrowers and the Required Lenders, to so reflect such change in GAAP.

     SECTION 1.03.  Terms Generally.
                    --------------- 

     The definitions in Section 1.01 shall apply equally to both the singular
and plural forms of the terms defined.  Whenever the context may require, any
pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.
The words "include," "includes" and "including" shall be deemed to be followed
by the phrase "without limitation." All references herein to Articles, Sections
and Schedules shall be deemed references to Articles and Sections of, and
Schedules to, this Agreement unless the context shall otherwise require.  Except
as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial
nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP.

     SECTION 1.04.  Directly or Indirectly.
                    ---------------------- 

     Where any provision of this Agreement refers to actions to be taken by any
Person, or which such Person is prohibited from taking, such provision shall be
applicable whether the action in question is taken directly or indirectly by
such Person.


                                      30
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE II.

                                   THE LOANS

     SECTION 2.01.  Revolving Loans.
                    --------------- 

     (a) Revolving Commitment.  Subject to and upon the terms and conditions and
         --------------------                                                   
relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, each Lender
agrees, severally and not jointly, at any time and from time to time from the
Closing Date until the Revolving Period Termination Date, as the same may be
extended pursuant to Section 2.01(e) hereof, to make revolving credit loans
(each a "Revolving Loan" and, collectively, "Revolving Loans") to the Borrowers
         --------------                      ---------------                   
for the purposes set forth in Section 9.13; provided, however, (i) with regard
                                            --------  -------                 
to each Lender individually, such Lender's pro rata share of outstanding
Revolving Loans shall not exceed such Lender's Commitment Percentage of the
Revolving Committed Amount, (ii) with regard to the Lenders collectively, the
aggregate amount of Revolving Loans outstanding shall not exceed TWO HUNDRED
MILLION DOLLARS ($200,000,000), as such maximum amount may be reduced from time
to time as provided in Sections 2.03 and 3.02 (such amount, as so reduced from
time to time, the "Revolving Committed Amount"), and (iii) in addition to the
                   --------------------------                                
limitations set forth in the preceding subparagraphs (i) and (ii), in no event
shall the sum of Revolving Loans outstanding plus Competitive Loans outstanding
                                             ----                              
exceed the Revolving Committed Amount.  Revolving Loans hereunder may consist of
Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans (or a combination thereof) as either
Borrower may request, and may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the
provisions hereof.  The aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Revolving
Loans as of the Revolving Period Termination Date, together with all accrued and
unpaid interest thereon, shall be due and payable in full on the Maturity Date
in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.01(c) below.

     (b) Advances.
         -------- 

         (i)    Notices.  Whenever a Borrower desires a Revolving Loan advance
                -------                                                       
     hereunder, it shall give an appropriate Notice of Borrowing to the
     Administrative Agent by hand delivery, telex or telecopy not later than
     1:00 P.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the Business Day of the
     requested advance in the case of Base Rate Loans, and on the third Business
     Day prior to the requested advance in the case of Eurodollar Loans.  Each
     such Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify (A) that a
     Revolving Loan is requested, (B) the date of the requested advance (which
     shall be a Business Day), (C) the aggregate principal amount of the
     Revolving Loan requested, and (D) whether the Revolving Loan requested
     shall consist of Base Rate Loans, Eurodollar Loans or a combination
     thereof, and if Eurodollar Loans are requested, the Interest Periods with
     respect thereto.  If a Borrower shall fail to specify in any such Notice of
     Borrowing (i) an applicable Interest Period in the case of a Eurodollar
     Loan, then such notice shall be deemed to be a request for an Interest
     Period of one month, or (ii) the type of Revolving Loan requested, then
     such notice shall be deemed to be a request for a Base Rate Loan hereunder.
     The Administrative Agent shall as promptly as practicable give 

                                      31
<PAGE>
 
     each Lender notice of each requested Revolving Loan advance, of such
     Lender's pro rata share thereof and of the other matters covered in the
     applicable Notice of Borrowing.

         (ii)   Minimum Amounts.  Each Revolving Loan shall be in an aggregate
                ---------------                                               
     principal amount that is not less than the lesser of $1,000,000 or the
     remaining amount available to be borrowed with respect to the Revolving
     Loans in accordance with the terms of Section 2.01(a).  Any Revolving Loan
     requested in excess of $1,000,000 shall be in an integral multiple of
     $1,000,000, or the remaining amount available to be borrowed with respect
     to the Revolving Loans.

         (iii)  Funding of Advances.  Each Lender will make its pro rata
                -------------------                                     
     share of each Revolving Loan available to the Administrative Agent by 3:00
     P.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the date specified in the
     applicable Notice of Borrowing by deposit in dollars of immediately
     available funds at the offices of the Administrative Agent in Charlotte,
     North Carolina, or at such other address as the Administrative Agent may
     designate in writing, and the Administrative Agent shall, by 4:00 P.M.
     (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the same day, credit the amount so
     received to the general deposit account of the Borrowers with the
     Administrative Agent.  All Revolving Loans shall be made by the Lenders pro
     rata on the basis of each Lender's Commitment Percentage.  No Lender shall
     be responsible for the failure or delay by any other Lender in its
     obligation to make Revolving Loans hereunder; provided, however, that the
                                                   --------  -------          
     failure of any Lender to fulfill its Commitment hereunder shall not relieve
     any other Lender of its Commitment hereunder.  Unless the Administrative
     Agent shall have been notified by any Lender prior to the date of any
     Revolving Loan advance that such Lender does not intend to make available
     to the Administrative Agent its portion of the Revolving Loan advance to be
     made on such date, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has
     made such amount available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such
     Revolving Loan advance, and the Administrative Agent, in reliance upon such
     assumption, may (in its sole discretion without any obligation to do so)
     make available to the Borrowers a corresponding amount. If such
     corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the Administrative
     Agent, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such
     corresponding amount from such Lender. If such Lender does not pay such
     corresponding amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent's demand
     therefor, the Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrowers and
     the Borrowers shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to the
     Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall also be entitled to
     recover from such Lender or the Borrowers, as the case may be, interest on
     such corresponding amount in respect of each day from the date, with
     respect to the Borrowers, such corresponding amount was made available by
     the Administrative Agent to the Borrowers and, with respect to such Lender,
     demand for payment from such Lender was made by the Administrative Agent,
     to the date such corresponding amount is recovered by the Administrative
     Agent, at a per annum rate equal to, with respect to the Borrowers, the
     then applicable rate calculated in accordance with Section 2.01(d) and,
     with respect to such Lender, the Federal Funds Effective Rate.


                                      32
<PAGE>
 
     (c) Repayment.  The Borrowers hereby promise to pay to the Lenders the
         ---------                                                         
aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Loans, plus all accrued
and unpaid interest thereon, on the Maturity Date.

     (d) Interest.  (i) Interest Rates.  Subject to the provisions of Section
         --------       --------------                                       
3.01, Revolving Loans shall bear interest as follows:

         (A)  Base Rate Loans.  During such periods as Revolving Loans shall
              ---------------                                               
     consist of Base Rate Loans, at a per annum rate (computed on the basis of
     the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days for each
     applicable day on which the Base Rate shall be determined on the basis of
     the Federal Funds Effective Rate and over a year of 365/66 days for each
     applicable day on which the Base Rate shall be determined on the basis of
     the Prime Rate) equal to the Base Rate in effect from time to time.

         (B)  Eurodollar Loans.  During such periods as Revolving Loans shall
              ----------------                                               
     consist of Eurodollar Loans, at a per annum rate (computed on the basis of
     the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) equal to the sum
     of the Eurodollar Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such
     Eurodollar Loan plus the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time.
                     ----                                                   

         (ii) Payment of Interest.  (A) The Borrowers hereby promise to pay to
              -------------------                                             
     the Lenders on each applicable Interest Payment Date (or at such other
     times as may be specified herein) accrued interest on the Revolving Loans.

         (B)  In addition to amounts payable with respect to accrued interest on
     Eurodollar Loans pursuant to Section 2.01(d)(i)(B), the Borrowers hereby
     promise to pay to each Lender which is subject to a reserve requirement in
     respect of Eurocurrency Liabilities and which has notified the
     Administrative Agent and the Borrowers as provided below, on each date on
     which interest is payable on any Eurodollar Loan pursuant to such Section
     2.01(d)(i)(B), additional interest on the Eurodollar Loans of such Lender
     at a rate per annum equal at all times during each Interest Period of such
     Eurodollar Loan to the remainder obtained by subtracting (1) the Eurodollar
     Rate for the Interest Period for such Eurodollar Loan from (2) the rate
     obtained by dividing the Eurodollar Rate for the Interest Period for such
     Eurodollar Loan by a percentage equal to 1.00 minus the Eurodollar Rate
     Reserve Percentage (expressed as a decimal) actually incurred by such
     Lender for the Interest Period for such Eurodollar Loan as specified in a
     certificate signed by a duly authorized officer of such Lender delivered to
     the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers setting forth reasonable details
     of such Lender's computation.  Each determination by a Lender under this
     Section 2.01(d)(ii)(B) shall be rebuttably presumptive evidence thereof
     absent manifest error.

     (e) Extension of Revolving Period Termination Date.  The Borrowers may,
         ----------------------------------------------                     
within 60 days prior to the then applicable Revolving Period Termination Date,
by notice to the Administrative Agent, make written request of the Lenders to
extend the then applicable Revolving Period Termination Date for an additional
period of 364 days.  The Administrative 

                                      33
<PAGE>
 
Agent will give prompt notice to each of the Lenders of its receipt of any such
request for extension of the Revolving Period Termination Date. Each Lender
shall make a determination not later than 30 days prior to the then applicable
Revolving Period Termination Date as to whether or not it will agree to extend
the Revolving Period Termination Date as requested; provided, however, that
                                                    --------  -------
failure by any Lender to make a timely response to the Borrowers' request for
extension of the Revolving Period Termination Date shall be deemed to constitute
a refusal by such Lender to extension of the Revolving Period Termination Date.
If, in response to a request for an extension of the Revolving Period
Termination Date, one or more Lenders shall refuse (or are deemed to have
refused) to agree to the requested extension, then the Revolving Period
Termination Date shall not be extended. The Revolving Period Termination Date
shall be extended only on receipt of written approval to any such request for
extension from all of the Lenders. Notwithstanding the fact that one or more
Lenders shall have refused (or are deemed to have refused) to agree to a
requested extension of the Revolving Period Termination Date, the Borrowers
shall be entitled to obtain Revolving Loans in accordance with the provisions of
this Section 2.01 until the Revolving Period Termination Date.

     SECTION 2.02  Competitive Loan Subfacility.
                   ---------------------------- 

     (a)  Competitive Loans.  Subject to and upon the terms and conditions and
          -----------------                                                   
relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Borrowers
may, from time to time until the Revolving Period Termination Date, request and
each Lender may, in its sole discretion, agree to make, Competitive Loans in
Dollars to the Borrowers; provided, however, that (i) the aggregate principal
                          --------  -------
amount of outstanding Competitive Loans shall not at any time exceed the lesser
of (a) an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate Revolving
Committed Amount, or, so long as the Company shall have attained and shall
maintain a rating for its senior unsecured non-credit enhanced long-term debt of
BBB- or better by S&P or Baa3 or better by Moody's, or in the absence of a
rating, a Total Debt Ratio of less than 3.5:1.0, an amount equal to one hundred
percent (100%) of the aggregate Revolving Committed Amount, or (b) the Revolving
Committed Amount (the "Competitive Loan Maximum Amount"), and (ii) the sum of
                       -------------------------------
Revolving Loans outstanding plus Competitive Loans outstanding shall not at any
time exceed the Revolving Committed Amount. Each Competitive Loan shall be not
less than $5,000,000 in the aggregate and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in
excess thereof (or the remaining portion of the Competitive Loan Maximum Amount,
if less).

     (b) Competitive Bid Requests.  A Borrower may solicit Competitive Bids by
         ------------------------                                             
delivery of a Competitive Bid Request substantially in the form of Schedule VA-1
                                                                   -------------
to the Administrative Agent by 12:00 Noon (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on a
Business Day not less than one (1) nor more than four (4) Business Days prior to
the date of a requested Competitive Loan borrowing. A Competitive Bid Request
shall specify (i) the date of the requested Competitive Loan borrowing (which
shall be a Business Day), (ii) the amount of the requested Competitive Loan
borrowing and (iii) the applicable Interest Periods requested and shall be
accompanied by payment of the Competitive Bid Request Fee. The Administrative
Agent shall, promptly following its receipt of a Competitive Bid Request under
this subsection (b), notify the Lenders of its receipt and the contents thereof
and invite the Lenders to submit Competitive Bids in response thereto. A form of
such notice is provided in Schedule VA-2. No more than two (2) Competitive Bid
                           -------------
Requests (e.g., a


                                      34
<PAGE>
 
Borrower may request Competitive Bids for no more than two (2) different
Interest Periods at a time) shall be submitted at any one time and Competitive
Bid Requests may be made no more frequently than once every five (5) Business
Days.

     (c) Competitive Bid Procedure.  Each Lender may, in its sole discretion,
         -------------------------                                           
make one or more Competitive Bids to the applicable Borrower in response to a
Competitive Bid Request.  Each Competitive Bid must be received by the
Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 A.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time)
on the Business Day next succeeding the date of receipt by the Administrative
Agent of the related Competitive Bid Request.  A Lender may offer to make all or
part of the requested Competitive Loan borrowing and may submit multiple
Competitive Bids in response to a Competitive Bid Request.  The Competitive Bid
shall specify (i) the particular Competitive Bid Request as to which the
Competitive Bid is submitted, (ii) the minimum (which shall be not less than
$1,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof) and maximum
principal amounts of the requested Competitive Loan or Loans as to which the
Lender is willing to make, and (iii) the applicable interest rate or rates and
Interest Period or Periods therefor.  A form of such Competitive Bid is provided
in Schedule VA-3.  A Competitive Bid submitted by a Lender in accordance with
   -------------                                                             
the provisions hereof shall be irrevocable. The Administrative Agent shall
promptly notify the Borrowers by no later than 10:30 A.M. (Charlotte, North
Carolina time) on the Business Day succeeding the date of receipt by the
Administrative Agent of the related Competitive Bid Request of all Competitive
Bids made and the terms thereof. The Administrative Agent shall send a copy of
each of the Competitive Bids to the Borrowers for their records as soon as
practicable.

     (d) Submission of Competitive Bids by Administrative Agent.  If the
         ------------------------------------------------------         
Administrative Agent, in its capacity as a Lender, elects to submit a
Competitive Bid in response to any Competitive Bid Request, it shall submit such
Competitive Bid directly to the Borrowers one-half of an hour earlier than the
latest time at which the other Lenders are required to submit their Competitive
Bids to the Administrative Agent in response to such Competitive Bid Request
pursuant to subsection (c) above.

     (e) Acceptance of Competitive Bids.  The applicable Borrower may, in its
         ------------------------------                                      
sole and absolute discretion, subject only to the provisions of this Section
2.02(e), accept or refuse any Competitive Bid offered to it.  To accept a
Competitive Bid, a Borrower shall give written notification (or telephonic
notice promptly confirmed in writing) substantially in the form of Schedule VA-4
                                                                   -------------
of its acceptance of any or all such Competitive Bids to the Administrative
Agent by 11:00 A.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the date on which notice
of election to make a Competitive Bid is to be given to the Administrative Agent
by the Lenders; provided, however, (i) the failure by a Borrower to give timely
                --------  -------                                              
notice of its acceptance of a Competitive Bid shall be deemed to be a refusal
thereof, (ii) a Borrower may accept Competitive Bids only in ascending order of
rates, (iii) the aggregate amount of Competitive Bids accepted by a Borrower
shall not exceed the principal amount specified in the Competitive Bid Request,
(iv) a Borrower may accept a portion of a Competitive Bid in the event, and to
the extent, acceptance of the entire amount thereof would cause such Borrower to
exceed the principal amount specified in the Competitive Bid Request, subject
however to the minimum amounts provided herein (and provided that where two or
more Lenders submit such a Competitive Bid at the same Competitive Bid Rate,
then pro 

                                      36
<PAGE>
 
rata between or among such Lenders) and (v) no bid shall be accepted for a
Competitive Loan unless such Competitive Loan is in a minimum principal amount
of $1,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, except
that where a portion of a Competitive Bid is accepted in accordance with the
provisions of Section 2.02(e)(iv), then in a minimum principal amount of
$1,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (but not in
any event less than the minimum amount specified in the Competitive Bid), and in
calculating the pro rata allocation of acceptances of portions of multiple bids
at a particular Competitive Bid Rate pursuant to Section 2.02(e)(iv), the
amounts shall be rounded to integral multiples of $1,000,000 in a manner which
shall be in the discretion of the applicable Borrower. A notice of acceptance of
a Competitive Bid given by a Borrower in accordance with the provisions hereof
shall be irrevocable. The Administrative Agent shall, not later than 12:00 Noon
(Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the date of receipt by the Administrative
Agent of a notification from a Borrower of its acceptance and/or refusal of
Competitive Bids, notify each affected Lender of its receipt and the contents
thereof. Upon its receipt from the Administrative Agent of notification of a
Borrower's acceptance of its Competitive Bid in accordance with the terms of
this Section 2.02(e), each successful bidding Lender will thereupon become
bound, subject to the other applicable conditions hereof, to make the
Competitive Loan in respect of which its bid has been accepted.

     (f) Funding of Competitive Loans.  Each Lender which is to make a
         ----------------------------                                 
Competitive Loan shall make its Competitive Loan borrowing available to the
Administrative Agent for the account of the Borrowers at the office of the
Administrative Agent specified herein by 1:30 P.M. (Charlotte, North Carolina
time) on the date specified in the Competitive Bid Request in Dollars and in
funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent.  Such borrowing will
then be made available to the Borrowers by crediting the account of the
Borrowers on the books of such office with the aggregate of the amount made
available to the Administrative Agent by the applicable Competitive Loan Lenders
and in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent.

     (g) Maturity of Competitive Loans.  Each Competitive Loan shall mature and
         -----------------------------                                         
be due and payable in full on the last day of the Interest Period applicable
thereto.  Unless a Borrower shall give notice to the Administrative Agent
otherwise, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Loan
borrowing in the amount of the maturing Competitive Loan, the proceeds of which
will be used to repay such Competitive Loan.

     (h) Interest on Competitive Loans.  Subject to the provisions of Section
         -----------------------------                                       
3.01, Competitive Loans shall bear interest in each case at the Competitive Bid
Rate applicable thereto.  Interest on Competitive Loans shall be payable in
arrears on each Interest Payment Date.

     SECTION 2.03.  Voluntary Termination.
                    --------------------- 

     The Borrowers may from time to time permanently reduce or terminate the
aggregate Revolving Committed Amount in whole or in part (in minimum aggregate
amounts of the lesser of $1,000,000 or the full remaining amount of the
Revolving Committed Amount) upon three Business Days' prior irrevocable written
notice to the Administrative Agent; provided, however, no such termination or
                                    --------  -------                        
reduction shall be made which would reduce the Revolving Committed Amount to an
amount less than the sum of Revolving Loans outstanding plus Competitive Loans
                                                        ----                  

                                      36
<PAGE>
 
outstanding.  The commitments of the Lenders to make, extend or convert
Revolving Loans shall automatically terminate on the Revolving Period
Termination Date, after all Competitive Loans outstanding on the Revolving
Period Termination Date have been converted to Revolving Loans as more fully
contemplated by Section 2.02(g) above, provided that the Borrowers are in
                                       --------                          
compliance with Sections 5.02(b) and (c) hereof.  The Administrative Agent shall
promptly notify each of the Lenders of receipt by the Administrative Agent of
any notice from the Borrowers pursuant to this Section 2.03.

     SECTION 2.04.  Fees.
                    ---- 

     (a) Facility Fee.  In consideration of the Commitments hereunder, the
         ------------                                                     
Borrowers agree to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the
Lenders a facility fee (the "Facility Fee"), prior to the Revolving Period
                             ------------                                 
Termination Date on the aggregate Revolving Committed Amount, and from the
Revolving Period Termination Date, on the aggregate Revolving Loans outstanding,
computed at a per annum rate equal to the Applicable Margin for each day during
the applicable period.  The Facility Fee shall be payable quarterly in arrears
on the fifteenth (15th) day of each January, April, July and October and on the
Maturity Date for the immediately preceding fiscal quarter (or portion thereof).

     (b) Agents' Fees.  The Borrowers agree to pay to the Administrative Agent
         ------------                                                         
and the Co-Arrangers, for their own account, such structuring, syndication,
administrative and other fees (collectively, the "Agents' Fees") as provided in
                                                  ------------                 
the Mandate Letter and the Administrative Agent's Fee Letter.

     (c) Competitive Bid Request Fee.  The Borrowers shall pay to the
         ---------------------------                                 
Administrative Agent concurrently with each Competitive Bid Request such
administrative fee as provided in the Administrative Agent's Fee Letter (the
"Competitive Bid Request Fee").
----------------------------   

                                 ARTICLE III.

                     ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS REGARDING LOANS

     SECTION 3.01.  Default Rate.
                    ------------ 

     Upon the occurrence, and during the continuance, of an Event of Default,
the principal of and, to the extent permitted by law, interest on the Loans and
any other amounts owing hereunder or under the other Credit Documents shall bear
interest, payable on demand, at a per annum rate 2% greater than the rate which
would otherwise be applicable (or if no rate is applicable, whether in respect
of interest, fees or other amounts, then 2% greater than the Base Rate).

     SECTION 3.02.  Prepayments.
                    ----------- 

     (a)  Voluntary.
          --------- 
<PAGE>
 
     (i)   Revolving Loans and Competitive Loans.  The Borrowers shall have the
           -------------------------------------                               
right to prepay Revolving Loans and Competitive Loans in whole or in part from
time to time without premium or penalty; provided, however, that (A) each such
                                         --------  -------                    
partial prepayment shall be a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000 or an
integral multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof and (B) no Eurodollar Loan or
Competitive Loan may be prepaid prior to the last day of the Interest Period
applicable thereto unless accompanied by payment of amounts specified in Section
3.07.  Amounts prepaid on the Revolving Loans may be reborrowed in accordance
with the provisions hereof.

     (ii)  Application.  Amounts prepaid hereunder shall be applied to the
           -----------                                                    
Revolving Loans as the Borrowers may elect, provided that if the Borrowers shall
                                            --------                            
fail to specify their application, prepayments shall be applied, first, to
Revolving Loans (and with respect to Base Rate Loans and Eurodollar Loans
comprising such Loans, first to Base Rate Loans and then to Eurodollar Loans in
direct order of Interest Period maturities) and, second, to Competitive Loans in
direct order of Interest Period maturities.

     (b)   Mandatory.
           --------- 

           (i)  Revolving Committed Amount Limitation. If at any time (A) the
sum of Revolving Loans outstanding plus Competitive Loans outstanding shall
                                   ----
exceed (B) the Revolving Committed Amount, then in any such instance the
Borrowers shall pay, prepay or otherwise reduce so much of the outstanding Loans
as shall be necessary to eliminate such excess.

           (ii) Asset Dispositions.  Unless otherwise agreed by the Required
                ------------------                                          
Lenders, the aggregate Revolving Committed Amounts under the Five Year Credit
Agreement and under this Agreement shall be permanently reduced in an aggregate
amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the net cash proceeds received
from Asset Dispositions to the extent that (A) such net cash proceeds are not
reinvested in property or assets within two (2) years, in the case of the sale
or disposition of a replacement warehouse facility, and, in all other cases, 180
days of the date of sale, lease, disposition, casualty, theft or loss which gave
rise to the Asset Disposition, and (B) the aggregate amount of net cash proceeds
from all such Asset Dispositions not reinvested within the applicable period
shall exceed ten percent (10%) of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets on the most
recent Determination Date.  In connection with a reduction in the Revolving
Committed Amount in accordance with this subsection (ii), the reduction of the
Commitments hereunder and under the Five Year Credit Agreement shall be applied,
first, to the Loans outstanding under this Agreement if and to the extent Loans
are outstanding hereunder beyond the Revolving Period Termination Date until the
aggregate amount of such Loans outstanding is reduced to zero, and, second, to
the Revolving Committed Amount under the Five Year Credit Agreement until the
Revolving Committed Amount thereunder is reduced to zero, and, third, to the
Revolving Committed Amount under this Agreement.

           (iii) Payments and prepayments pursuant to this Section 3.02(b) shall
be applied, first, to Revolving Loans (and with respect to Base Rate Loans and
            -----                                                             
Eurodollar Loans 

                                      38
<PAGE>
 
comprising such Loans, first to Base Rate Loans and then to Eurodollar Loans in
direct order of Interest Period maturities), until all Revolving Loans have been
repaid or prepaid in full; and second, to Competitive Loans in direct order of
                               ------
Interest Period maturities.

     (c) General.  All prepayments of Loans shall be subject to Section 3.07 but
         -------                                                                
otherwise without premium or penalty and shall be accompanied by accrued
interest on the principal amount being prepaid to the date of prepayment and all
other amounts due and payable hereunder with respect to such Loans.

     SECTION 3.03.  Extension and Conversion.
                    ------------------------ 

     The Borrowers shall have the option, on any Business Day, to extend
existing Loans into a subsequent Interest Period or to convert Loans into Loans
of another type; provided, however, that (i) except as provided in Section 3.06,
                 --------  -------                                              
Eurodollar Loans may be converted into Base Rate Loans only on the last day of
the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) Eurodollar Loans may be extended,
and Base Rate Loans may be converted into Eurodollar Loans, only if no Default
or Event of Default is in existence on the date of extension or conversion,
(iii) Loans extended as, or converted into, Eurodollar Loans shall be in such
minimum amounts as provided in Section 2.01(b) and (iv) any request for
extension or conversion of a Eurodollar Loan which shall fail to specify an
Interest Period shall be deemed to be a request for an Interest Period of one
month. Each such extension or conversion shall be effected by the Borrowers by
giving a Notice of Extension/Conversion (or telephone notice promptly confirmed
in writing) to the Administrative Agent prior to 1:00 P.M. (Charlotte, North
Carolina time) on the Business Day of, in the case of the conversion of a
Eurodollar Loan into a Base Rate Loan and on the third Business Day prior to, in
the case of the extension of a Eurodollar Loan as, or conversion of a Base Rate
Loan into, a Eurodollar Loan, the date of the proposed extension or conversion,
specifying the date of the proposed extension or conversion, the Loans to be so
extended or converted, the types of Loans into which such Loans are to be
converted and, if appropriate, the applicable Interest Periods with respect
thereto. Each request for extension or conversion shall constitute a
representation and warranty by the Borrowers of the matters specified in
Sections 5.02(b), (c) and (d). In the event the Borrowers fail to request
extension or conversion of any Eurodollar Loan in accordance with this Section,
or any such conversion or extension is not permitted or required by this
Section, then such Loans shall be automatically converted into Base Rate Loans
at the end of their Interest Period. The Administrative Agent shall give each
Lender notice as promptly as practicable of any such proposed extension or
conversion affecting any Loan.

     SECTION 3.04.  Alternate Rate of Interest.
                    -------------------------- 

     In the event, and on each occasion, that on the day two Business Days prior
to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Loan the
Administrative Agent shall have determined in good faith (i) that dollar
deposits in the principal amounts of such Eurodollar Loan are not generally
available in the London interbank market or (ii) that reasonable means do not
exist for ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate as practicable thereafter, give telex
or telecopy notice of such determination to the Borrowers and the Lenders.  In
the event of any such determination under clause (i) or (ii) above, until the
Administrative Agent shall have advised the Borrowers 

                                      39
<PAGE>
 
and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer
exist, (A) any request by the Borrowers for a Eurodollar Loan pursuant to
Section 2.01(b) shall be deemed to be a request for a Base Rate Loan and (B) any
request by the Borrowers for conversion into or extension of a Eurodollar Loan
pursuant to Section 3.03 shall be deemed to be a request for conversion into or
extension of a Base Rate Loan. Each determination by the Administrative Agent
hereunder shall be in good faith and shall be rebuttably presumptive evidence
thereof absent manifest error.

     SECTION 3.05.  Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances.
                    --------------------------------------------- 

     (a) Notwithstanding any other provision herein, if after the Relevant Date
(as defined in Section 3.05(c)) any change in applicable law or regulation or in
the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Body charged
with the interpretation or administration thereof (whether or not having the
force of law) shall impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special
deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the
account of or credit extended by such Lender, or shall impose on such Lender or
the London interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement, such
Lender's Commitment, any Loan made by such Lender or any Participation Interest
held by such Lender (other than the imposition of or change in the rate of any
Taxes as defined in Section 4.04 or the imposition of or change in the rate of
any item specifically excluded from such definition of Taxes pursuant to the
terms of such Section), and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to
increase the cost to such Lender of making, issuing or maintaining such Loan or
Participation Interest, as the case may be, or to reduce the amount of any sum
received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest
or otherwise) by an amount deemed by such Lender to be material, then the
Borrowers will pay to such Lender in accordance with Section 3.05(d) upon demand
such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for any such
additional costs incurred or reduction suffered after delivery to the Borrowers
of a certificate relating to such additional costs or such reduction as
contemplated by such Section 3.05(d).

     (b) If any Lender shall have determined that after the Relevant Date the
applicability of any law, rule, regulation or guideline adopted pursuant to or
arising out of the July 1988 report of the Basle Committee on Banking
Regulations and Supervisory Practices entitled "International Convergence of
Capital Measurement and Capital Standards," or the adoption after the date
hereof of any other law, rule, regulation or guideline regarding capital
adequacy, or any change in any of the foregoing or in the interpretation or
administration of any of the foregoing by any Governmental Body, central bank or
comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or
compliance by any Lender (or any lending office of such Lender) or any Lender's
holding company with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy
(whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or
comparable agency, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return
on such Lender's capital or on the capital of such Lender's holding company, if
any, as a consequence of this Agreement, such Lender's Commitment or any Loan
made by such Lender pursuant hereto or any Participation Interest held by such
Lender pursuant hereto to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender's
holding company could have achieved but for such adoption, change or 

                                      40
<PAGE>
 
compliance (taking into consideration such Lender's policies and the policies of
such Lender's holding company with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount
deemed by such Lender to be material, then from time to time after delivery to
the Borrowers of a certificate relating to such additional cost or costs as
contemplated by Section 3.05(d), the Borrowers shall pay to such Lender in
accordance with such Section 3.05(d) such additional amount or amounts as will
compensate such Lender or such Lender's holding company for any such reduction
suffered.

     (c) For purposes of this Section 3.05, "Relevant Date" shall mean, in the
case of a Lender that is a Lender on the date hereof and, in the case of a
Lender that becomes a Lender after the date hereof as provided in Section
12.04(b), the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under such Section.

     (d) A certificate signed by a duly authorized officer of a Lender setting
forth such amount or amounts (including computation of such amount or amounts)
as shall be necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company as
specified in Section 3.05(a) or (b), as the case may be, shall be delivered to
the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, and the Borrowers shall pay to such
Lender, within 30 Business Days after receipt by the Borrowers of such
certificate delivered by the Lender, the amount shown as due on any such
certificate.

     (e) The protection of this Section shall be available to each Lender
regardless of any possible contention of the invalidity or inapplicability of
the law, rule, regulation, guideline or other change or condition which shall
have occurred or been imposed.  Each determination by a Lender under this
Section 3.05 shall be in good faith and shall be rebuttably presumptive evidence
thereof absent manifest error.

     SECTION 3.06.  Change in Legality.
                    ------------------ 

     (a) Notwithstanding any other provision herein, if any change in any law or
regulation or in the interpretation thereof by any Governmental Body charged
with the administration or interpretation thereof shall make it unlawful for any
Lender to make or maintain any Eurodollar Loan or to give effect to its
obligations as contemplated hereby with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, then, by
30 days' (or such shorter period as shall be required in order to comply with
applicable law) written notice to the Borrowers and to the Administrative Agent,
such Lender may:

          (i)    declare that Eurodollar Loans, and conversions into or
     extensions of Eurodollar Loans, will not thereafter be made by such Lender
     hereunder, whereupon any request by a Borrower for, or for conversion into
     or extension of, a Eurodollar Loan shall, as to such Lender only, be deemed
     a request for, or for conversion into or extension of, a Base Rate Loan,
     unless such declaration shall be subsequently withdrawn; and

          (ii)   require that all outstanding Eurodollar Loans made by it be
     converted to Base Rate Loans, in which event all such Eurodollar Loans
     shall be automatically converted to Base Rate Loans as of the effective
     date of such notice as provided in paragraph (b) below.


                                      41
<PAGE>
 
In the event any Lender shall exercise its rights under (i) or (ii) above, all
payments and prepayments of principal which would otherwise have been applied to
repay the Eurodollar Loans that would have been made by such Lender or the
converted Eurodollar Loans of such Lender shall instead be applied to repay the
Base Rate Loans made by such Lender in lieu of, or resulting from the conversion
of, such Eurodollar Loans.

     (b)  For purposes of this Section 3.06, a notice to the Borrowers by any
Lender shall be effective as to each Eurodollar Loan, if lawful, on the last day
of the Interest Period currently applicable to such Eurodollar Loan; in all
other cases such notice shall be effective on the date of receipt by the
Borrowers.  Each determination by a Lender under this Section 3.06 shall be in
good faith and shall be rebuttably presumptive evidence thereof absent manifest
error.

     SECTION 3.07.  Indemnity.
                    --------- 

     The Borrowers shall indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or expense
which such Lender may sustain or incur as a consequence of (a) any failure by
the Borrowers to borrow or to refinance, convert or extend any Loan hereunder
after notice of such borrowing, refinancing, conversion or extension has been
given pursuant to Section 2.01 or 3.03, or (b) any payment, prepayment or
conversion by the Borrowers of a Eurodollar Loan or a Competitive Loan required
by any other provision of this Agreement or otherwise made or deemed made on a
date other than the last day of the Interest Period, if any, applicable thereto.
In the case of any such event, the Borrowers shall, upon demand by such Lender
(with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), pay to such Lender any
amounts required to compensate such Lender for any reasonable loss, cost or
expense which such Lender may incur as a result of such action or inaction by
the Borrowers, including without limitation any reasonable loss, cost or expense
incurred by reason, of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other
funds acquired by any Lender to fund or maintain such Loan or proposed Loan.
Each request for payment hereunder shall be accompanied by a certificate of the
Lender requesting payment with a calculation in reasonable detail of the loss,
cost or expense for which recovery is sought. Each determination by a Lender
under this Section 3.07 shall be in good faith and shall be rebuttably
presumptive evidence thereof absent manifest error.

     SECTION 3.08.  Mandatory Assignment; Commitment Termination.
                    -------------------------------------------- 

     In the event that any Lender delivers to the Administrative Agent or the
Borrowers, as appropriate, a certificate in accordance with Section 3.05(d) or a
notice in accordance with Section 3.06 or in the event that any Lender fails to
fulfill its Commitment to make any Revolving Loan, then, provided that no
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at such time, the
Borrowers may, at their own expense (such expense to include any transfer fee
payable to the Administrative Agent under Section 12.04(b)), and in its sole
discretion (a) require such Lender to transfer and assign in whole or in part,
without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions of
Section 12.04(b)), all or part of its interests, rights and obligations under
this Agreement to an Eligible Assignee which shall assume such assigned
obligations (which Eligible Assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts

                                      43
<PAGE>
 
such assignment); provided that (i) such assignment shall not relieve the
Borrowers from their obligations to pay such additional amounts that may be due
in accordance with Section 3.05(a) or (b), (ii) such assignment shall not
conflict with any law, rule or regulation or order of any court or other
Governmental Body and (iii) the Borrowers or such Eligible Assignee shall have
paid to the assigning Lender in immediately available funds the principal of and
interest accrued to the date of such payment on the Loans made by it hereunder
and all accrued Fees and other amounts owed to it hereunder or (b) terminate the
Commitment of such Lender and prepay all outstanding Loans of such Lender;
provided that (i) such termination of the Commitment of such Lender shall not
relieve the Borrowers from their obligations to pay such additional amounts that
may be due in accordance with Section 3.05(a) or (b), (ii) such termination of
the Commitment of such Lender and prepayment of Loans does not conflict with any
law, rule or regulation or order of any court or other Governmental Body and
(iii) the Borrowers shall have paid to such Lender in immediately available
funds the principal of and interest accrued to the date of such payment on the
Loans made by it hereunder and all other amounts owed to it hereunder.

     SECTION 3.09.  Concerning Joint and Several Liability of the Borrowers.
                    ------------------------------------------------------- 

     (a)  Each of the Borrowers is accepting joint and several liability
hereunder in consideration of the financial accommodation to be provided by the
Lenders under this Agreement, for the mutual benefit, directly and indirectly,
of each of the Borrowers and in consideration of the undertakings of each of the
Borrowers to accept joint and several liability for the obligations of each of
them.

     (b)  Each of the Borrowers jointly and severally hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally accepts, not merely as a surety but also as a co-debtor, joint
and several liability with the other Borrower with respect to the payment and
performance of all of the obligations of the Borrowers under the Credit
Documents (the "Credit Obligations"), it being the intention of the parties
                ------------------
hereto that all such Credit Obligations shall be the joint and several
obligations of each of the Borrowers without preferences or distinction among
them.

     (c)  If and to the extent that either Borrower shall fail to make any
payment with respect to any of the Credit Obligations as and when due or to
perform any of the Credit Obligations in accordance with the terms thereof, then
in each such event, the other Borrower will make such payment with respect to,
or perform, such Credit Obligations.

     (d)  The obligations of each Borrower under the provisions of this Section
3.09 constitute full recourse obligations of both of the Borrowers, enforceable
against both of the Borrowers to the full extent of their properties and assets,
irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of this Agreement or
any other circumstances whatsoever.

     (e)  The provisions of this Section 3.09 are made for the benefit of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their respective successors and
assigns, and may be enforced by any such Person from time to time against either
Borrower as often as occasion therefor may arise and without requirement on the
part of any Lender first to marshal any of its claims or to exercise any of its
rights against the other Borrower or to exhaust any remedies available to it
against the 

                                      44
<PAGE>
 
other Borrower or to resort to any other source or means of obtaining payment of
any of the Credit Obligations or to elect any other remedy. The provisions of
this Section 3.09 shall remain in effect until all the Credit Obligations shall
have been paid in full or otherwise fully satisfied. If at any time, any
payment, or any part thereof, made in respect of any of the Credit Obligations,
is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by any Lender upon the
insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of either Borrower, or otherwise, the
provisions of this Section 3.09 will forthwith be reinstated in effect, as
though such payment had not been made.

     (f)  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in
any other of the Credit Documents, to the extent the joint obligations of a
Borrower shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason
(including, without limitation, because of any applicable state or federal law
relating to fraudulent conveyances or transfers) then the obligations of each
Borrower hereunder shall be limited to the maximum amount that is permissible
under applicable law (whether federal or state and including, without
limitation, the federal Bankruptcy Code).

     (g)  The Borrowers hereby agree, as among themselves, that if a Borrower
shall become an Excess Funding Borrower (as defined below), the other Borrower
shall, on demand of such Excess Funding Borrower (but subject to the next
sentence hereof and to subsection (B) below), pay to such Excess Funding
Borrower an amount equal to such Borrower's Pro Rata Share (as defined below and
determined, for this purpose, without reference to the properties, assets,
liabilities and debts of such Excess Funding Borrower) of such Excess Payment
(as defined below).  The payment obligation of a Borrower to any Excess Funding
Borrower under this Section 3.09(g) shall be subordinate and junior in right of
payment to the prior payment in full of the Credit Obligations of such Borrower
under the other provisions of this Agreement, and such Excess Funding Borrower
shall not exercise any right or remedy with respect to such excess until payment
and satisfaction in full of all of such Credit Obligations.  For purposes
hereof, (i) "Excess Funding Borrower" shall mean, in respect of any Credit
Obligations arising under the other provisions of this Agreement (the "Joint
Obligations"), a Borrower that has paid an amount in excess of its Pro Rata
Share of the Joint Obligations; (ii) "Excess Payment" shall mean, in respect of
any Joint Obligations, the amount paid by an Excess Funding Borrower in excess
of its Pro Rata Share of such Joint Obligations; and (iii) "Pro Rata Share", for
the purposes of this Section 3.09(g), shall mean, for any Borrower, the ratio
(expressed as a percentage) of (A) the amount by which the aggregate present
fair saleable value of all of its assets and properties exceeds the amount of
all debts and liabilities of such Borrower (including contingent, subordinated,
unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of such
Borrower hereunder) to (B) the amount by which the aggregate present fair
saleable value of all assets and other properties of such Borrower and the other
Borrower exceeds the amount of all of the debts and liabilities (including
contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding
the obligations of such Borrower and the other Borrower hereunder) of such
Borrower and the other Borrower, all as of the Closing Date (if any Borrower
becomes a party hereto subsequent to the Closing Date, then for the purposes of
this Section 3.09(g) such subsequent Borrower shall be deemed to have been a
Borrower as of the Closing Date and the information pertaining to, and only
pertaining to, such Borrower as of the date such Borrower became a Borrower
shall be deemed true as of the Closing Date).

                                      45
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE IV.

   PAYMENTS; PRO RATA TREATMENT; COMPUTATIONS; U.S. TAXES; EVIDENCE OF LOANS

     SECTION 4.01.  Payments and Computations.
                    ------------------------- 

Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all payments hereunder shall
be made to the Administrative Agent in dollars in immediately available funds,
without offset, deduction or withholding of any kind, at its offices at
NationsBank Corporate Center, Charlotte, North Carolina not later than 2:00 P.M.
(Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the date when due.  The Administrative Agent
may (but shall not be obligated to) debit the amount of any such payment which
is not made by such time to any ordinary deposit account of the Borrowers
maintained with the Administrative Agent (with notice to the Borrowers). A
Borrower shall, at the time it makes any payment under this Agreement, specify
to the Administrative Agent the Loans, Fees or other amounts payable by the
Borrowers hereunder to which such payment is to be applied (and in the event
that it fails so to specify, or if such application would be inconsistent with
the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the
Lenders in such manner as the Administrative Agent may determine to be
appropriate in respect of obligations owing by the Borrowers hereunder, subject
to the terms of Sections 3.02 and 4.02).  The Administrative Agent will
thereafter cause to be distributed promptly on the same day like funds relating
to the payment of principal or interest or Fees ratably to the Lenders entitled
to receive such payments in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
Whenever any payment hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day which is not a
Business Day, the due date thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding
Business Day (subject to accrual of interest and Fees for the period of such
extension), except that in the case of Eurodollar Loans, if the extension would
cause the payment to be made in the next following calendar month, then such
payment shall instead be made on the next preceding Business Day. Except as
expressly provided otherwise herein, all computations of interest and fees shall
be made on the basis of actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days.
Interest shall accrue from and include the date of advance, but exclude the date
of payment.

     SECTION 4.02.  Pro Rata Treatment.
                    ------------------ 

     Except to the extent otherwise provided herein, each Revolving Loan, each
payment or prepayment of principal of any Revolving Loan, each payment of
interest on the Revolving Loans, each payment of Fees (other than those which
are not shared), each reduction of the Revolving Committed Amount and each
conversion or extension of any Revolving Loan, shall be allocated pro rata among
the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitment Percentages (or if
the Commitments have expired or been terminated, in accordance with the
respective principal amounts of outstanding Revolving Loans and Participation
Interests of the Lenders).

                                      46
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 4.03.  Sharing of Payments.
                    ------------------- 

     The Lenders agree among themselves that, in the event that any Lender shall
obtain payment in respect of any Loan or other obligation owing to such Lender
under this Agreement through the exercise of a right of set-off, banker's lien,
counterclaim or otherwise in excess of its pro rata share as provided for in
this Agreement, such Lender shall promptly purchase from the other Lenders a
participation in such Loans and other obligations in such amounts, and make such
other adjustments from time to time, as shall be equitable to the end that all
Lenders share such payment in accordance with their respective ratable shares as
provided for in this Agreement.  The Lenders further agree among themselves that
if payment to a Lender obtained by such Lender through the exercise of a right
of set-off, banker's lien, counterclaim or otherwise as aforesaid shall be
rescinded or must otherwise be restored, each Lender which shall have shared the
benefit of such payment shall, by repurchase of a participation theretofore
sold, return its share of that benefit (together with its share of any accrued
interest payable with respect thereto) to each Lender whose payment shall have
been rescinded or otherwise restored.  The Borrowers agree that any Lender so
purchasing such a participation may, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
exercise all rights of payment, including set-off, banker's lien or
counterclaim, with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were
a holder of such Loan or other obligation in the amount of such participation.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, if any Lender or the
Administrative Agent shall fail to remit to the Administrative Agent or any
other Lender an amount payable by such Lender or the Administrative Agent to the
Administrative Agent or such other Lender pursuant to this Agreement on the date
when such amount is due, such payments shall be made together with interest
thereon for each date from the date such amount is due until the date such
amount is paid to the Administrative Agent or such other Lender at a rate per
annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate.

     SECTION 4.04.  Net Payments.
                    ------------ 

     All payments made by the Borrowers hereunder will be made without set-off
or counterclaim.  All payments by the Borrowers hereunder shall be made free and
clear of and without deduction or withholding for any Taxes (as hereinafter
defined), except to the extent that such deduction or withholding is required by
law. For purposes of this Section 4.04, "Taxes" shall mean any present or future
license, registration or other fees, taxes or other amounts for or on account of
levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings or other charges of whatsoever
nature, imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any governmental or
taxing authority, excluding income and franchise taxes imposed on a Lender (i)
by a jurisdiction under which such Lender is organized or operating in
connection with this Agreement or any political subdivision thereof or (ii) as a
result of a present or former connection between the jurisdiction of the
governmental or taxing authority imposing such taxes and the Lender. If the
Borrowers shall be required to withhold or deduct Taxes (other than U.S. Taxes
as defined in Section 4.05) from any sum payable hereunder, (i) the sum payable
shall be increased as may be necessary so that the amount received is equal to
the sum which would have been received had no withholdings or deductions been
made, (ii) the Borrowers shall make such necessary withholdings or deductions
and (iii) the Borrowers shall pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the
relevant authority according to applicable law so that the Lenders shall not be
required to make any deduction or 

                                      47
<PAGE>
 
payment of Taxes. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section, the
Borrowers shall not be required to make payment hereunder to the extent such
amounts relate to any period prior to the date that is 90 days prior to the date
that the Borrowers first receive notice from such Lender requesting payment of
any such additional amounts. Each Lender making a request for compensation under
this Section shall use reasonable efforts to change its Eurodollar lending
office with a view to mitigate amounts payable hereunder so long as any such
change is not unduly burdensome to the Lender.

     SECTION 4.05.  U.S. Taxes.
                    ---------- 

     (a)  The Borrowers agree to pay to each Lender that is not a U.S. Person (a
"Foreign Lender") such additional amounts as are necessary in order that the net
 --------------                                                                 
payment of any amount due to such Foreign Lender hereunder after deduction for
or withholding in respect of any U.S. Taxes imposed with respect to such payment
(or in lieu thereof, payment of such U.S. Taxes by such Foreign Lender), will
not be less than the amount stated herein to be then due and payable, provided
                                                                      --------
that the foregoing obligation to pay such additional amounts shall not apply:

               (i)      to any payment to any Foreign Lender hereunder unless
     such Foreign Lender (A) on the date hereof (or on the date it becomes a
     Lender as provided in Section 12.04(b)) and on the date of any change in
     the applicable lending office of such Foreign Lender, is entitled to submit
     either a Form 1001 (relating to such Foreign Lender and entitling it to a
     complete exemption from withholding on all interest to be received by it
     hereunder in respect of the Loans) or Form 4224 (relating to all interest
     to be received by such Foreign Lender hereunder in respect of the Loans)
     and (B) timely delivers such Form in duplicate to the Borrowers, with a
     copy to the Administrative Agent at such time;

               (ii)     to any payment to any Foreign Lender hereunder unless
     such Foreign Lender delivers to the Borrowers an updated copy of a Form
     1001 and a Form 4224 on or before the date of expiration or obsolescence
     of, or the date of the occurrence of any event requiring a change in, the
     most recent Form 1001 and/or Form 4224 previously delivered to the
     Borrowers by such Foreign Lender pursuant to this Section 4.05 (and such
     extensions or renewals of such Forms as may reasonably be requested by the
     Borrowers from time to time), unless an event has occurred prior to the
     date on which delivery of any such updated Form 1001 and/or Form 4224 would
     otherwise be required which has rendered such Form or Forms inapplicable to
     any payment to a Foreign Lender hereunder subsequent to such date; or

               (iii)    to any U.S. Tax imposed solely by reason of the failure
     by such Foreign Lender to comply with applicable certification,
     information, documentation or other reporting requirements concerning the
     nationality, residence, identity, or connections with the United States of
     America of such Foreign Lender if such compliance is required by statute or
     regulation of the United States of America as a precondition to relief or
     exemption from such U.S. Taxes; and

                                      48
<PAGE>
 
provided further that the Borrowers shall not be required pursuant to this
-------- -------                                                          
Section 4.05 to pay additional amounts to any Foreign Lender to the extent that
such additional amounts relate to any payment to such Foreign Lender required
hereunder prior to the date that is 90 days after the date that the Borrowers
first receive notice from such Foreign Lender requesting payment of any such
additional amounts.

For the purposes of this Section 4.05(a), (w) "Form 1001" shall mean Form 1001
(Ownership, Exemption, or Reduced Rate Certificate) of the Department of the
Treasury of the United States of America, (x) "Form 4224" shall mean Form 4224
(Exemption from Withholding of Tax on Income Effectively Connected with the
Conduct of a Trade or Business in the United States) of the Department of the
Treasury of the United States of America (or in relation to either such Form
such successor and related forms as may from time to time be adopted by the
relevant taxing authorities of the United States of America to document a claim
to which such Form relates), (y) "U.S. Person" shall mean a citizen, national or
resident of the United States of America, a corporation, partnership or other
entity created or organized in or under any laws of the United States of
America, or any estate or trust that is subject to Federal income taxation
regardless of the source of its income and (z) "U.S. Taxes" shall mean any
present or future tax, assessment or other charge or levy imposed by or on
behalf of the United States of America or any taxing authority thereof or
therein.

     (b)  Within thirty (30) days after paying any amount to the Administrative
Agent or any Foreign Lender from which it is required by law to make any
deduction or withholding, and within thirty (30) days after it is required by
law to remit such deduction or withholding to any relevant taxing or other
authority, the Borrowers shall deliver to the Administrative Agent for delivery
to such Foreign Lender evidence satisfactory to such Foreign Lender of such
deduction, withholding or payment (as the case may be).

     (c)  In the event that any Lender requests payment by the Borrowers of any
additional amounts pursuant to Section 4.04 or this Section 4.05(a), then,
provided that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at
such time, the Borrowers may, at their own expense (such expense to include any
transfer fee payable to the Administrative Agent under Section 12.04(b)), and in
their sole discretion (a) require such Lender to transfer and assign in whole or
in part, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the terms and
conditions of Section 12.04(b)), all or part of its interests, rights and
obligations under this Agreement to an Eligible Assignee which shall assume such
assigned obligations (which Eligible Assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender
accepts such assignment); provided that (i) such assignment shall not relieve
the Borrowers from their obligations to pay such additional amounts that may be
due in accordance with Section 4.04 or this Section 4.05(a), (ii) such
assignment shall not conflict with any law, rule or regulation or order of any
court or other Governmental Body and (iii) the Borrowers or such Eligible
Assignee shall have paid to the assigning Lender in immediately available funds
the principal of and interest accrued to the date of such payment on the Loans
made by it hereunder and all accrued Fees and other amounts owed to it hereunder
or (b) terminate the Commitment of such Lender and prepay all outstanding Loans
of such Lender; provided that (i) such termination of the Commitment of such
Lender shall not relieve the Borrowers from their obligations to pay such
additional amounts that may be due in accordance 

                                      49
<PAGE>
 
with Section 4.04 or this Section 4.05(a), (ii) such termination of the
Commitment of such Lender and prepayment of Loans does not conflict with any
law, rule or regulation or order of any court or other Governmental Body and
(iii) the Borrowers shall have paid to such Lender in immediately available
funds the principal of and interest accrued to the date of such payment on the
Loans made by it hereunder and all other amounts owed to it hereunder.

     SECTION 4.06.  Evidence of Loans.
                    ----------------- 

     (a)  Each Lender shall maintain an account or accounts evidencing each Loan
made by such Lender to the Borrowers from time to time.  Each Lender will make
reasonable efforts to maintain the accuracy of its account or accounts and to
promptly update its account or accounts from time to time, as necessary.

     (b)  The Administrative Agent shall maintain a register and a subaccount
for each Lender, in which register and subaccounts (taken together) shall be
recorded (i) the amount, type and Interest Period of each Loan hereunder, (ii)
the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and
payable to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the
Administrative Agent hereunder from or for the account of the Borrowers and each
Lender's share thereof. The Administrative Agent will make reasonable efforts to
maintain the accuracy of the subaccounts referred to in the preceding sentence
and to promptly update such subaccounts from time to time, as necessary.

     (c)  The entries made in the accounts, register and subaccounts maintained
pursuant to Sections 4.06(a) and (b) shall, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the
obligations of the Borrowers therein recorded; provided, however, that the
                                               --------  -------          
failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain any such account,
such register or such subaccount, as applicable, or any error therein, shall not
in any manner affect the obligations of the Borrowers hereunder.


                                  ARTICLE V.

                             CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     SECTION 5.01.  Conditions to Closing Date.
                    -------------------------- 

     The effectiveness of this Agreement and the commitments contained herein
are subject to satisfaction of the following conditions, in addition to
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 5.02:

          (a)  Receipt by the Administrative Agent of the following financial
     information:

               (i)      Annual audited consolidated financial statements for
     each of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries for fiscal year ended June 28,
     1997, including a 

                                      50
<PAGE>
 
     consolidated balance sheet, and related consolidated statements of
     operations, changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows, setting forth
     in each case such information in comparative form for the previous fiscal
     year and accompanied by an opinion of independent certified public
     accountants of recognized national standing.

               (ii)     Company-prepared quarterly consolidated financial
     statements for each of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries for the fiscal
     quarter immediately preceding the Closing Date for which such information
     is available, including a consolidated balance sheet, and related
     consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders' equity and
     cash flows, setting forth in each case such information in comparative form
     for such periods during the previous fiscal year.

               (iii)    Consolidated pro forma financial statements for each of
     the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries as set forth in the Form S-4 for
     fiscal years ending June 30, 1996 and June 30, 1997.

          (b)  Receipt by the Administrative Agent of (i) the definitive Merger
     Agreement, as amended and modified with all exhibits and schedules and
     related agreements (including any share purchase, exchange or other
     agreements) relating to the merger(s) between JP Foodservice, Inc. (or any
     of its Subsidiaries, whether existing or newly formed) and Rykoff-Sexton,
     Inc., and (ii) evidence of consummation of the Merger Transaction.

          (c)  Receipt by the Administrative Agent of the definitive corporate
     capital and ownership structure after giving effect to the merger(s)
     contemplated pursuant to the foregoing Merger Agreement (including
     organizational documents, bylaws, shareholder agreements).

          (d)  Evidence of receipt by the Borrowers of all necessary approvals,
     consents and authorizations (including the passage of all waiting periods)
     from governmental authorities, shareholders, existing lenders and
     noteholders, and other persons with respect to the Merger Transaction and
     the transactions contemplated hereunder.

          (e)  No circumstances, events or conditions shall have occurred since
     June 30, 1997, in the business, assets, operations, condition (financial or
     otherwise) or prospects of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries
     or in the facts and information regarding such entities as represented to
     date which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material
     Adverse Effect.

          (f)  The absence of any action, suit, investigation or proceeding
     pending or threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or governmental
     authority that purports to affect the Borrowers or their respective
     Subsidiaries or any transaction contemplated hereby or on the ability of
     the Borrowers or their respective Subsidiaries to perform their obligations
     under the Credit Documents.

                                      51
<PAGE>
 
          (g)  Evidence of pro forma compliance by the Borrowers and their
     respective Subsidiaries with their existing financial obligations
     (including compliance with financial covenants thereunder) after giving
     effect to the initial advances hereunder and the mergers contemplated
     pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

          (h)  Receipt by the Administrative Agent of multiple counterparts of
     this Agreement and the Guaranty Agreement executed and delivered by a duly
     authorized officer of each of the parties thereto.

          (i)  Receipt by the Administrative Agent of certified copies of
     articles of incorporation, bylaws, resolutions, incumbency certificates and
     the like from the Company, each of the Borrowers and each of the
     Guarantors.

          (j)  Receipt by the Administrative Agent of multiple counterparts of
     legal opinions of counsel to the Company, the Borrowers and the Guarantors
     dated as of the Closing Date in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
     to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

          (k)  Payment to the Administrative Agent, the other Agents and the
     Lenders all fees due and payable in connection with this Agreement.

     SECTION 5.02.  Each Extension of Credit.
                    ------------------------ 

     The obligations of each Lender to make any Extension of Credit or to
convert or extend any Revolving Loan are subject to satisfaction of the
following conditions in addition to satisfaction on the Closing Date of the
conditions set forth in Section 5.01:

          (a)  The Administrative Agent shall have received an appropriate
     Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Extension/Conversion;

          (b)  The representations and warranties set forth in Article IX shall
     be true and correct in all material respects on and as of such date (except
     to the extent that any such representations and warranties expressly relate
     to an earlier date);

          (c)  No Default or Event of Default shall exist and be continuing
     either prior to or immediately after giving effect thereto; and

          (d)  Immediately after giving effect to the making of such Loan (and
     the application of the proceeds thereof), (i)(A) the sum of Revolving Loans
     outstanding plus Competitive Loans outstanding, shall not exceed (B) the
                 ----                                                        
     Revolving Committed Amount; and (ii) the Competitive Loans outstanding
     shall not exceed the Competitive Loan Maximum Amount.

The delivery of each Notice of Borrowing, each Notice of Extension/Conversion
and each request for a Competitive Bid pursuant to Section 2.02(b) shall
constitute a representation and 

                                      52
<PAGE>
 
warranty by the Borrowers of the correctness of the matters specified in
Sections 5.02(b), (c) and (d) above.


                                  ARTICLE VI.

                       FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; INFORMATION

     SECTION 6.01.  Reporting Requirements.
                    ---------------------- 

     The Borrowers hereby covenant and agree that, so long as this Agreement is
in effect or any amounts payable hereunder or any of the other Credit Documents
shall remain outstanding, and until all of the Commitments shall have been
terminated, the Borrowers will furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the
Administrative Agent and (except as otherwise provided) each Lender:

          (a)  Quarterly Statements.  As soon as available and in any event
               --------------------                                        
     within 50 days after the end of each of the first three quarterly fiscal
     periods in each fiscal year of the Company, (i) an unaudited consolidated
     balance sheet of the Company (and upon request of the Lenders unaudited
     statements for the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries) as at the
     end of such quarterly fiscal period and the related unaudited consolidated
     statements of operations and cash flows of the Company (and upon request of
     the Lenders unaudited statements for the Borrowers and their Restricted
     Subsidiaries) for such quarterly fiscal period and (in the case of the
     second and third such quarterly fiscal period in each fiscal year) for the
     portion of the fiscal year ended with the last day of such quarterly fiscal
     period, setting forth in each case in comparative form the respective
     figures for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year, all in
     reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with GAAP, and certified by the
     principal financial officer of the Company (or the Borrowers) as fairly
     presenting, in all material respects, the financial position of the
     companies being reported on and the results of their operations and cash
     flows except as to the absence of footnotes and subject to changes
     resulting from normal year-end audit adjustments and (ii) comparable
     consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at
     the end of and for such quarterly period, prepared in the same manner as
     such consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries
     and similarly certified by the principal financial officer of the Company;
     provided that delivery within the time period specified above (or, if
     --------                                                             
     later, within five days of timely filing with the Commission) of copies of
     the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for any quarterly fiscal period
     prepared in compliance with the requirements therefor and filed with the
     Commission shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of subdivision (i)
     and (ii) of this Section 6.01(a) for such period so long as such Quarterly
     Report contains the applicable information required by this Section
     6.01(a);

          (b)  Annual Statements.  As soon as available and in any event within
               -----------------                                               
     95 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, (i) a
     consolidated balance sheet of 

                                      53
<PAGE>
 
     the Company (and upon request of the Lenders unaudited statements for the
     Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries) as of the end of such fiscal
     year and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in
     stockholders' equity and cash flows of the Company (and upon request of the
     Lenders unaudited statements for the Borrowers and their Restricted
     Subsidiaries) for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in
     comparative form the respective figures as of the end of and for the
     previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and accompanied by an
     opinion thereon of independent certified public accountants of recognized
     national standing selected by the Company and reasonably satisfactory to
     the Required Lenders, which opinion shall not be made in reliance upon the
     opinion of any other accountant (except for opinions of other independent
     certified public accountants in respect of financial statements of a Person
     which shall have become a Subsidiary or the assets of which shall have been
     acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary during such fiscal year), shall not
     contain any qualification as to scope, and shall state that such financial
     statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position
     of the companies being reported on and their results of operations and
     their cash flows in conformity with GAAP, that the audit of such
     accountants in connection with such financial statements has been made in
     accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and that such
     accountants believe such audit provides a reasonable basis for such opinion
     and (ii) comparable consolidated financial statements of the Company and
     its Subsidiaries as at the end of and for such fiscal year, prepared in the
     same manner as such consolidated financial statements of the Company and
     accompanied by an opinion thereon of independent certified public
     accountants meeting the requirements therefor, set forth in the foregoing
     subdivision (b)(i); provided that, the delivery within the time period
                         --------
     specified above (or, if later, within five days of timely filing with the
     Commission) of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K (together with the
     Company's annual report to shareholders, if any, prepared pursuant to Rule
     14a-3 under the Exchange Act) for any fiscal year prepared in compliance
     with the requirements therefor and filed with the Commission shall be
     deemed to satisfy the requirements of subdivision (i) and (ii) of this
     Section 6.01(b) for such year so long as such Annual Report contains the
     applicable opinions and other information required by this Section 6.01(b);

          (c)  Officers' Certificates.  Concurrently with each delivery of
               ----------------------                                     
     financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries (and upon request
     of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries) pursuant to Section
     6.01 (a) or (b), an Officers' Certificate, addressed to the Administrative
     Agent and the Lenders:

               (i)      stating that the signatories thereto have reviewed the
          terms of this Agreement and have made, or caused to be made under
          their supervision, a review in reasonable detail of the transactions
          and conditions of the Company and its Subsidiaries, or the Borrowers
          and their Restricted Subsidiaries, as appropriate, during the
          accounting period covered by such financial statements, and that such
          review has not disclosed the existence during or at the end of such
          accounting period, and that such signatories do not have knowledge of
          the existence as at the date of such Officers' Certificate, of any
          condition or event which constitutes a 

                                      54
<PAGE>
 
          Default or an Event of Default, or, if to their knowledge any such
          condition or event existed or exists, specifying the nature and period
          of existence thereof and what action has been taken or is taking or
          proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

               (ii)     setting forth (A) as of the date of the consolidated
          balance sheet included in such financial statements, the Fixed Charge
          Coverage Ratio and the Total Debt Ratio, and the respective amounts of
          Total Debt, Consolidated Net Worth, the Net Worth Minimum,
          Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, Priority Debt, Attributable Debt,
          and the aggregate principal amount outstanding of all Debt of
          Restricted Subsidiaries, (B) the respective amounts of Net Income
          Available for Fixed Charges, Consolidated Fixed Charges and Operating
          Cash Flow for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the
          Borrowers ended on such date, and (C) the amount available as at the
          conclusion of the accounting period ended on such date for the making
          of Restricted Payments and Restricted Investments in compliance with
          Section 8.05 and the aggregate unliquidated amount as of such date of
          all Investments of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries of
          the character described in subdivision (g) of the definition of
          "Restricted Investments" set forth in Section 1.01; and

               (iii)    setting forth facts or computations in reasonable detail
          demonstrating compliance during and at the end of such accounting
          period with the covenants and restrictions contained in Section 8.01,
          Section 8.02, Section 8.03, Section 8.04, Section 8.05 and Section
          8.07(f);

          (d)  Accountant's Certificates.  Concurrently with each delivery of
               -------------------------                                     
     annual financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(b), a written
     statement, addressed to the Company from the independent certified public
     accountants referred to in Section 6.01(b) who have reported on such
     financial statements, substantially to the following effects (with only
     such variations as reflect the then current generally applicable policy of
     such accountants with respect to statements of the same or a similar import
     required pursuant to comparable financing documents and which do not
     materially alter the substantive import of such statement):

               (i)      that their audit has included a reading of the terms of
          this Agreement sufficient to enable them to make the statement
          referred to in Section 6.01(d)(iii) (it being understood that no audit
          procedures, other than those required by generally accepted auditing
          standards, shall be required);

               (ii)     that, in connection with their audit, except as set
          forth in such written statement, nothing came to their attention which
          caused them to believe that there exists at the date of such written
          statement any condition or event which constitutes an Event of Default
          or Default, insofar as related to accounting matters reflected in the
          financial statements that were subject to auditing procedures during
          the course of the audit required pursuant to Section 6.01(b) and, in
          the case 

                                      55
<PAGE>
 
          of any such Event of Default or Default which shall have come
          to their attention, specifying, to the extent determined by such
          accountants in connection with such audit, the nature and period of
          existence thereof (it being understood that such accountants shall not
          be liable, directly or indirectly, for any failure to obtain knowledge
          of any Event of Default or Default or the period of existence thereof
          unless such accountants should have obtained knowledge thereof in
          making an audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing
          standards or did not make such an audit); and

               (iii)    that they have read the Officers' Certificate delivered
          in connection with such financial statements pursuant to Section
          6.01(c) and that, in connection with their audit, except as set forth
          in such written statement, nothing came to their attention that caused
          them to believe that the matters set forth in such Officers'
          Certificate pursuant to Sections 6.01(c)(ii) and (iii) insofar as they
          relate to accounting matters reflected in the financial statements
          that were subject to auditing procedures during the course of the
          audit required pursuant to Section 6.01(b), have not been properly
          stated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

          (e)  Commission and Other Reports.  Promptly (and in any event within
               ----------------------------                                    
     five Business Days) after they become available, to the Administrative
     Agent only, copies of (i) all financial statements, reports, notices, proxy
     statements and other information sent or made available generally by the
     Company or a Borrower to any class of its security holders (other than, in
     the case of the Borrowers, the Company) or by any Restricted Subsidiary of
     a Borrower to any class of its security holders (other than the Borrowers
     or another such Subsidiary), (ii) all regular and periodic reports
     (including reports on Form 8-K) and all registration statements (other than
     those on Form S-8 or a successor form relating to the registration of
     securities pursuant to an employee benefit plan) and prospectuses filed by
     the Company, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiaries with any
     securities exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers or with
     the Commission, and (iii) all press releases and other statements made
     available generally by the Company, the Borrowers or any Restricted
     Subsidiaries to the public concerning material developments in the business
     of the Company, the Borrowers or any such Restricted Subsidiary;

          (f)  Audit Reports. Promptly (and in any event within five Business
               -------------                                                 
     Days) after receipt thereof, copies of all reports submitted to a Borrower
     or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries by independent certified public
     accountants in connection with any annual audit of the Borrowers or any
     Restricted Subsidiary made by such accountants, including, without
     limitation, any comment letter submitted by such accountants in connection
     with any such audit;

          (g)  Defaults, etc.  Promptly (and in any event within five Business
               --------------                                                 
     Days) after any Responsible Officer of a Borrower obtains knowledge of any
     condition or event which constitutes a Default or an Event of Default, or
     that the Administrative Agent or 

                                      56
<PAGE>
 
     any Lender has given any notice to the Borrowers or any of their Restricted
     Subsidiaries or taken any other action with respect to a claimed default
     under or in respect of any Debt referred to in Section 10.01(e) or 10.01(f)
     or with respect to the occurrence or existence of any event or condition of
     the type referred to in Section 10.01(g) or 10.01(h), an Officers'
     Certificate specifying in reasonable detail the nature and period of
     existence of such actual or claimed Default, Event of Default, default,
     event or condition, and what action the Borrowers have taken or are taking
     or propose to take with respect thereto;

          (h)  ERISA.  Promptly (and in any event within five Business Days)
               -----                                                        
     after any Borrower Group Member (i) knows of the occurrence of any
     Termination Event, (ii) receives with respect to any Multiemployer Plan
     notice as prescribed in ERISA of any withdrawal liability assessed against
     any Borrower Group Member or of a determination that any Multiemployer Plan
     is in reorganization or insolvent (both within the meaning of Title IV of
     ERISA), (iii) knows that a prohibited transaction (as defined in Section
     406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) for which a statutory or
     administrative exemption is not available or a breach of fiduciary
     responsibility has occurred in connection with which any Borrower Group
     Member could reasonably be subject to any material liability under Section
     406, 409, 502(i) or 502(l) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or under
     any agreement or other instrument pursuant to which such Borrower Group
     Member has agreed or is required to indemnify any Person against any such
     liability or (iv) knows that there has been a material adverse change in
     the funding status of any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, a description of such
     event or a copy of such notice and a statement by the principal financial
     officer of the appropriate Borrower briefly setting forth the details
     regarding such event or condition and the action, if any, which has been or
     is being taken or is proposed to be taken by such Borrower or any Borrower
     Group Member with respect thereto;

          (i)  Litigation, etc. Promptly (and in any event within five Business
               ----------------                                                
     Days) after any Responsible Officer of a Borrower obtains knowledge of any
     litigation, administrative proceeding or judgment (i) relating to the
     Borrowers or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries (whether or not
     considered by the Borrowers to be covered by insurance) which could, if
     adversely determined, have a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) relating in
     any way to this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, an
     Officers' Certificate specifying in reasonable detail the facts and
     circumstances surrounding such litigation, proceeding or judgment;

          (j)  Subsidiary Designation.  Promptly (and in any event within five
               ----------------------                                         
     Business Days) after the designation by the Board of Directors of any
     Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or any redesignation by the Board
     of Directors of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or of
     an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, notice thereof
     accompanied by an Officers' Certificate stating that such designation or
     redesignation has been made in compliance with the definition of
     "Restricted Subsidiary" or "Unrestricted Subsidiary", whichever shall be
     applicable, set forth in Section 1.01, and, in the case of any designation
     or redesignation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted 

                                      57

<PAGE>
 
     Subsidiary, setting forth the name of each other Subsidiary which has
     become an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a result thereof;

          (k)  Modifications to Indenture or Indenture Notes.  Promptly (and in
               ---------------------------------------------                   
     any event within five Business Days) after the date on which any amendment
     or modification of any term or provision of the Indenture or of any of the
     Indenture Notes, or any waiver of compliance with any such term or
     provision, has become effective, copies of the instruments pursuant to
     which such amendment, modification or waiver was effected; and

          (l)  Requested Information. Promptly upon request therefor, such other
               ---------------------
     information as to the Business or Condition of the Borrowers or their
     Restricted Subsidiaries as may from time to time be reasonably requested by
     the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders.


                                 ARTICLE VII.

                      INSPECTION OF PROPERTIES AND BOOKS

     SECTION 7.01.  Inspection Rights of Administrative Agent and Lenders.
                    ----------------------------------------------------- 

     The Borrowers hereby covenant and agree that, so long as this Agreement is
in effect or any amounts payable hereunder or under any of the other Credit
Documents shall remain outstanding, and until all of the Commitments shall have
been terminated, officers or designated representatives of the Administrative
Agent or any Lender may visit and inspect any of the properties of the Borrowers
and their Restricted Subsidiaries, including their respective books of account,
records, reports and other papers, make copies and extracts therefrom, and
discuss their affairs, finances and accounts with their respective officers and
employees (with the consent of an appropriate officer) and, so long as a
Responsible Officer is present, with their independent public accountants (and
the Borrowers hereby authorize and direct each such officer, employee (with the
consent of an appropriate officer) and independent public accountant to engage
in such discussions and hereby undertakes to cause a Responsible Officer to be
present at all reasonable times for purposes of such discussions with said
accountants), all at such reasonable times and as often as may be reasonably
requested.  All expenses incurred in connection with any such visit, inspection
or other exercise of rights by officers or designated representatives of the
Administrative Agent or any Lender, as applicable, pursuant to this Section
shall be borne by the Borrowers except that, if such visit, inspection or other
exercise of rights is undertaken at a time when no Default or Event of Default
shall be continuing, all such expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or
such Lender, as applicable, in connection therewith shall, subject to the terms
of Section 11.09, be for the account of the Administrative Agent or such Lender,
as applicable (it being understood and agreed that the fees of any attorney,
accountant or other professional employed by the Borrowers in connection with
any such visit, inspection or other exercise shall in any event be for the
Borrowers' account).

                                      58
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE VIII.

                                   COVENANTS

     The Borrowers hereby covenant and agree that from and after the Closing
Date and so long as this Agreement is in effect or any amounts payable hereunder
or under any of the other Credit Documents shall remain outstanding, and until
all of the Commitments shall have been terminated:

     SECTION 8.01.  Maintenance of Certain Financial Conditions.
                    ------------------------------------------- 

     (a)  Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.  The Borrowers will not permit the Fixed
          ---------------------------                                          
Charge Coverage Ratio as of any Determination Date occurring during the periods
set forth below to be less than:

 
          Closing Date to June 29, 1998    1.5:1.0
          June 30, 1998 and thereafter     1.75:1.0

     (b)  Consolidated Net Worth. The Borrowers will not permit Consolidated Net
          ---------------------- 
Worth as of any date to be less than the Net Worth Minimum as of such date.

     (c)  Total Debt Ratio.  The Borrowers will not permit the Total Debt Ratio
          ----------------                                                     
as of any Determination Date occurring during the periods set forth below to
exceed:

          Closing Date to September 29, 1998          5.0:1.0
          September 30, 1998 to September 29, 1999    4.5:1.0
          September 30, 1999 to September 29, 2000    4.0:1.0
          September 30, 2000 and thereafter           3.75:1.0

     SECTION 8.02.  Debt Incurrence; Restricted Subsidiary Debt.
                    ------------------------------------------- 

     (a)  The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary
to, incur any Debt on any date if immediately after giving effect to such
incurrence and the incurrence or retirement by the Borrowers and their
Restricted Subsidiaries of any other Debt on such date the Total Debt Ratio
would exceed the amount applicable under Section 8.01(c) for the period during
which such date occurs.

     (b)  The Borrowers will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to incur any
Debt, except that any Restricted Subsidiary may incur and (subject to Section
8.01(c)) remain liable in respect of Debt if, on and as of the date on which
such Restricted Subsidiary proposes to incur such Debt and immediately after
giving effect to such incurrence and the incurrence or retirement by the
Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries of any other Debt on such date, and
to the application of the proceeds of all such incurred Debt, the Priority Debt
Amount shall not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (the amount of
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets for purposes hereof being determined (i) as of
such date, if an Officers' Certificate dated as of such

                                      59
<PAGE>
 
date shall have been provided to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
providing facts or computations in reasonable detail demonstrating compliance
with the terms of this Section 8.02(b) in connection with the proposed
incurrence of Debt on such date, or (ii) if no such Officers' Certificate shall
have been provided to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection
with the incurrence of such Debt, as of the most recent Determination Date prior
to the date of incurrence of such Debt with respect to which the Borrowers shall
have delivered the Required Financial Information).

     (c) For purposes of the foregoing Sections 8.02(a) and (b), (i) the term
"incur", when used with respect to any Debt, shall mean to directly or
indirectly create, incur, assume, agree to purchase or provide funds in respect
of, or otherwise become liable (by way of Guaranty or otherwise) in respect of
such Debt, and the term "incurrence" shall have a correlative meaning, (ii) in
the event the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary shall extend, renew, refund
or refinance any Debt, the Borrowers or such Restricted Subsidiary shall be
deemed to have incurred such Debt at the time of such extension, renewal,
refunding or refinancing, and (iii) any Person designated, redesignated or
otherwise becoming a Restricted Subsidiary at any time after the date of this
Agreement shall be deemed to have incurred all of its outstanding Debt at such
time.

     SECTION 8.03.  Liens.
                    ----- 

     The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to,
directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on or
with respect to any property or asset of any character of the Borrowers or any
of their Restricted Subsidiaries (whether held on the date hereof or hereafter
acquired) or any interest therein or any income or profits therefrom except:

          (a) Liens (other than Liens created or imposed under ERISA) for taxes,
     assessments or governmental charges or levies either not yet due or the
     payment of which is not at the time required by Section 8.12;

          (b) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen,
     mechanics, materialmen and other similar Persons incurred in the ordinary
     course of business for sums either not yet due or the payment of which is
     not at the time required by Section 8.12;

          (c) Liens (other than Liens created or imposed under ERISA) incurred
     or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with
     workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social
     security, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations,
     bids, government contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other
     similar obligations (exclusive in any case of obligations incurred in
     connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or
     credit);

                                      60
<PAGE>
 
          (d) Liens incidental to the conduct of business or to the ownership of
     property of a character which customarily exist on properties of
     corporations engaged in similar activities and similarly situated and which
     were not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the
     obtaining of advances or credit, and which do not, individually or in the
     aggregate, interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of a
     Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or detract from the value or
     use of the properties subject to any such Liens;

          (e) any attachment, judgment or other similar Lien arising in
     connection with court proceedings, so long as (i) the execution or other
     enforcement of such Lien is effectively stayed and the claims secured
     thereby are being actively contested in good faith and by appropriate
     proceedings diligently conducted and effective to prevent the forfeiture or
     sale of any property of a Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any
     interference with the ordinary use thereof by a Borrower or any Restricted
     Subsidiary, and (ii) such reserve or other appropriate provision, if any,
     in the amount and of the type as shall be required by GAAP shall be
     maintained therefor;

          (f) Liens on assets of any Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary securing
     Debt or other obligations of such Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary owing
     to a Borrower or to a Restricted Subsidiary;

          (g) Liens described on Schedule IX existing on the date of this
                                 -----------                             
     Agreement and securing the Debt described thereon as being secured by such
     Liens; provided that (i) no such Lien shall at any time be extended to or
            --------                                                          
     cover any property of a Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than
     the property subject thereto on the date hereof and (ii) the principal
     amount of the Debt secured by such Liens shall not be increased;

          (h) Liens securing obligations incurred in connection with IDB Debt,
                                                                              
     provided that no such Lien shall at any time extend to or cover any
     --------                                                           
     property of a Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the
     equipment and facilities acquired or constructed with the proceeds of such
     IDB Debt, real property appurtenant to such facilities, and proceeds of
     such equipment, facilities and real property;

          (i) Liens (including Capital Leases) created solely to secure the
     deferred purchase price of fixed assets useful and intended to be used in
     carrying on the business of a Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries
     acquired or constructed by a Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary after
     the date hereof, or any Lien (including a Capital Lease) created to secure
     Debt incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition or
     construction, as the case may be, of any such asset (if such Debt is
     incurred at the time of or within 180 days after such acquisition, or the
     completion of such construction) or any Lien existing on acquired assets at
     the time of acquisition thereof, or, in the case of any Person which
     hereafter becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, any Lien in respect of its
     assets existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary,
     provided that:
     --------      

                                      61
<PAGE>
 
                    (i)   in the case of an acquisition of assets or a Person
          becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, such Lien was not created in
          contemplation of such event,

                    (ii)  no such Lien shall at any time extend to or cover any
          asset of a Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries other than
          the acquired assets on which it was originally imposed and
          improvements thereto and proceeds thereof, and

                    (iii) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to
          the creation or incurrence of each such Lien, the aggregate principal
          amount of all Debt secured by all such Liens on any such asset shall
          not exceed an amount equal to the lesser of (x) the purchase price of
          such asset (including, for purposes of determining such purchase
          price, the principal amount of any pre-existing Debt secured by any
          such Liens, whether or not a Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary has
          any personal liability with respect thereto) and (y) the fair market
          value of such asset (as determined by the Board of Directors) at such
          time;

          (j) Liens in favor of a Receivables Financing SPC or Receivables
     Financier created or deemed to exist in connection with a Permitted
     Receivables Financing (including any related filings of any financing
     statements), but only to the extent that any such Lien relates to the
     applicable receivables and related property (or percentage interests
     therein) actually sold, contributed, financed or otherwise conveyed or
     pledged pursuant to such transaction; and

          (k) Liens in addition to those permitted by the foregoing provisions
     of this Section 8.03 securing Debt of a Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary
     or satisfying cash collateral requirements hereunder; provided that,
                                                           --------      
     immediately after giving effect to the creation, incurrence or assumption
     of each such additional Lien, the Priority Debt Amount shall not exceed 10%
     of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (the amount of Consolidated Net
     Tangible Assets for purposes hereof being determined (i) as of the date of
     creation, incurrence or assumption of such Lien, if an Officers'
     Certificate dated as of such date shall have been provided to the
     Administrative Agent and the Lenders providing facts or computations in
     reasonable detail demonstrating compliance with the terms of this Section
     8.03(k) in connection with the proposed creation, incurrence or assumption
     of such Lien on such date, or (ii) if no such Officers' Certificate shall
     have been provided to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in
     connection with the creation, incurrence or assumption of such Lien, as of
     the most recent Determination Date prior to the date of creation,
     incurrence or assumption of such Lien with respect to which the Borrowers
     shall have delivered the Required Financial Information).

     For all purposes of this Section 8.03, (A) Liens existing on or with
respect to any property of any Person at the time it is designated or
redesignated or otherwise becomes a Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to
have been created at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, (B) any
extension, renewal, refunding or refinancing of any Lien by a Borrower or

                                      62
<PAGE>
 
any Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to be an incurrence of such Lien at
the time of such extension, renewal, refunding or refinancing, and (C) any Lien
existing on any property at the time it is acquired by a Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to have been created at the time of such
acquisition.

     SECTION 8.04.  Sale Leasebacks.
                    --------------- 

     The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to,
enter into any Sale Leaseback unless

          (a) immediately after giving effect to such Sale Leaseback, the
     Priority Debt Amount shall not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible
     Assets (the amount of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets for purposes hereof
     being determined (i) as of the date of such Sale Leaseback, if an Officers'
     Certificate dated as of such date shall have been provided to the
     Administrative Agent and the Lenders providing facts or computations in
     reasonable detail demonstrating compliance with the terms of this Section
     8.04 in connection with such Sale Leaseback, or (ii) if no such Officers'
     Certificate shall have been provided to the Administrative Agent and the
     Lenders in connection with such Sale Leaseback, as of the most recent
     Determination Date prior to the date of such Sale Leaseback with respect to
     which the Borrowers shall have delivered the Required Financial
     Information); or

          (b) the net proceeds of such Sale Leaseback are reinvested in property
     or assets, or such proceeds are otherwise applied, in compliance with
     Section 3.02(b).

     SECTION 8.05.  Restricted Payments; Restricted Investments.
                    ------------------------------------------- 

     The Borrowers will not, directly or indirectly (through a Restricted
Subsidiary or otherwise), declare, order, pay, distribute, make, or set apart
any sum or property for any Restricted Payment, and the Borrowers will not, and
will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make or become obligated to make
any Restricted Investment, unless, both at the time of and immediately after
effect has been given to any such proposed action:

          (a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
     continuing; and

          (b) the aggregate amount of

              (i)  all sums and property included in all Restricted Payments
          directly or indirectly declared, ordered, paid, distributed, made or
          set apart by the Borrowers during the period (taken as one accounting
          period) from and including the Closing Date to and including the date
          of such proposed action (the "Computation Period"), plus
                                        ------------------    ----

              (ii) the aggregate amount (at original cost) of all Restricted
          Investments of the Borrowers and all Restricted Subsidiaries made
          during the 

                                      63
<PAGE>
 
          Computation Period and all commitments for such Restricted Investments
          made by a Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary outstanding on such
          date,

     shall not exceed the sum of

               (A) $10,000,000, plus
                                ----

               (B) 50% (or, in the case of a net loss for the Computation Period
          taken as a whole, minus 100%) of Consolidated Net Income for the
                            -----                                         
          Computation Period, plus
                              ----

               (C) the aggregate amount of the net cash proceeds received by the
          Borrowers and their respective Restricted Subsidiaries during the
          Computation Period from the sale of capital stock of the Borrowers and
          their Restricted Subsidiaries, from contributions to the common equity
          capital of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries, and as
          consideration for the issuance during the Computation Period of Debt
          of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries convertible into
          their respective capital stock, but only to the extent that any such
          Debt has been converted into such capital stock during the Computation
          Period, plus
                  ----

               (D) to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income for the
          Computation Period, the aggregate amount of the cash payments received
          by the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries during the
          Computation Period representing net returns of capital on Restricted
          Investments made during the Computation Period.

     For all purposes of this Section 8.05, (1) the amount involved in any
Restricted Payment directly or indirectly declared, ordered, paid, distributed,
made or set apart in property, and the amount of any Restricted Investment made
through the transfer of property, shall be deemed to be the greater of (x) the
fair market value of such property (as determined by the Board of Directors) at
the time of such action and (y) the net book value thereof on the books of the
Borrowers or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined in accordance
with GAAP), in each case as determined on the earliest of the dates such
Restricted Payment is declared, ordered, paid, distributed, made or set apart or
the date such Restricted Investment is made or committed to be made, as the case
may be, and (2) all Investments of any Person existing immediately after such
Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary which would be Restricted Investments if
made by such Person while subject to the provisions of this Agreement shall be
deemed to be Restricted Investments and to have been made at the time such
Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary.

     The Borrowers will not pay any dividend which they have not declared nor
will they declare any dividend (other than dividends payable solely in shares of
their common stock) on any shares of any class of capital stock which is payable
more than 60 days after the date of declaration thereof.

                                      64
<PAGE>
 
     The provisions of this Section 8.05 shall not, in any event, apply to
Permitted Payments or IDB Debt permitted hereunder, or be construed as limiting
the ability of JPFDI to pay dividends to RSI.

     SECTION 8.06.  Subsidiary Stock and Debt.
                    ------------------------- 

     Without limiting the provisions of, and subject to, Section 8.02, the
Borrowers will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, issue,
sell, assign or otherwise dispose of or part with control of, any shares of
stock, Debt or other securities (or warrants, rights or options to acquire stock
or other securities), in each case of any Restricted Subsidiary, except to a
Borrower or a Predominantly Owned Restricted Subsidiary and except that:

          (a) all shares of stock and all Debt and other securities of any
     Restricted Subsidiary at the time owned by or owed to a Borrower and all
     Restricted Subsidiaries may be sold as an entirety for a consideration
     which represents the fair market value (as determined by the Board of
     Directors) at the time of sale of the shares of stock and Debt and other
     Securities so sold; or

          (b) less than all shares of stock of any Restricted Subsidiary at the
     time owned by a Borrower and all Restricted Subsidiaries may be sold, or a
     Restricted Subsidiary may issue shares of its stock to a Person other than
     the Borrowers or a Predominantly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, in either
     case for a consideration which represents the fair market value thereof (as
     determined by the Board of Directors) at the time of sale or issuance, as
     the case may be, of such shares, if, immediately after giving effect to
     such transaction, such Restricted Subsidiary shall be a Predominantly Owned
     Restricted Subsidiary, or

          (c) Debt of a Restricted Subsidiary at the time owed to a Borrower or
     a Restricted Subsidiary may be sold to a third Person in a transaction not
     described in Section 8.06(a) for a consideration at least equal to the
     principal amount of such Debt plus interest accrued and payable thereon (to
     the extent such interest is not payable to the Borrowers or a Restricted
     Subsidiary following such sale);

provided, however, that it shall be a condition to the consummation by the
--------  -------                                                         
Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary of any transaction described in the
foregoing Sections 8.06(a), (b) and (c) that (i) in the case of any sale or
issuance of stock of a Restricted Subsidiary described in Sections 8.06(a) or
(b), the assets of such Restricted Subsidiary represented by the equity interest
to be so sold or issued are such that the sale of such assets would then be
permitted by Section 8.07 (in which case such transaction shall be considered
and deemed a disposition of assets for purposes of Section 8.07), and (ii) in
the case of any such transaction described in Sections 8.06 (a), (b) or (c),
immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

     The provisions of this Section 8.06 shall not, in any event, apply to IDB
Debt permitted hereunder.

                                      65
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 8.07.  Consolidation, Merger, Sale of Assets, etc.
                    ------------------------------------------ 

     The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their Restricted
Subsidiaries to, voluntarily liquidate or dissolve, or consolidate or merge with
or into any other Person, or permit any other Person to consolidate with or
merge with or into it, or participate in a share exchange with or sell, lease,
transfer, contribute or otherwise dispose of any of its assets to any other
Person, except that, subject in any event to compliance with the last paragraph
of this Section 8.07:

          (a) a Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary may sell or otherwise
     dispose of its assets (i) in the ordinary course of its business as such
     business is permitted to be conducted in compliance with Section 8.09, (ii)
     in a Permitted Receivables Financing and (iii) in a Tax Reduction
     Transaction, or

          (b) (i) any Restricted Subsidiary may (A) consolidate with or merge
     into a Borrower or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary if such Borrower or
     such Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary shall be the continuing or
     surviving corporation or (B) consolidate or merge with any other
     corporation if such Restricted Subsidiary shall be the continuing or
     surviving corporation and (ii) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate
     with or merge into any other Restricted Subsidiary; or

          (c) any Restricted Subsidiary may sell, lease, transfer, contribute or
     otherwise dispose of its assets in whole or in part to a Borrower or a
     Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary or any other Restricted Subsidiary and
     may, following any such disposition in whole, liquidate and dissolve; or

          (d) a Borrower may consolidate or merge with any other Person
     (including the other Borrower) if such Borrower (or the other Borrower)
     shall be the continuing or surviving corporation; or

          (e) a Borrower may consolidate with or merge into, or sell, transfer
     or otherwise dispose of its assets as an entirety or substantially as an
     entirety, to any other Person (a "Successor"; any such consolidation,
                                       ---------                          
     merger or disposition of assets being hereinafter referred to as a
     "Successor Transaction"), but only if such Successor (i) is a solvent
      ---------------------                                               
     corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
     laws of the United States of America or a state thereof and (ii) expressly
     assumes, not later than the consummation of such Successor Transaction,
     pursuant to a written instrument satisfactory in form, scope and substance
     to the Lenders, the due and punctual payment of all principal, interest and
     Fees in accordance with the terms hereof and of the other Credit Documents
     to which such Borrower is a party, and the due and punctual performance and
     observance of all other obligations of such Borrower under this Agreement,
     an executed counterpart of which instrument shall have been furnished to
     each of the Lenders together with a favorable opinion of counsel
     satisfactory to each Lender covering such legal 

                                      66
<PAGE>
 
     matters relating to such Successor, the Successor Transaction, such
     assumption and such instrument as such holder may reasonably request; or

          (f) the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries, in addition to
     making any sale or disposition permitted by the foregoing provisions of
     this Section, may sell or otherwise dispose of property and assets for fair
     consideration (as determined by the Board of Directors) at the time of such
     sale, subject to the commitment reduction and mandatory prepayment
     provisions of Section 3.02(b)(ii).

     No consolidation, merger, sale, lease, transfer, contribution or other
disposition referred to in Sections 8.07(b) through (f) shall be permitted
unless (x) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (y) upon giving
effect to any such transaction (to the extent required in the definition of
"Operating Cash Flow" set forth in Section 1.01) as of the first day of the four
consecutive fiscal quarters ended as of the most recent Determination Date
occurring prior to the date of such proposed transaction with respect to which
the Borrowers shall have delivered the Required Financial Information, no
Default or Event of Default would have occurred as the result of a violation of
Section 8.01(c) on such Determination Date.  Nothing contained in this Section
shall permit (i) the disposition of assets consisting of, stock or similar
interests or other securities (or warrants, rights or options to acquire stock
or other securities) of any Restricted Subsidiary unless such disposition, if
subject to Section 8.06, is also permitted by Section 8.06, or (ii) the
disposition of any Transferred Assets (or any interest therein) by the Borrowers
or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Unrestricted Subsidiary except in connection
with a Permitted Receivables Financing.

     SECTION 8.08.  Transactions with Affiliates; Tax Consolidation.
                    ----------------------------------------------- 

     (a)  The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary
to, directly or indirectly, enter into or be a party to any transaction or
arrangement (including, without limitation, the contribution, transfer,
purchase, sale or exchange of property, or the rendering of any service, or the
payment of management or other service fees) with any Affiliate unless such
transaction or arrangement is entered into upon terms that are fair and
reasonable and no less favorable to the Borrowers or such Restricted Subsidiary,
as the case may be, than those which might be obtained at the time on an arm's-
length basis from any Person which is not such an Affiliate; provided that,
                                                             --------      
subject to the terms of Section 9.13, the foregoing restrictions shall not apply
to (i) any transaction between one or more of the Company, the Borrowers and the
Restricted Subsidiaries, on the one hand, with one or more of the Company, the
Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries, on the other hand; or (ii)
transactions effected pursuant to and in compliance with the terms of the
agreements listed on Schedule X, in the case of each thereof, as the same shall
                     ----------                                                
be in effect on and as of the Closing Date (collectively, the "Existing
                                                               --------
Affiliate Agreements").  Nothing contained in this Section shall permit the
--------------------                                                       
disposition of any accounts receivable (or any interest therein) by the
Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Unrestricted Subsidiary except in
connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing.

     (b)  The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their Subsidiaries
to, file or consent to the filing of any consolidated income tax return with the
Company or any other 

                                      67
<PAGE>
 
Person (other than a Borrower or a Subsidiary of either Borrower) except that
the Borrowers or any such Subsidiary may file or consent to the filing of a
consolidated United States federal income tax return with the Company if (but
only if) the Company shall have entered into a valid and binding agreement to
reimburse to the Borrowers, or to allow the Borrowers to retain, a sum equal to
the amount by which the income taxes of the consolidated group of corporations
of which the Borrowers are a part are reduced as a result of the inclusion of
the Borrowers in the consolidated return of such group; provided, that the
                                                        -------- 
Borrowers may agree to pay the Company an amount not to exceed the amount of
income taxes which would have been payable by the Borrowers if they had filed
their income tax returns on a basis not consolidated with the Company, subject
to appropriate adjustment in the event that the amount of such income taxes is
increased or reduced by reason of any audit by a taxing authority or any
successful claim for a refund, any such payment or reimbursement to be computed
in accordance with applicable tax law, rules and regulations, and to be made at
the time of payment or refund of any such income taxes.

     SECTION 8.09.  Nature of Business.
                    ------------------ 

     The Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries will remain principally
engaged in the business of broadline distribution of food and related products
to restaurants and other food service establishments, and will not engage in any
line of business in which they are not currently engaged to such an extent that
the business of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole
would be fundamentally different in nature from the business of the Borrowers
and their Restricted Subsidiaries on the date hereof.  As of the Closing Date,
the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries are also engaged in the
manufacturing and importing of such products and the design, construction and
installation of equipment in restaurants and other food service establishments.

     SECTION 8.10.  Books and Records; Fiscal Year.
                    -------------------------------

     The Borrowers will, and will cause each of their Subsidiaries to, (a) keep
proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries will
be made of all its material business dealings and transactions in accordance
with GAAP applied on a consistent basis and (b) maintain a system of accounting
established and administered in accordance with GAAP, and set aside on their
books from their earnings for each fiscal period all proper reserves, accruals
and provisions which, in accordance with GAAP, should be set aside from such
earnings in connection with their business, including, without limitation,
provisions for depreciation, obsolescence and/or amortization, and accruals for
taxes for such period.  The Borrowers will give the Administrative Agent and
each of the Lenders advance written notice of any change in the basis on which
the fiscal year of the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary is determined,
provided that no such change shall result in either Borrower having a fiscal
--------                                                                    
year longer than twelve (12) fiscal months.

                                      68
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 8.11.  Corporate Existence; Licenses.
                    ----------------------------- 

     The Borrowers will, and will cause each of their Restricted Subsidiaries
to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full
force and effect their corporate existence (except as otherwise permitted by
Section 8.07) and their rights (charter and statutory) and Licenses; except
that, subject to compliance with Sections 8.06 and 8.07 and the next succeeding
sentence of this Section, the rights and Licenses of the Borrowers or any of
their Restricted Subsidiaries may be abandoned, modified or terminated if in the
judgment of the Board of Directors such abandonment, modification or termination
is in the best interests of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries and
is not disadvantageous to the Lenders. The Borrowers will, and will cause each
of their Restricted Subsidiaries to, in any event maintain the validity of all
Licenses necessary in any material respect for the conduct of the business of
the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries as now conducted and as proposed
to be conducted.

     SECTION 8.12.  Payment of Taxes, Claims for Labor and Materials, etc.
                    ----------------------------------------------------- 

     The Borrowers will, and will cause each of their Restricted Subsidiaries
to, promptly pay and discharge or cause to be promptly paid and discharged when
due and before the same shall become delinquent (a) all taxes, assessments and
governmental charges or levies imposed upon them or upon their income or profits
or upon any of their franchises, Licenses, business or property, or upon any
part thereof, and (b) all claims of landlords, carriers, warehousemen,
mechanics, materialmen and other similar Persons for labor, materials, supplies
and rentals which, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien or charge upon any of
their property; provided, however, that the failure of the Borrowers or any of
                --------  -------                                             
their Restricted Subsidiaries to pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or
claim shall not constitute a Default hereunder if and for so long as the amount,
applicability or validity thereof shall concurrently be contested in good faith
by appropriate and timely actions or proceedings diligently pursued, and if such
reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required by GAAP
shall have been made therefor and the consequences of such failure shall not
have, either alone or taken together with the consequences of all other such
failures, a Material Adverse Effect.

     SECTION 8.13.  Maintenance of Properties.
                    ------------------------- 

     The Borrowers will, and will cause each of their Restricted Subsidiaries
to, maintain and keep, or cause to be maintained and kept, in good repair,
working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted) all properties
(whether owned or leased) used or useful in the business of the Borrowers and
their Restricted Subsidiaries, and from time to time make or cause to be made
all necessary and proper repairs, renewals, replacements and improvements
thereof so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly
and advantageously conducted consistent with past practices of the Borrowers and
their Restricted Subsidiaries.

     SECTION 8.14.  Insurance.
                    --------- 

     The Borrowers will, and will cause each of their Restricted Subsidiaries
to, keep adequately insured, by financially sound and reputable insurers, all of
their respective property of 

                                      69
<PAGE>
 
a character customarily insured against by prudent corporations engaged in the
same or a similar business and similarly situated against loss or damage of the
kinds and in amounts customarily insured against by such corporations, and with
deductibles or coinsurance no greater than is customary, and carry (or cause
their respective suppliers to carry, under arrangements pursuant to which a
Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiary is named an additional insured), with such
insurers in customary amounts, such other insurance, including public liability
insurance and insurance against claims for any violation of applicable law, as
is customarily carried by prudent corporations of established reputation engaged
in the same or a similar business and similarly situated; provided, however,
                                                          --------  -------
that the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries may, consistently with
their practices prior to the date hereof, self-insure with respect to certain
categories of insurance (including, but not limited to, property and workers'
compensation claims) so long as (i) the respective amounts of such categories of
self insurance for the Borrowers and all Restricted Subsidiaries shall not
exceed the amounts thereof from time to time recommended to the Borrowers by an
independent firm of risk management consultants of recognized standing and (ii)
all reserves required in accordance with GAAP to be maintained by the Borrowers
and their Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of all such self insurance
(including self insurance in effect resulting from co-insurance, deductibility
or similar clauses) shall be maintained through a security arrangement as
required by the respective insurer (which may include the procurement by the
Borrowers, as account party, of letters of credit as permitted under the Five
Year Credit Agreement), or other arrangements, not to include cash collateral,
in compliance with Section 8.03; provided, that if letters of credit are offered
to any such insurer but such insurer requires cash collateral in lieu of such
letters of credit, then such other arrangements may include cash collateral.

     SECTION 8.15.  Compliance with Laws.
                    -------------------- 

     The Borrowers will, and will cause each of their Restricted Subsidiaries
to, promptly comply in all material respects with all laws, statutes, rules,
regulations and ordinances and all Orders of, and restrictions imposed by, any
court, arbitrator or Governmental Body in respect of the conduct of their
respective business and the ownership of their respective properties (including,
without limitation, applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations, ordinances
and Orders relating to occupational health and safety standards, consumer
protection and equal employment opportunities), except to the extent that the
applicability or validity of any such law, statute, rule, regulation, ordinance
or Order is being contested in good faith by appropriate and timely actions or
proceedings diligently pursued, and for which such reserve or other appropriate
provision, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made, so long as
such actions or proceedings are effective to prevent the imposition of any
material penalty on the Borrowers or such Restricted Subsidiary and the
consequences of the failure to comply with such contested law, statute, rule,
regulation, ordinance or Order and of the conduct of such action or proceeding
could not reasonably be expected to have, either alone or taken together with
the consequences of all other such failures, actions and proceedings, a Material
Adverse Effect.

                                      70
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 8.16.  Environmental Matters.
                    --------------------- 

     (a) The Borrowers will, and will cause each of their Restricted
Subsidiaries to, (i) obtain and maintain in full force and effect all
Environmental Permits that may be required from time to time under any
Environmental Laws applicable to the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary and
(ii) be and remain in compliance in all material respects with all terms and
conditions of all such Environmental Permits and with all other limitations,
restrictions, conditions, standards, prohibitions, requirements, obligations,
schedules and timetables contained in all applicable Environmental Laws.

     (b) The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their Restricted
Subsidiaries to, (i) cause or allow (A) any Hazardous Substance to be present at
any time on, in, under or above the Borrower Premises or any part thereof or (B)
the Borrower Premises or any part thereof to be used at any time to manufacture,
generate, refine, process, distribute, use, sell, treat, receive, store, dispose
of, transport, arrange for transport of, handle, or be involved in any other
activity involving, any Hazardous Substance, or (ii) conduct any such activities
described in the foregoing clause (i)(B) on the Borrower Premises or anywhere
else, except, in each case referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), in
a manner that is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable
Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits and to an extent that will not have
a Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that the existence of the
                           --------  -------
circumstances described on Schedule XI with respect to the Everett Facility
                           -----------
shall not be deemed to constitute a default by the Borrowers in the performance
of their respective obligations under this Section 8.16(b) so long as neither
such circumstances nor any claim or liability asserted against the Borrowers in
connection therewith nor any action required to be taken by the Borrowers with
respect thereto shall have had a Material Adverse Effect.

     SECTION 8.17.  Maintenance of Office.
                    --------------------- 

     The Borrowers will maintain their principal office at a location in the
United States of America where notices, presentations and demands in respect of
this Agreement may be made upon them, and will notify the Administrative Agent
and each of the Lenders in writing of any change of location of such office
reasonably promptly following the occurrence of such change.  Such office shall
first be maintained at the address of the Borrowers set forth in Section
12.01(a).

     SECTION 8.18.  Future Restricted Subsidiaries.
                    ------------------------------ 

     The Borrowers will cause each Subsidiary (other than any Subsidiary created
in connection with any Permitted Receivables Financing for the sole purpose of,
and whose business activities are (and at all times remain) limited to,
purchasing accounts receivable (or any interests therein) from the Borrowers or
any of their Restricted Subsidiaries and selling, transferring or otherwise
conveying such accounts receivable (or any interests therein) to the Receivables
Financier for such Permitted Receivables Financing) which at any time on or
following the Closing Date shall be designated or redesignated in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement as a Restricted Subsidiary, not later than the
time of effectiveness of such designation or redesignation, to guarantee
pursuant to the Guaranty Agreement the obligations of 

                                      71
<PAGE>
 
the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents to which the
Borrowers are a party. In furtherance of the above, the Borrowers shall notify
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in accordance with Section 6.01(j) upon
any Subsidiary being designated or redesignated in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement as a Restricted Subsidiary and shall cause such Subsidiary (i) to
execute a Guarantor Joinder Agreement and (ii) to deliver such other
documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in connection
with the foregoing, including without limitation certified corporate resolutions
and other corporate documents of such Subsidiary and favorable opinions of
counsel to such Subsidiary (which shall cover, among other things, the legality,
validity, binding effect and enforceability of the documentation referred to
above), all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent.

     Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement or the Guaranty Agreement
to the contrary, in the event that any Guarantor shall cease to be a Restricted
Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, then (1) such
Guarantor, automatically and without further act on the part of the
Administrative Agent or the Lenders, shall be released from its obligations
under the Guaranty Agreement and (2) promptly upon the request of the Borrowers,
the Administrative Agent (on behalf of the Lenders) shall execute such documents
and take such other action reasonably requested by the Borrowers to memorialize
the release of such Guarantor from its obligations arising under the Guaranty
Agreement.

     SECTION 8.19.  Year 2000.
                    --------- 

     Each Borrower shall take all action necessary to assure that its computer
based systems are able to effectively process data including dates on and after
January 1, 2000.  At the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, each
Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may
be, with assurance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent or such
Lender, as the case may be, of such Borrower's year 2000 capability.


                                  ARTICLE IX.

                REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BORROWERS

     Each of the Borrowers hereby represents and warrants to each Lender that:

     SECTION 9.01.  Organization and Authority of the Borrowers, etc.
                    ------------------------------------------------ 

     Each Borrower is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite legal
right, power and authority to own or hold under lease the property it purports
to own or hold under lease, to carry on its business as now conducted and as
proposed to be conducted, and to enter into and carry out the terms of this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party.  As of the
Closing Date, each Borrower has, by all necessary corporate action (including
all action of its 

                                      72
<PAGE>
 
shareholders required in connection therewith), duly authorized the execution
and delivery of, and the performance of its obligations under, this Agreement
and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party.

     SECTION 9.02.  Subsidiaries.
                    ------------ 

     Schedule VIII lists all existing Subsidiaries of the Borrowers as of the
     -------------                                                           
Closing Date and correctly sets forth, as to each Subsidiary (a) its name, (b)
its jurisdiction of organization, (c) the percentage of its issued and
outstanding shares of capital stock of each class owned by a Borrower or one of
its Subsidiaries (specifying each such Subsidiary), and (d) the name of each
Person, if any, other than a Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries owning
outstanding shares of capital stock of any class of such Subsidiary and the
percentage of each such class of stock owned by such Person.  The Borrowers do
not, as of the date of this Agreement, and will not, as of the Closing Date,
have any Unrestricted Subsidiaries; and each Subsidiary listed on Schedule VIII
                                                                  -------------
is initially designated as a Restricted Subsidiary.  Each such Restricted
Subsidiary is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has all
requisite legal right, power and authority to own or hold under lease the
property it purports to own or hold under lease, to carry on its business as now
conducted and as proposed to be conducted, and to enter into and carry out the
terms of the Guaranty Agreement. Each such Restricted Subsidiary has, by all
necessary corporate action (including all action of its shareholders required in
connection therewith), duly authorized the execution and delivery of, and the
performance of its obligations under the Guaranty Agreement. All of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of each such Restricted Subsidiary have been
duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and all
shares of capital stock indicated on Schedule VIII as owned by a Borrower or any
                                     ------------- 
other such Restricted Subsidiary as of the Closing Date are owned beneficially
and of record by a Borrower or such other Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may
be; and immediately after giving effect to the transactions to be consummated on
the Closing Date such shares will be so owned, free and clear of any Lien.
Except as otherwise permitted by Section 8.06, there are no outstanding rights,
options, warrants, conversion rights or agreements for the purchase or
acquisition from the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries of any shares of
capital stock or similar interests or other securities of any Subsidiary.

     SECTION 9.03.  Qualification.
                    ------------- 

     Each Borrower is, and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries is, duly
qualified or licensed and in good standing as a foreign corporation duly
authorized to do business in each jurisdiction (other than the jurisdiction of
its organization) in which the nature of its activities or the character of the
properties it owns or leases makes such qualification or licensing necessary and
in which the failure to so qualify or be licensed would have a Material Adverse
Effect.  Schedule VIII sets forth as to the Borrowers and each of their
         -------------                                                 
Restricted Subsidiaries the jurisdictions (other than the jurisdiction of its
organization) in which, as of the Closing Date, it is qualified or licensed to
do business or in which any substantial part of its tangible assets is located.

                                      73
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 9.04.  Financial Statements.
                    -------------------- 

     The financial statements referenced in Sections 5.01(a)(i) and 5.01(a)(ii)
have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, are complete and correct in all
material respects and present fairly the financial position and results of
operations and cash flows of the entities for the periods specified, subject in
the case of interim company-prepared statements to normal year-end adjustments
and the absence of footnotes.

     SECTION 9.05.  Changes, etc.
                    -------------

     Since June 30, 1997, (a) there have been no changes in the Business or
Condition of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries which has been, either in any
one case or in the aggregate, Materially Adverse, and (b) there has been no
occurrence or development, whether or not insured against, which has had or
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except in the
case of (a) or (b) above, to the extent, if any, disclosed in the Registration
Statement or other written materials furnished by the Borrowers by the Closing
Date.

     SECTION 9.06.  Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, etc.
                    -------------------------------------------- 

     (a) Neither of the Borrowers nor any of their Subsidiaries is in violation
of any term of its corporate charter or by-laws.  Neither of the Borrowers nor
any of their Subsidiaries is in violation of any term of any agreement,
indenture, mortgage or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any
of its properties may be bound or affected or any existing statute, law,
governmental rule, regulation or ordinance, or any Order of any court,
arbitrator or Governmental Body applicable to it (including, without limitation,
any statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance or Order relating to occupational
health and safety standards, consumer protection or equal employment practice
requirements and applicable regulations of the Department of Agriculture, the
Food and Drug Administration and state and local health departments), the
consequences of which violation, either alone or taken together with the
consequences of all other such violations, have had or could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any of the
other Credit Documents nor the performance of the terms and provisions hereof or
thereof nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby
will result in any breach of or be in conflict with or constitute a default (or
an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default)
under, or give to others any right of termination, amendment, acceleration or
cancellation of, or result in a loss of any benefit to which the Borrowers or
any of their Subsidiaries is entitled under, or result in (or require) the
creation of any Lien upon any property of the Borrowers under, any term of, the
corporate charter or by-laws of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries or
any material agreement, indenture, mortgage or instrument to which the Borrowers
or any of their Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Borrowers, any such
Subsidiary or any of their respective properties may be bound or affected, or
any existing statute, law, rule, regulation or ordinance or any Order of any
court, arbitrator or Governmental Body applicable to the Borrowers, any such
Subsidiary or any of their respective properties.


                                      74
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 9.07.  Consents and Approvals.
                    ---------------------- 

     No Approval by, from or with, and no other action in respect of, any
Governmental Body or any other Person (including any trustee, or any holder of
any indebtedness, securities or other obligations of the Borrowers or any
Restricted Subsidiary) is required (a) for or in connection with the valid
execution and delivery by the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary of or the
performance by the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary of their obligations
under this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents or the consummation by
the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby, or (b) as a condition to the legality, validity or
enforceability as against the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary of this
Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, in each case, other than (i)
routine filings before and after the Closing Date with the Commission and state
Blue Sky authorities, and (ii) the Approvals described on Schedule XII, all of
                                                          ------------        
which have been duly obtained or made and are in full force and effect and true
and correct copies of instruments evidencing which have been furnished to the
Administrative Agent.

     SECTION 9.08.  Debt, etc.
                    ----------

     Schedule IX correctly lists all secured and unsecured Debt of the Borrowers
     -----------                                                                
and each of their Subsidiaries outstanding on the date hereof (except as
otherwise noted thereon) and shows, as to each item of Debt listed thereon, the
obligor and obligee, the aggregate principal amount outstanding as of the
Closing Date.  No default or event of default or basis for acceleration exists
(nor in the case of Permitted Receivables Financings, has any termination event
occurred) or, immediately after giving effect to the initial borrowings
hereunder on the Closing Date and the other transactions to occur on the Closing
Date as contemplated hereby, will exist (or, but for the permanent waiver
thereof, would exist) under any instrument or agreement evidencing, providing
for the issuance or securing of, or otherwise relating to any such Debt due to
(a) nonpayment of any obligations thereunder or (b) any failure to duly perform
or observe any other covenant, provision, agreement or condition contained
therein, the consequences of which failure, either alone or taken together with
the consequences of all other such failures, have had or could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  As of the Closing Date, neither the
Borrowers nor any Restricted Subsidiary is a party to or bound by any charter
provision, by-law, agreement, indenture, mortgage, lease, instrument or License
(other than this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and the Five Year
Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents (as defined in the Five Year
Credit Agreement)) which contains any restriction on the incurrence by it of any
Debt, except for the Indenture and the Note Purchase Agreements, true and
correct copies of each of which have been delivered to the Administrative Agent
and pursuant to each of which the Borrowers or such Restricted Subsidiary, as
applicable, either is permitted to incur Debt hereunder and/or under the other
Credit Documents to which they are a party or has duly obtained in writing and
delivered to the Administrative Agent all such Approvals as are or will be
necessary or appropriate to permit such incurrence.


                                      75
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 9.09.  Title to Property; Leases; Investments; Existing Affiliate
                    ----------------------------------------------------------
Agreements.
---------- 

     (a) Each Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries have good and marketable
title to their real properties and good title to the other properties they
purport to own, including those reflected in the balance sheet included in the
most recent audited financial statements referred to in Section 9.04 or
purported to have been acquired by the Borrowers or any of their Restricted
Subsidiaries after the date of such balance sheet (other than any such
properties disposed of since such date in the ordinary course of business),
subject in the case of all such property to no Liens other than Liens permitted
by Section 8.03.  The Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries enjoy peaceful
and undisturbed possession under all leases of all personal and all real
property necessary in any material respect to their respective operations, all
such leases are valid and subsisting and in full force and effect, and neither
the Borrowers nor any such Subsidiary is in default in any material respect in
the performance or observance of its obligations thereunder.  Schedule XIII
                                                              -------------
includes a general description of each Operating Lease existing as of the date
hereof under which the Borrowers or a Restricted Subsidiary is a lessee and
under which the annual rental obligations exceed $100,000, and sets forth with
respect to each such lease, (i) the name of the lessor thereunder and (ii) a
general description of the property leased.

     (b) Schedule VII correctly lists all Investments of the Borrowers and their
         ------------                                                           
Restricted Subsidiaries of the character described in subdivision (a) of the
definition of "Investment" set forth in Section 1.01 (other than Investments in
Subsidiaries) which are existing on the date hereof.

     (c) The Borrowers have delivered to the Administrative Agent a true and
correct copy of each of the Existing Affiliate Agreements, in the case of each
thereof as the same shall have been amended and be in effect on and as of the
Closing Date.

     SECTION 9.10.  Litigation.
                    ---------- 

     There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of
the Borrowers, threatened against the Borrowers or any of their Restricted
Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties (and no basis therefor is
known to the Borrowers) in any court or before any arbitrator of any kind or
before or by any Governmental Body, which (a) question the validity or legality
of this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents or any action taken or to
be taken pursuant hereto or thereto or (b) either alone or taken together with
all other such actions, suits and proceedings, have had or could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     SECTION 9.11.  Taxes.
                    ----- 

     Each Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries have filed all tax returns
which are required by law to have been filed by them in any jurisdiction (other
than tax returns (i) which may be required to be filed with state or local
taxing authorities which have not advised the Borrowers or any Restricted
Subsidiary of such requirement, and (ii) with respect to which, neither the
failure to file the same nor the failure to pay any taxes, assessments or
charges which might be shown to be owing thereon has had or could reasonably be
expected to have a Material 

                                      76
<PAGE>
 
Adverse Effect) and, to the best of the Borrowers' knowledge, have paid all
taxes, assessments, fees and charges of each Governmental Body shown to be owing
on such filed returns to the extent the same have become due and payable and
before they have become delinquent other than those presently payable without
penalty or interest and those being contested in good faith by appropriate and
timely actions or proceedings diligently pursued and with respect to which
reserves have been provided for in the Borrowers' financial statements to the
extent required by GAAP. The Borrowers do not know of any additional assessment
or proposed assessment for any fiscal year, and no material controversy in
respect of additional federal or state income taxes is pending or to the
knowledge of the Borrowers is threatened except any with respect to which
reserves have been provided for in the Borrowers' financial statements to the
extent required by GAAP. In the opinion of the Borrowers, all tax liabilities
(including taxes for all open years and for its current fiscal period) are
adequately provided for on the books of the Borrowers and their Restricted
Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

     SECTION 9.12.  Compliance with ERISA.
                    --------------------- 

     (a) No Termination Event has occurred, and no event or condition has
occurred or exists as a result of which any Termination Event could reasonably
be expected to occur, with respect to any Plan.  No accumulated funding
deficiency (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code),
whether or not waived, has occurred with respect to any Plan or, to the best of
the Borrowers' knowledge, any Multiemployer Plan. The present value of all
accrued benefits under each Plan (based on those assumptions used to fund such
Plan) did not, as of the most recent valuation date prior to the Closing Date,
which for any such Plan or Multiemployer Plan was not earlier than twelve months
prior to the date as of which this representation is made, exceed the then
current value of the assets of such Plan allocable to such benefits.

     (b) No Borrower Group Member has incurred, or, to the best of the
Borrowers' knowledge, is reasonably expected to incur, any material withdrawal
liability to any Multiemployer Plan.  No Borrower Group Member has received any
notification that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization (as defined in
Section 4241 of ERISA), is insolvent (as defined in Section 4245 of ERISA) or
has been terminated, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, and no
Multiemployer Plan is, to the best of the Borrowers' knowledge, reasonably
expected to be in reorganization, insolvent or to be terminated.

     (c) No prohibited transaction (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or
Section 4975 of the Code) or breach of fiduciary responsibility has occurred
which has subjected or may subject any Borrower Group Member to any material
liability under Section 406, 409, 502(i) or 502(l) of ERISA or Section 4975 of
the Code, or under any agreement or other instrument pursuant to which such
Borrower Group Member has agreed or is required to indemnify any Person against
any such liability.  No Borrower Group Member has incurred, or is reasonably
expected to incur, any liability to the PBGC (other than for insurance premiums,
which have been paid when due).

     (d) Full payment has been made on or before the due date (including
extensions) thereof of all amounts which any Borrower Group Member is or was
required under the terms of 

                                      77
<PAGE>
 
any Plan or any Multiemployer Plan to have paid as contributions to such Plan as
of the date hereof.

     (e) No Lien imposed under the Code or ERISA on the assets of any Borrower
Group Member exists or is reasonably likely to arise on account of any Plan or
any Multiemployer Plan.

     (f) No welfare plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) maintained by any
Borrower Group Member provides medical or death benefits with respect to current
or former employees beyond their termination of employment (other than coverage
mandated by law).  Each such plan to which Sections 601-609 of ERISA and Section
4980B of the Code apply has been administered in substantial compliance with
such sections.

     SECTION 9.13.  Use of Loan Proceeds; Margin Regulations.
                    ---------------------------------------- 

     The Borrowers will apply the proceeds of the Loans to refinance existing
indebtedness (including redemption, repurchase or prepayment of the Notes and
the Indenture Notes) and for working capital and general corporate purposes,
including without limitation acquisitions, and to make the Permitted Payments.
No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, for
the purpose of purchasing or carrying any "margin stock" within the meaning of
Regulations G and U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (12
CFR 207, as amended), or for the purpose of purchasing or carrying or trading in
any securities, under such circumstances as to involve a Borrower in a violation
of Regulation X of said Board (12 CFR 224, as amended) or to involve any broker
or dealer in a violation of Regulation T of said Board (12 CFR 220, as amended).
No Debt being reduced or retired out of the proceeds of the Loans was or will be
incurred for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock within the
meaning of such Regulations G and U or any "margin security" within the meaning
of such Regulation T.  As of the Closing Date, such margin stock does not
constitute more than 25% of the value of the consolidated assets of the
Borrowers and their Subsidiaries; and the Borrowers do not have any present
intention that such margin stock will constitute more than 25% of the value of
such assets.  None of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(including, without limitation, the direct or indirect use of the proceeds of
the Loans) will violate or result in a violation of Section 7 of the Exchange
Act or any regulations issued pursuant thereto, including, without limitation,
said Regulation G, Regulation U, Regulation T and Regulation X.

     SECTION 9.14.  Licenses, Patents, Trademarks, Authorizations, etc.
                    -------------------------------------------------- 

     Each Borrower and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries owns, possesses or
has the right to use (without any known conflict with the rights of others) all
permits, franchises, patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names,
copyrights, licenses, permits and governmental or other authorizations or the
like (collectively, "Licenses") which are necessary in any material respect to
the conduct of its businesses as conducted on the date hereof and as proposed to
be conducted.  All such necessary Licenses or rights therein purported to be
owned by the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary are so owned free and clear
of any Liens, other than Liens permitted by Sections 8.03(a), (d) and (g).  Each
such necessary License is in full force and effect, and no default in the
performance or observance by the Borrowers or any such Subsidiary of its

                                      78
<PAGE>
 
obligations thereunder has occurred, the consequences of which default, either
alone or taken together with the consequences of all other such defaults, have
had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     SECTION 9.15.  Status Under Certain Statutes; Other Regulations.
                    ------------------------------------------------ 

     Neither Borrower is an "investment company" or a Person directly or
indirectly "controlled" by or "acting on behalf of" an "investment company"
within the meaning of the Investment Borrower Act of 1940, as amended.  Neither
Borrower is a "holding company," or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding
company," or an "affiliate" of a "holding company" or of a "subsidiary company"
of a "holding company," as such terms are defined in the Public Utility Holding
Borrower Act of 1935, as amended.  Neither Borrower is a "public utility," as
such term is defined in the Federal Power Act, as amended.  Neither Borrower is
subject to regulation under any federal or state law, statute, rule, regulation
or ordinance which limits its ability to incur Debt.

     SECTION 9.16.  Labor Matters.
                    ------------- 

     There are no labor disputes between the Borrowers or any of their
Restricted Subsidiaries on the one hand and any of their respective employees or
representatives of such employees on the other hand which in the aggregate have
had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and the
Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material
respects with all applicable laws respecting employment and employment
practices, terms and conditions of employment, tax withholding on behalf of
employees and wages and hours, and are not engaged in any unfair labor practice
which, either alone or taken together with all other such practices, have had or
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     SECTION 9.17.  Full Disclosure.
                    --------------- 

     This Agreement, the Registration Statement and the other documents,
certificates and instruments delivered to the Administrative Agent and/or the
Lenders by or on behalf of the Borrowers in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, taken as a whole, do not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements contained herein or therein, in light of the
circumstances under which the same were made (including without limitation, the
respective dates on or as of which such statements were made), not misleading.
There is no fact known to the Borrowers which has had a Material Adverse Effect
since June 30, 1997 or in the future may (so far as the Borrowers can now
reasonably foresee) have a Material Adverse Effect which has not been set forth
or reflected in this Agreement, the Registration Statement or in the other
documents, certificates and instruments referred to herein and delivered to the
Administrative Agent and/or the Lenders by or on behalf of the Borrowers on or
prior to the date hereof in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.

                                      79
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 9.18.  Environmental Matters.
                    --------------------- 

     (a) The Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries currently hold and at
all times heretofore the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries held all
Environmental Permits required under all Environmental Laws except to the extent
failure to have any such Environmental Permit, either alone or considered
together with all other such failures, has not had and can not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (b) The Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries currently are, and at
all times heretofore the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries have been,
in compliance with all terms and conditions of all such Environmental Permits
and all other limitations, restrictions, conditions, standards, prohibitions,
requirements, obligations, schedules and timetables contained in all applicable
Environmental Laws except to the extent failure to comply therewith, either
alone or considered together with all other such failures, has not had and can
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (c) Except as set forth in Schedule XI, neither the Borrowers nor any of
                                -----------                                  
their Restricted Subsidiaries has ever received, and, so far as is known to the
Borrowers, no predecessor in interest of the Borrowers or any such Subsidiary in
respect of any of the Borrower Premises has ever received, from any Governmental
Body or other Person any notice of, and the Borrowers have no knowledge of, any
events, conditions or circumstances that could prevent continued compliance in
all material respects with the Environmental Permits referred to in Section
9.18(b) or any scheduled renewals thereof or any applicable Environmental Laws
currently in effect, or that could give rise to any liability on the part of the
Borrowers or any such Restricted Subsidiary or otherwise form the basis of any
claim, action, demand, request, notice, suit, proceeding, hearing, study or
investigation (collectively, "Environmental Claims") involving the Borrowers or
                              --------------------                             
any of their Restricted Subsidiaries, based on or related to (i) a violation of
any applicable Environmental Laws currently in effect or (ii) the manufacture,
generation, refining, processing, distribution, use, sale, treatment, receipt,
storage, disposal, transport, arranging for transport or handling, or the
emission, discharge, release or threatened release into the environment, of any
Hazardous Substance in violation of any applicable Environmental Laws currently
in effect, other than any liability or Environmental Claim referred to in this
Section 9.18(c) which, either alone or considered together with all other such
liabilities and Environmental Claims, has not had and can not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the matters set forth in
Schedule XI nor the resolution thereof nor any action required to be taken by
-----------
the Borrowers in connection therewith have had or, in the Borrowers' good faith
judgment, will have a Material Adverse Effect.

     SECTION 9.19.  Solvency.
                    -------- 

     Each Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary is, and upon giving effect to
the initial borrowings hereunder on the Closing Date will be, a "solvent
institution", as said term is used in Section 1405(c) of the New York Insurance
Law, whose "obligations are not in default as to principal or interest," as said
terms are used in said Section 1405(c).

                                      80
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE X.

                               EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     SECTION 10.01.  Events of Default.
                     ----------------- 

     Each of the following shall be an event of default (each an "Event of
                                                                  --------
Default") hereunder:
-------             

          (a) default shall be made in the due and punctual payment of any
     principal of any of the Loans when and as the same shall become due and
     payable; or

          (b) default shall be made in the due and punctual payment of any
     interest on any of the Loans when and as such interest shall become due and
     payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of five
     Business Days; or

          (c) default shall be made in the due performance or observance of any
     covenant, provision, agreement or condition contained in Section 8.01(c),
     Section 8.03, Section 8.04 or Section 8.05, or a Borrower or a Restricted
     Subsidiary shall create, incur, assume or otherwise become liable in
     respect of any Debt the incurrence of which is not permitted by Section
     8.02(a) or Section 8.02(b); or

          (d) default shall be made in the due performance or observance of any
     other covenant, provision, agreement or condition contained in this
     Agreement (other than any default referred to in the foregoing subdivisions
     (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 10.01), and such default shall have
     continued for a period of 30 days after the earlier of (x) the date on
     which any Responsible Officer of a Borrower first has knowledge of such
     default, through notice or otherwise and (y) the giving of notice to the
     Borrowers of such default by the Administrative Agent or any of the
     Lenders; or

          (e) (i) default shall be made in the payment of any amount due,
     whether on an interest payment date or on a date fixed for prepayment, at
     stated maturity, by acceleration or declaration or otherwise, under or in
     respect of any Debt of a Borrower (including, without limitation, Debt
     evidenced by any of the Notes and the Indenture Notes, but excluding (x)
     Debt arising hereunder or under any of the other Credit Documents and (y)
     so long as JPFDI shall hold PYA's Note and the Sara Lee Offset Agreement
     shall remain in full force and effect and shall be effective to permit the
     offset of principal and interest due under the Sara Lee Note against
     principal and interest due under PYA's Note (or to establish JPFDI's
     obligation in respect of the indebtedness evidenced by the Sara Lee Note
     from and after a prepayment in full of PYA's Note as the remaining
     principal balance of the Sara Lee Note after offset against amounts owing
     thereon of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest to the date of
     prepayment on the PYA Note), Debt evidenced by the Sara Lee Note) or of any
     Restricted Subsidiary which is outstanding in a principal amount of more
     than $15,000,000, and such default shall continue beyond the period of
     grace, if any, provided with respect thereto; or (ii) 

                                      81
<PAGE>
 
     default shall be made in the due performance or observance of any covenant,
     provision, agreement or condition contained in any document evidencing or
     providing for the issuance or securing of any such Debt (other than Debt
     excluded as aforesaid), if the effect of any such default referred to in
     this clause (ii) is to have caused such Debt to become due prior to its
     stated maturity or prior to its regularly scheduled dates of payment; or

          (f) default shall be made in the due performance or observance of any
     financial or negative covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or
     any of the Note Purchase Agreements beyond the period of grace, if any,
     provided for such performance or observance in the Indenture or such Note
     Purchase Agreement (other than any default arising from or consisting of a
     condition or event which (x) also constitutes a default referred to in
     Section 10.01(c) or (d) or (y) shall have become an Event of Default under
     Section 10.01(e)) and such default (an "Indenture Default") shall have
                                             -----------------             
     continued for a period of 30 consecutive days without having been cured,
     either by a Borrower or by virtue of a waiver granted under or an amendment
     or other modification of the provisions of the Indenture or such Note
     Purchase Agreement; provided that, in determining whether an Indenture
     Default shall have occurred or shall exist, and in determining the period
     during which any Indenture Default shall have continued, no effect shall be
     given to any waiver in respect of any provision of the Indenture or Note
     Purchase Agreements, or any consent to a departure by a Borrower or a
     Subsidiary from any such provision or to any amendment or modification of
     the terms of the Indenture or Note Purchase Agreements, or to any agreement
     entered into following, or in contemplation of, the occurrence or coming
     into existence of any condition or event which upon notice or lapse of time
     or both would constitute an Indenture Default, if such waiver, consent,
     amendment, modification or agreement is given or entered into directly or
     indirectly in exchange for (i) monetary or other consideration (other than
     the payment by a Borrower or a Subsidiary of (x) waiver, modification or
     similar fees to the holders of the Indenture Notes or the Notes not
     exceeding, in the case of any such fee payable to any one such holder in
     respect of the waivers, consents, amendments, modifications or agreements
     given or entered into at any one time, $10,000 and (y) amounts in
     reimbursement of the out-of-pocket costs of any of the holders of the
     Indenture Notes or the Notes), (ii) any increase in the rate of interest,
     premium or fees theretofore payable under the Indenture or Note Purchase
     Agreements, or (iii) any decrease in the term to final maturity or the
     Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Debt of a Borrower or a Restricted
     Subsidiary under the Indenture or Note Purchase Agreements; or

          (g) a Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall (i) apply for or
     consent to the appointment of, or the taking of possession by, a receiver,
     custodian, trustee or liquidator of itself or of all or a substantial part
     of its property, (ii) become insolvent or be generally unable to or shall
     generally fail or admit in writing its inability to pay its debts as such
     debts become due, (iii) make a general assignment for the benefit of its
     creditors, (iv) commence a voluntary case under the Federal Bankruptcy Code
     (as now or hereafter in effect), (v) file a petition seeking to take
     advantage of any bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or
     other similar law affecting the enforcement of creditors' 

                                      82
<PAGE>
 
     rights generally, (vi) acquiesce in writing to, or fail to controvert in a
     timely or appropriate manner, any petition filed against it in an
     involuntary case under such Bankruptcy Code, (vii) take any action under
     the laws of any jurisdiction (foreign or domestic) analogous to any of the
     foregoing, or (viii) take any corporate action in furtherance of any of the
     foregoing; or

          (h) a proceeding or case shall be commenced in respect of a Borrower
     or any Restricted Subsidiary, without its application or consent, in any
     court of competent jurisdiction, seeking (i) the liquidation,
     reorganization, moratorium, dissolution, winding up, or composition or
     readjustment of its debts, (ii) the appointment of a trustee, receiver,
     custodian, liquidator or the like of it or of all or any substantial part
     of its assets, or (iii) similar relief in respect of it under any law
     providing for the relief of debtors, and such proceeding or case described
     in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) shall continue undismissed, or unstayed and in
     effect, for a period of 45 days, or an order for relief shall be entered in
     an involuntary case under the Federal Bankruptcy Code (as now or hereafter
     in effect) against a Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or action under
     the laws of any jurisdiction (foreign or domestic) analogous to any of the
     foregoing shall be taken with respect to a Borrower or any Restricted
     Subsidiary and shall continue undismissed, or unstayed and in effect, for a
     period of 45 days; or

          (i) a final judgment or decree for the payment of money shall be
     rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction against a Borrower or any
     Restricted Subsidiary which, either alone or together with other
     outstanding judgments or decrees against a Borrower or any one or more
     Restricted Subsidiaries, shall aggregate more than $15,000,000, and such
     Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, shall not discharge the
     same or provide for its discharge in accordance with its terms within 60
     days from the date of entry thereof or within such longer period
     (including, without limitation, any period during which such Borrower or
     such Subsidiary shall be contesting a denial of coverage of its liability
     in respect of such judgment by a reputable insurance carrier) during which
     execution of such judgment shall have been stayed; or

          (j) any representation or warranty made by the Borrowers or a
     Restricted Subsidiary in this Agreement or the Guaranty Agreement or in any
     certificate or other instrument delivered hereunder or thereunder or
     pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection with any provision hereof shall
     prove to have been false or incorrect or breached in any material respect
     on the date as of which made; or

          (k) (i) any Borrower Group Member shall fail to pay when due any
     amount which it shall have become liable to pay to the PBGC or to a Plan or
     Multiemployer Plan under Title IV of ERISA; (ii) any Borrower Group Member
     shall withdraw from a Multiple Employer Plan during a plan year in which it
     is a substantial employer (as such term is defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of
     ERISA), or shall be treated as having so withdrawn under Section 4062(e) of
     ERISA, or any Multiple Employer Plan shall be terminated; (iii) notice of
     intent to terminate any Plan or Multiemployer Plan shall be filed under
     Title IV of ERISA by any Borrower Group Member, any plan administrator 

                                      83
<PAGE>
 
     or any combination of the foregoing; (iv) the PBGC shall institute
     proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate or to cause a trustee to
     be appointed to administer any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (v) any Borrower
     Group Member shall withdraw from any Multiemployer Plan ; (vi) any Plan
     shall have an Unfunded Current Liability; or (vii) any prohibited
     transaction (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the
     Code) or breach of fiduciary responsibility shall occur which may subject
     any Borrower Group Member to any liability under Section 406, 409, 502(i)
     or 502(l) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or under any agreement or
     other instrument pursuant to which such Borrower Group Member has agreed or
     is required to indemnify any Person against any such liability; and there
     shall result from any such event or events referred to in the foregoing
     subdivisions (k)(i) through (k)(vii) a material risk of incurring a
     liability in excess of $5,000,000; or

          (l) a Change of Control shall occur; or

          (m) the Guaranty given by any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the
     Guaranty Agreement shall cease to be in full force and effect other than by
     reason of the release of such Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section
     8.18 from its obligations under the Guaranty Agreement, or any Restricted
     Subsidiary or any Person acting by or on behalf of such Restricted
     Subsidiary shall deny or disaffirm such Restricted Subsidiary's obligations
     under the Guaranty Agreement; or default shall be made by any Restricted
     Subsidiary in the performance or observance of any covenant, provision,
     agreement or condition contained in the Guaranty Agreement, and such
     default (i) shall have continued for a period of 30 days after the earlier
     of (x) the date on which any Responsible Officer of a Borrower first has
     knowledge of such default, through notice or otherwise, and (y) the giving
     of notice to the Borrowers of such default by the Administrative Agent or
     any of the Lenders, and (ii) either alone or considered together with all
     such defaults, shall have or shall be reasonably likely to have a Material
     Adverse Effect; or

          (n) the occurrence of an Event of Default under the Five Year Credit
     Agreement.

     SECTION 10.02.  Acceleration; Remedies.
                     ---------------------- 

     Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, and at any time thereafter
unless and until such Event of Default has been waived by the Lenders or cured
to the satisfaction of the Lenders (pursuant to the voting procedures in Section
12.07), the Administrative Agent, upon the request of the Required Lenders,
shall, by written notice to the Borrowers, take any of the following actions
without prejudice to the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to
enforce its claims against the Borrowers, except as otherwise specifically
provided for herein:

          (i) Termination of Commitments.  Declare the Commitments terminated
              --------------------------                                     
     whereupon the Commitments shall be immediately terminated.


                                      84
<PAGE>
 
          (ii)   Acceleration of Obligations. Declare the unpaid principal of
                 ------------
     and any accrued interest in respect of all Loans and any and all other
     indebtedness or obligations of any and every kind owing by the Borrowers to
     any of the Lenders hereunder to be due whereupon the same shall be
     immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other
     notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers.

          (iii)  Enforcement of Rights.  Enforce (A) any and all rights and
                 ---------------------                                     
     interests created and existing under the Credit Documents and (B) all
     rights of set-off to the extent available under, and to the extent
     exercised in accordance with, applicable law.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in Section
10.01(g) or (h) shall occur, then the Commitments shall automatically terminate
and all Loans, all accrued interest in respect thereof, all accrued and unpaid
Fees and other indebtedness or obligations owing to the Lenders hereunder
automatically shall immediately become due and payable without the giving of any
notice or other action by the Administrative Agent.


                                  ARTICLE XI.

                              ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

     SECTION 11.01.  Appointment and Authorization.
                     ----------------------------- 

     Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative
Agent to take such action on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents as are delegated to the Administrative
Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such powers as are
reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Article XI are solely for
the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and the Borrowers shall
not have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any of the provisions
hereof.

     SECTION 11.02.  General Immunity.
                     ---------------- 

     In performing its duties to the Lenders as Administrative Agent hereunder,
the Administrative Agent will take the same care as it takes in connection with
credit transactions in which it alone is interested.  However, neither the
Administrative Agent nor any of its directors, officers, agents or employees
shall be liable to the Lenders for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it
or them hereunder or in connection herewith except for its own or their own
gross negligence or willful misconduct.

     SECTION 11.03.  Consultation with Professionals.
                     ------------------------------- 

     The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel and other
professionals selected by it and shall not be liable to the Lenders for any
action taken or suffered in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of
such counsel and professionals in their respective areas of expertise.

                                      85
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 11.04.  Documents.
                     --------- 

     The Administrative Agent shall not be under any duty to examine or pass
upon the effectiveness, genuineness or validity of this Agreement or any of the
other Credit Documents or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant
hereto or in connection herewith, and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled
to assume that the same are valid, effective and genuine and what they purport
to be.

     SECTION 11.05.  Rights as a Lender.
                     ------------------ 

     With respect to their respective Commitments, the Administrative Agent
shall have the same rights and powers hereunder as any Lender and may exercise
the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, and
the terms "Lender" and "Lenders" shall, as applicable and unless the context
otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual
capacity.  The Administrative Agent may accept deposits from, lend money to and
generally engage in any kind of banking or trust business with the Borrowers as
if it were not the Administrative Agent as the case may be.

     SECTION 11.06.  Responsibility of Administrative Agent.
                     -------------------------------------- 

     It is expressly understood and agreed that the obligations of the
Administrative Agent hereunder to the Lenders are only those expressly set forth
in this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and that the Administrative
Agent shall be entitled to assume that no Default or Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing unless the Administrative Agent has actual knowledge
of such fact or has received notice from a Lender or a Borrower that such Lender
or such Borrower consider that a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing and specifying the nature thereof.

     SECTION 11.07.  Action by Administrative Agent.
                     ------------------------------ 

     So long as the Administrative Agent shall be entitled, pursuant to Section
11.06, to assume that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to use its discretion
with respect to exercising or refraining from exercising any rights that may be
vested in it by, or with respect to taking or refraining from taking any action
or actions that it may be able to take under or in respect of, this Agreement or
any of the other Credit Documents.  The Administrative Agent shall incur no
liability to the Lenders under or in respect of this Agreement or any of the
other Credit Documents by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate, warranty
or other paper or instrument reasonably believed by it to be genuine or
authentic or to be signed by the proper party or parties, or with respect to
anything that it may do or refrain from doing in the reasonable exercise of its
judgment, or that may seem to it to be necessary or desirable under the
circumstances.

     Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions of this Section
11.07, the Administrative Agent shall be conclusively entitled to assume that
the conditions precedent set 

                                      86
<PAGE>
 
forth in Section 5.02 have been satisfied unless it shall have acquired actual
knowledge that any such condition precedent has not been satisfied.

     SECTION 11.08.  Notices of Event of Default, Etc.
                     ---------------------------------

     In the event that the Administrative Agent shall have acquired actual
knowledge of any Default or Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall
promptly give notice thereof to the Lenders, and the Administrative Agent may
take such action and assert such rights with respect to taking or refraining
from taking any action or actions that it may be able to take under or in
respect of, this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, as it deems to
be advisable in its discretion for the protection of the interests of the
Lenders, including, without limitation, the exercise of rights and remedies
under Article X and under any of the other Credit Documents; provided that, as
                                                             --------         
between the Administrative Agent and the Lenders only, after the occurrence of
an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent (i) shall not exercise any rights
or remedies granted to it hereunder, under any other of the Credit Documents, or
otherwise available to it at law or in equity, without the approval of the
Required Lenders (or all of the Lenders, if otherwise required by this
Agreement) and (ii) upon the direction of the Required Lenders (or all of the
Lenders, if otherwise required by this Agreement), shall exercise such rights
and remedies as so directed; provided further that, notwithstanding the above,
the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action which would
expose the Administrative Agent to personal liability or which is contrary to
law unless it shall be indemnified to its satisfaction against any and all
amounts, liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature which
may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent by
reason of taking or continuing to take any such action.

     SECTION 11.09.  Indemnification of Administrative Agent.
                     --------------------------------------- 

     The Lenders agree to indemnify the Administrative Agent (to the extent not
reimbursed by the Borrowers), ratably according to their respective Commitment
Percentages, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements
of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted
against the Administrative Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this
Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents or any action taken or omitted by
the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Credit
Documents; provided that, no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such
           --------
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the Administrative Agent's gross
negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation to the foregoing, each
Lender agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent promptly upon demand for its
ratable share of any out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees)
incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the modification,
amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or
otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under,
this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, to the extent not
reimbursed by the Borrowers.

                                      87
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 11.10.  No Representations.
                     ------------------ 

     Each Lender expressly acknowledges that neither the Administrative Agent
nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or
affiliates has made any representations or warranties to it and that no act by
the Administrative Agent or any of its directors, employees, agents, attorneys-
in-fact or affiliates hereafter taken, including any review of the affairs of
the Borrowers, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by
the Administrative Agent to such Lender.  Each Lender represents to the
Administrative Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon the
Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and
information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and
investigations into the business, operations, property, financial and other
condition and creditworthiness of the Borrowers and made its own decision to
make Loans hereunder and to enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender also
represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon the
Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and
information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own
credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under
this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, and to make such investigation as
it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, operations, property,
financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrowers.  The
Administrative Agent agrees that (i) it shall promptly deliver to each Lender
copies of all notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be
furnished to the Administrative Agent by the Borrowers or any Restricted
Subsidiary pursuant to any of the Credit Documents and (ii) upon the reasonable
request of any Lender, it shall promptly deliver to such Lender such other
information as the Administrative Agent shall receive regarding the Borrowers or
any Restricted Subsidiary or the performance of the respective obligations of
the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries under the Credit Documents;
otherwise, the Administrative Agent shall have no duty or responsibility to
provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business,
operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of the
Borrowers which may come into the possession of the Administrative Agent or any
of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates.

     SECTION 11.11.  Resignation; Removal.
                     -------------------- 

     Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor as provided below,
the acting Administrative Agent may resign by notifying the Lenders and the
Borrowers not less than 30 days prior to the effective date of such resignation
or may be removed by the Borrowers in their sole discretion at any time by
notifying the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders.  Upon any such
resignation or removal, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a
successor acceptable to the Borrowers, which successor shall be a Lender that is
a bank having a combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000 or an
affiliate of any such bank.  If no successor shall have been so appointed by the
Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after
the delivery of notice of resignation by or removal of the existing
Administrative Agent pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 11.11, then
the existing Administrative Agent (in the case of resignation by the existing
Administrative Agent) or the Borrowers (in the case of removal by the Borrowers
of the existing Administrative Agent) may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a
successor satisfying the requirements set forth above.  Upon 

                                      88
<PAGE>
 
the acceptance of any appointment hereunder by a successor Lender, such
successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers,
privileges and duties of the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, and the
retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and
obligations hereunder. After an Administrative Agent's resignation or removal
hereunder, the provisions of this Article XI and Section 12.06 shall continue in
effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by
it while it was acting as Administrative Agent.

     SECTION 11.12.  Syndication Agent, Documentation Agent and Co-Arrangers.
                     ------------------------------------------------------- 

     The Syndication Agent, Documentation Agent and Co-Arrangers, in their
capacities as such, shall have no rights, powers, duties or obligations under
this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents.


                                 ARTICLE XII.

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

     SECTION 12.01.  Notices.
                     ------- 

     Notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing
and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed or sent by
telex, telecopy, graphic scanning or other telegraphic communications equipment
of the sending party, as follows:

     (a)  if to the Borrowers, 9830 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, Maryland
21046, Attention of Vice President-Finance and Controller (Facsimile No. 410-
309-6296);

     (b)  if to the Administrative Agent to it at:

          (i) with respect to operational matters, 101 North Tryon Street,
     Independence Center, 15th Floor, NC1-001-15-02, Charlotte, North Carolina
     28255, Attention of Kathy Mumpower, Agency Services (Facsimile No. 704-386-
     9923); and

          (ii) in all other cases, 6610 Rockledge Drive, 6th Floor, MD2-600-06-
     05, Bethesda, Maryland 20817-1876, Attention of Michael Heredia, Vice
     President (Facsimile No. 301-571-0719);

     (c)  if to a Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in
Schedule I or in the assignment agreement pursuant to which such Lender became a
----------                                                                      
party hereto.

All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance
with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the
date of receipt if delivered by hand or overnight courier service or sent by
telex, telecopy, graphic scanning or other telegraphic communications equipment
of the sender, or on the date five (5) Business Days 

                                      89
<PAGE>
 
after dispatch by certified or registered mail if mailed, in each case
delivered, sent or mailed (properly addressed) to such party as provided in this
Section 12.01 or at such other address or telex, telecopy or other number as
shall be designated by such party in a notice to each other party complying with
the terms of this Section 12.01.

     SECTION 12.02.  Survival of Agreement.
                     --------------------- 

     All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the
Borrowers herein and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or
delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered
to have been relied upon by the Lenders and shall survive the making of Loans by
the Lenders hereunder regardless of any investigation made by the Lenders or on
their behalf, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loans
or any amounts are outstanding under this Agreement or any of the other Credit
Documents and so long as the Commitments have not been terminated.

     SECTION 12.03.  Binding Effect.
                     -------------- 

     This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by
the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, and when the Administrative Agent
shall have received copies hereof (telefaxed or otherwise) which, when taken
together, bear the signatures of each Lender, and when the other conditions set
out in Section 5.01 shall have been satisfied or waived, and thereafter this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrowers, the
Administrative Agent and each Lender and their respective successors and
assigns.

     SECTION 12.04.  Benefit of Agreement.
                     -------------------- 

     (a)  Generally.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
          ---------                                                        
benefit of and be enforceable by the respective successors and assigns of the
parties hereto; provided that the Borrowers may not assign or transfer any of
                --------                                                     
their interests without prior written consent of the Lenders; provided further
                                                              -------- -------
that the rights of each Lender to transfer, assign or grant participations in
its rights and/or obligations hereunder shall be limited as set forth in this
Section 12.04, provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent or prohibit
               --------  -------
any Lender from (i) pledging its Loans hereunder to a Federal Reserve Bank in
support of borrowings made by such Lender from such Federal Reserve Bank, or
(ii) granting assignments or participations in such Lender's Loans and/or
Commitments hereunder to its parent company and/or to any affiliate of such
Lender which is at least 50% owned by such Lender or its parent company. To the
extent required in connection with a pledge of Loans by any Lender to a Federal
Reserve Bank, the Borrowers agree that, upon request of any such Lender, they
will promptly provide such Lender a promissory note evidencing the repayment
obligations of the Borrowers with respect to the principal of and interest on
the Loans of such Lender arising under Section 2.01, such promissory note to be
in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Borrowers and the applicable Lender.

     (b)  Assignments by Lenders.  Each Lender may assign all or a portion of
          ----------------------
its rights and obligations hereunder pursuant to an assignment agreement
substantially in the form of Schedule XIV to one or more Eligible Assignees
                             ------------                                  
with, in the case of an assignment other than to 

                                      90
<PAGE>
 
a Lender or an affiliate of a Lender the prior written consent of the Borrowers
so long as no Event of Default then exists, which consent will not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed, provided that any such assignment shall be in
                                  --------
a minimum aggregate amount of $5,000,000 of the Commitments and in integral
multiples of $1,000,000 above such amount, and that each such assignment shall
be of a constant, and not a varying, percentage of all of the assigning Lender's
rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any assignment hereunder shall be
effective upon delivery to the Administrative Agent of written notice of the
assignment together with a transfer fee of $2,500 payable to the Administrative
Agent for its own account. The assigning Lender will give prompt notice to the
Administrative Agent and the Borrowers of any such assignment. Upon the
effectiveness of any such assignment (and after notice to the Borrowers as
provided herein), the assignee shall become a "Lender" for all purposes of this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents and, to the extent of such assignment,
the assigning Lender shall be relieved of its obligations hereunder to the
extent of the Loans, Participation Interests and Commitments being assigned. By
executing and delivering an assignment agreement in accordance with this Section
12.04(b), the assigning Lender thereunder and the assignee thereunder shall be
deemed to confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as
follows: (i) such assigning Lender warrants that it is the legal and beneficial
owner of the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse
claim; (ii) except as set forth in clause (i) above, such assigning Lender makes
no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any
statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this
Agreement, any of the other Credit Documents or any other instrument or document
furnished pursuant hereto or thereto, or the execution, legality, validity,
enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement, any of the
other Credit Documents or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant
hereto or thereto or the financial condition of the Borrowers or any Restricted
Subsidiary or the performance or observance by the Borrowers or any Restricted
Subsidiary of any of their respective obligations under this Agreement, any of
the other Credit Documents or any other instrument or document furnished
pursuant hereto or thereto; (iii) such assignee represents and warrants that it
is legally authorized to enter into such assignment agreement; (iv) such
assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement, the other
Credit Documents and such other documents and information as it has deemed
appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such
assignment agreement; (v) such assignee will independently and without reliance
upon the Administrative Agent, such assigning Lender or any other Lender, and
based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the
time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action
under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents; (vi) such assignee appoints
and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action on its behalf and to
exercise such powers under this Agreement or any other Credit Document as are
delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together
with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vii) such assignee
agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all the obligations
which by the terms of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents are required
to be performed by it as a Lender.

     (c)  Participations.  Each Lender may sell, transfer, grant or assign
          --------------                                                  
participations in all or any part of such Lender's interests and obligations
hereunder; provided that (i) such selling Lender shall remain a "Lender" for all
           --------                                                             
purposes under this Agreement and the other Credit 

                                      91
<PAGE>
 
Documents (such selling Lender's obligations under this Agreement remaining
unchanged) and the participant shall not constitute a Lender hereunder, (ii) no
such participant shall have, or be granted, rights to approve any amendment or
waiver relating to this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents except
with respect to any amendment or waiver referenced in Section 12.07 (i), (ii) or
(v), (iii) sub-participations by the participant (except to an affiliate, parent
company or affiliate of a parent company of the participant) shall be prohibited
and (iv) any such participations shall be in an integral multiple of $5,000,000
of the Commitments. In the case of any such participation, the participant shall
not have any rights under this Agreement or under any of the other Credit
Documents (the participant's rights against the selling Lender in respect of
such participation to be those set forth in the participation agreement with
such Lender creating such participation) and all amounts payable by the
Borrowers hereunder shall be determined as if such Lender had not sold such
participation, provided, however, that such participant shall be entitled to
               --------  -------
receive additional amounts under Sections 3.05 and 3.07 on the same basis as if
it were a Lender, except that all claims and petitions for payment and all
payments made pursuant to such Sections shall be made through such selling
Lender and except that a participant shall not be entitled to receive pursuant
to such provisions an amount larger than its share of the amount of which the
selling Lender would have been entitled.

     SECTION 12.05.  No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative.
                     ------------------------------ 

     No failure or delay on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender
in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Credit
Document and no course of dealing between the Borrowers and the Administrative
Agent or any Lender shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or
partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder or under any other
Credit Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise
of any other right, power or privilege hereunder or thereunder.  The rights and
remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or
remedies which the Administrative Agent or any Lender would otherwise have.  No
notice to or demand on the Borrowers in any case shall entitle the Borrowers to
any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or
constitute a waiver of the rights of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders to
any other or further action in any circumstances without notice or demand.

     SECTION 12.06.  Payment of Expenses, Etc.
                     -------------------------

     The Borrowers agree to:  (i) pay all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and
expenses (A) of the Administrative Agent in connection with the negotiation,
preparation, execution and delivery and administration of this Agreement and the
other Credit Documents and the documents and instruments referred to therein and
any amendment, waiver or consent relating hereto and thereto including, but not
limited to, any such amendments, waivers or consents resulting from or related
to any work-out, renegotiation or restructure relating to the performance by the
Borrowers under this Agreement and (B) of the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders in connection with enforcement of the Credit Documents and the documents
and instruments referred to therein and/or collection of the obligations of any
of the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the Credit
Documents (including, without limitation, in connection with any such
enforcement or collection, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for
the 

                                      92
<PAGE>
 
Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders); (ii) pay and hold each of the
Lenders harmless from and against any and all present and future stamp and other
similar taxes with respect to the foregoing matters and save each of the Lenders
harmless from and against any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting
from any delay in paying or omission (other than to the extent attributable to
such Lender) to pay such taxes; and (iii) indemnify each Lender, its officers,
directors, employees, representatives and agents from and hold each of them
harmless against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages or reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any of them as a result of, or arising out
of, or in any way related to, or by reason of, any investigation, litigation or
other proceeding (whether or not any Lender is a party thereto) related to the
entering into and/or performance of any Credit Document, to the use of proceeds
of any Loans hereunder, to the consummation of any other transactions
contemplated in any Credit Document or to the Merger Transaction, including,
without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel incurred in
connection with any such investigation, litigation or other proceeding (but
excluding any such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses to the
extent incurred by reason of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part
of the Person to be indemnified).

     SECTION 12.07.  Amendments, Waivers and Consents.
                     -------------------------------- 

     Neither this Agreement nor any other Credit Document nor any of the terms
hereof or thereof may be amended, changed, waived, discharged or terminated
unless such amendment, change, waiver, discharge or termination is in writing
signed by the Required Lenders, provided that no such amendment, change, waiver,
                                --------                                        
discharge or termination shall, without the consent of each Lender affected
thereby, (i) extend the scheduled maturities (including the final maturity and
any mandatory prepayments, other than in connection with an Asset Disposition
pursuant to Section 8.07(f) which shall be subject to the agreement of the
Required Lenders as set forth in Section 3.02(b)(ii) hereof) of any Revolving
Loan or any portion thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of
interest (other than as a result of waiving the applicability of any post-
default increase in interest rates) thereon or fees hereunder or reduce the
principal amount thereof, or increase the Commitment of any Lender over the
amount thereof in effect (it being understood and agreed that a waiver of any
Default or Event of Default shall not constitute a change in the terms of any
Commitment of any Lender), (ii) except as otherwise permitted by Section 8.18,
release Guarantors from their obligations under the Guaranty Agreement to the
extent any such release would constitute a substantial portion of the benefits
provided by the Guarantors taken as a whole, (iii) amend, modify or waive any
provision of this Section 12.07 or Section 3.05, 3.07, 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05,
10.01(a) or (b), (iv) reduce any percentage specified in, or otherwise modify,
the definition of "Required Lenders" or (v) consent to the assignment or
transfer by the Borrowers of any of their respective rights and obligations
under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.  No provision of Article XI
may be amended without the consent of the Administrative Agent.

     SECTION 12.08.  Counterparts.
                     ------------ 

     This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which
when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall
constitute one and the same 

                                      93
<PAGE>
 
instrument. It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to
produce or account for more than one such counterpart.

     SECTION 12.09.  Headings.
                     -------- 
     The headings of the sections and subsections hereof are provided for
convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of
any provision of this Agreement.

     SECTION 12.10.  Survival of Indemnification.
                     --------------------------- 
     All indemnities set forth herein, including, without limitation, in Section
3.05, 3.07, 4.05, 11.09 or 12.06 shall survive the execution and delivery of
this Agreement, and the making of the Loans, the repayment of the Loans and
other obligations and the termination of the Commitments hereunder.

     SECTION 12.11.  Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Venue; Waiver of
                     -----------------------------------------------------------
Jury Trial.
-----------

     (a)  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS AND ALL AMENDMENTS,
SUPPLEMENTS, MODIFICATIONS, WAIVERS AND CONSENTS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN THE
STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW RULES OTHER THAN SECTIONS 5-
1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

     (b)  THE BORROWERS HEREBY CONSENT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE OR
FEDERAL COURT LOCATED WITHIN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK, STATE OF NEW YORK, AND
IRREVOCABLY AGREE THAT ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR
ANY OF THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS MAY BE LITIGATED IN SUCH COURTS, AND THE
BORROWERS WAIVE ANY OBJECTION WHICH THEY MAY HAVE BASED ON IMPROPER VENUE OR
FORUM NON CONVENIENS TO THE CONDUCT OF ANY PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT AND
--------------------
WAIVE PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS UPON THEM, AND CONSENT THAT ALL
SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS BE MADE BY MAIL OR MESSENGER DIRECTED TO IT AS PROVIDED
IN SECTION 12.01(a) AND THAT SERVICE SO MADE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE COMPLETED
UPON THE EARLIER OF ACTUAL RECEIPT OR FIVE BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE SAME SHALL
HAVE BEEN MAILED TO THE BORROWERS IN ACCORDANCE HEREWITH. NOTHING CONTAINED IN
THIS SECTION 12.11 SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR THE
LENDERS TO SERVE LEGAL PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO BRING
ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION AGAINST THE BORROWERS
OR TO ENFORCE A JUDGMENT 

                                      94
<PAGE>
 
OBTAINED IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. THE BORROWERS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
THE TIME AND EXPENSE REQUIRED FOR TRIAL BY JURY EXCEED THE TIME AND EXPENSE FOR
A BENCH TRIAL AND HEREBY WAIVE, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, TRIAL BY JURY IN
ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OF THE
OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

     SECTION 12.12.  Severability.
                     ------------ 

     If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be illegal, invalid or
unenforceable, such provision shall be fully severable and the remaining
provisions shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed without
giving effect  to the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.

     SECTION 12.13.  Term.
                     ---- 

     The term of this Agreement shall be until no Loans or any other amounts
payable hereunder shall remain outstanding and until all of the Commitments
hereunder shall have terminated.

     SECTION 12.14.  Entirety.
                     -------- 

     This Agreement and the other Credit Documents represent the entire
agreement of the parties hereto and supersede all prior agreements and
understandings, oral or written, if any, including any commitment letters or
correspondence, relating to this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents
or the transactions contemplated herein and therein.


                 [Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

                                      95
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this 364-Day
Credit Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officers as of the day
and year first above written.


BORROWERS:                JP FOODSERVICE DISTRIBUTORS, INC.

                          By /s/ George T. Megas
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:  George T. Megas
                          Title: Vice-President - Finance



                          RYKOFF-SEXTON, INC.

                          By /s/ Lewis Hay, III
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:  Lewis Hay, III
                          Title: Senior Vice President
<PAGE>
 
LENDERS:                  NATIONSBANK, N.A.,
                          as Administrative Agent and a Lender

                          By /s/ Michael R. Heredia
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:  Michael R. Heredia
                          Title: Senior Vice President



                          NATIONSBANC MONTGOMERY SECURITIES, INC.,
                          as Co-Arranger

                          By /s/ John N. Gregg, Jr.
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:  John N. Gregg, Jr.
                          Title: Director



                          THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                          as Syndication Agent and a Lender

                          By /s/ Karen M. Sharf
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:  Karen M. Sharf
                          Title: Vice President



                          CHASE SECURITIES, INC.,
                          as Co-Arranger

                          By [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:
                          Title: Vice President
<PAGE>
 
                          BANK OF AMERICA, NT & SA,
                          as Documentation Agent and a Lender

                          By  /s/ G. Burton Queen
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   G. Burton Queen
                          Title:  Managing Director



                          THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO

                          By  /s/ Amy L. Robbins
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   Amy L. Robbins
                          Title:  Vice President



                          PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                          By  [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:
                          Title:



                          CREDIT AGRICOLE INDOSUEZ

                          By  /s/ Craig Welch
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   Craig Welch
                          Title:  First Vice President



                          By  /s/ Cheryl Solomento
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   Cheryl Solomento
                          Title:  Vice President

<PAGE>
 
                          CRESTAR BANK

                          By  /s/ Paul R. Boliveau
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   Paul R. Boliveau
                          Title:  Vice President



                          FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK

                          By  /s/ Ronald J. Bucci
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   Ronald J. Bucci
                          Title:  Vice President



                          THE FUJI BANK LIMITED, NEW YORK BRANCH

                          By  /s/ Raymond Ventura
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   Raymond Ventura
                          Title:  Vice President & Manager



                          WACHOVIA BANK, N.A.

                          By  /s/ Fitzhugh Wickham
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   Fitzhugh Wickham
                          Title:  Vice President
<PAGE>
 
                          BANKERS TRUST COMPANY

                          By  /s/ Robert R. Telesca
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   Robert R. Telesca
                          Title:  Assistant Vice President



                          THE MITSUBISHI TRUST AND BANKING
                           CORPORATION - CHICAGO BRANCH

                          By  /s/ Nobuo Tominaga
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   Nobuo Tominaga
                          Title:  Chief Manager



                          BANK OF TOKYO - MITSUBISHI TRUST COMPANY

                          By  /s/ J A Don
                            ---------------------------------- 
                          Name:   J A Don
                          Title:  Vice President & Manager



                          BANQUE NATIONALE DE PARIS

                          By  /s/ Richard L. Sted
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   Richard L. Sted
                          Title:  Senior Vice President


                          By  /s/ Thomas George
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   Thomas George
                          Title:  Vice President
<PAGE>
 
                          THE DAI-ICHI KANGYO BANK, LTD.

                          By  /s/ David McCann
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   David McCann
                          Title:  Assistant Vice President



                          THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF MARYLAND

                          By  /s/ Susan Elliott Benninghoff
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   Susan Elliott Benninghoff
                          Title:  Vice President



                          THE LONG-TERM CREDIT BANK OF JAPAN,
                           LIMITED, NEW YORK BRANCH

                          By  /s/ Hiroshi Kitada
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   Hiroshi Kitada 
                          Title:  Deputy General Manager



                          MERITA BANK LTD.

                          By  /s/ Clifford Abramsky
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   Clifford Abramsky
                          Title:  Vice President



                          By  /s/ Frank Maffei
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   Frank Maffei
                          Title:  Vice President

<PAGE>
 
                          THE MITSUI TRUST AND BANKING COMPANY
                           LIMITED

                          By  /s/ Margaret Holloway
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   Margaret Holloway
                          Title:  Vice President & Manager



                          COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN-
                           BOERENLEENBANK, B.A., "RABOBANK
                           NEDERLAND", NEW YORK BRANCH

                          By  /s/ Angelo J. Balestrieri
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   Angelo J. Balestrieri
                          Title:  Vice President


                          By  /s/ W. Pieter C. Kodde
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   W. Pieter C. Kodde
                          Title:  Vice President



                          RIGGS BANK, N.A.

                          By  /s/ Jeffrey P. White
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   Jeffrey P. White
                          Title:  Vice President



                          THE SANWA BANK, LIMITED

                          By  /s/ Christian Kambour
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:   Christian Kambour
                          Title:  Vice President


<PAGE>
 
                          SUMITOMO TRUST & BANKING CO., LTD.,
                           NEW YORK BRANCH

                          By /s/ Suraj P. Bhatia
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name: Suraj P. Bhatia
                          Title: Senior Vice President



                          THE TOYO TRUST & BANKING CO., LTD.

                          By /s/ Takashi Mikumo
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name: Takashi Mikumo
                          Title: 



                          U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                          By [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                            ----------------------------------
                          Name:
                          Title: Vice President
<PAGE>
 
                                   SCHEDULE I

              Lenders, Lender Addresses and Commitment Percentages
              ----------------------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
       Name and Address of Lender          Revolving Commitment      Commitment Percentage
       --------------------------          --------------------      ----------------------
 
<S>                                        <C>                       <C>
NationsBank, N.A.                             $13,333,333.33                6.6667%
Corporate Finance Group
6610 Rockledge Drive, 6th Floor
MD2-600-06-13
Bethesda, Maryland  20817-1876
Attn:  Michael R. Heredia
Ph:  (301) 571-0724
Fx:  (301) 571-0719
 
Chase Manhattan Bank                          $13,333,333.33                6.6667%
270 Park Avenue, 47th Floor
New York, New York  10017
Attn:  Karen Scharf
Ph:  (212) 270-5659
Fx:  (212) 270-5120
 
Bank of America NT & SA                       $12,000,000.00                6.0000%
231 S. LaSalle Street, 9th Floor
Chicago, Illinois  60697
Attn:  W. Thomas Barnett
Ph:  (312) 828-3105
Fx:  (312) 967-1276
</TABLE>

                               Schedule I Page 1
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>

<S>                                        <C>                        <C>
The First National Bank of Chicago         $10,666,666.67             5.3333%
153 West 51st Street                                      
New York, New York  10019                                 
Attn:  Amy Robbins                                        
Ph:  (212) 373-1023                                       
Fx:  (212) 373-1180                                       
                                                          
with a copy to:                                           
                                                          
The First National Bank of Chicago                        
1 First National Plaza                                    
Chicago, Illinois  60670                                  
Attn:  Ann Kalaska                                        
Ph:  (312) 732-1028                                       
Fx:  (312) 732-3596                                       
                                                          
PNC Bank, National Association             $10,666,666.67             5.3333%
1600 Market Street                                        
M/S:  F2-F070-21-5                                        
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  19103                         
Attn:  Gary Tyrrell                                       
Ph:  (215) 585-5934                                       
Fx:  (215) 585-5972                                       
                                                          
Credit Agricole Indosuez                   $ 9,333,333.33             4.6667%
520 Madison Avenue
New York, New York  10022
Attn:  John McCloskey
Ph:  (212) 418-2217
Fx:  (212) 418-2228
</TABLE>


                              Schedule I - Page 2
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>

<S>                                        <C>                     <C>
Crestar Bank                               $9,333,333.33           4.6667%
120 East Baltimore Street, 25th Floor                    
Baltimore, Maryland  21203                               
Attn:  Paul R. Beliveau                                  
Ph:  (410) 986-1662                                      
Fx:  (410) 986-1670                                      
                                                         
First Union National Bank                  $9,333,333.33           4.6667%
1 East Baltimore Street, 2nd Floor                       
Baltimore, Maryland  21202                               
Attn:  Ronald Bucci                                      
Ph:  (410) 244-3564                                      
Fx:  (410) 539-0136                                      
                                                         
The Fuji Bank, Limited, New York Branch    $9,333,333.33           4.6667%
Two World Trade Center                                   
79th Floor                                               
New York, New York  10048                                
Attn:  Irene Shen                                        
Ph:  (212) 898-2569                                      
Fx:  (212) 321-9407                                      
                                                         
Wachovia Bank, N.A.                        $9,333,333.33           4.6667%
191 Peachtree Street, N.E., GA307
Atlanta, Georgia  30303
Attn:  Fitzhugh L. Wickham, III
Ph:  (404) 332-1013
Fx:  (404) 332-6898
</TABLE>


                              Schedule I - Page 3
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>

<S>                                        <C>                     <C>
Bankers Trust Company                      $7,666,666.67           3.8333%
233 S. Wacker Drive                                      
Suite 8400                                               
Chicago, Illinois  60606                                 
Attn:  Christina Minnis                                  
Ph:  (312) 993-8011                                      
Fx:  (312) 993-8218                                      
                                                         
with a copy to:                                          
                                                         
Bankers Trust Company                                    
130 Liberty Street, 31st Floor                           
New York, New York  10048                                
Attn:  Robert Blank                                      
Ph:  (212) 250-4863                                      
Fx:  (212) 250-0734                                      
                                                         
The Mitsubishi Trust and Banking           $7,666,666.67           3.8333%
 Corporation - Chicago Branch                            
311 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 6300                          
Chicago, Illinois  60606                                 
Attn:  Vicki Kamm DeMar                                  
Ph:  (312) 408-6014                                      
Fx:  (312) 663-0863                                      
                                                         
The Bank of Tokyo - Mitsubishi Trust       $6,000,000.00           3.0000%
 Company
2000 K Street, NW
Suite 701
Washington, DC  20006
Attn:  J. Andrew Don
Ph:  (202) 463-0175
Fx:  (202) 493-3416
</TABLE>


                              Schedule I - Page 4
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>

<S>                                        <C>                  <C>
Banque Nationale de Paris                  $6,000,000.00        3.0000%
499 Park Avenue, 9th Floor                               
New York, New York  10022                                
Attn:  Thomas George                                     
Ph:  (212) 415-9718                                      
Fx:  (212) 415-9606                                      
                                                         
The Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, Ltd.             $6,000,000.00        3.0000%
One World Trade Center, Suite 4911                       
New York, New York  10048                                
Attn:  Doron Sabag                                       
Ph:  (212) 488-0549                                      
Fx:  (212) 524-0579 or (212) 912-1879                    
                                                         
The First National Bank of Maryland        $6,000,000.00        3.0000%
25 South Charles Street                                  
Mail Code 101-744                                        
Baltimore, Maryland  21201                               
Attn:  Susan Benninghoff                                 
Ph:  (410) 244-4898                                      
Fx:  (410) 244-4294                                      
                                                         
LTCB New York Branch                       $6,000,000.00        3.0000%
165 Broadway, 49th Floor                                 
New York, New York  10006                                
Attn:  Maoyoshi Kasuga                                   
Ph:  (212) 335-4607                                      
Fx:  (212) 608-2371                                      
                                                         
Merita Bank Ltd.                           $6,000,000.00        3.0000%
437 Madison Avenue, 21st Floor
New York, New York  10022
Attn:  Clifford Abramsky
Ph:  (212) 318-9564
Fx:  (212) 318-9318
</TABLE>



                              Schedule I - Page 5
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>

<S>                                                       <C>                     <C>
The Mitsui Trust and Banking Company Limited              $6,000,000.00           3.0000%
New York Branch
1251 Avenue of the Americas, 39th Floor
New York, New York  10020
Attn:  Paul Verdi
Ph:  (212) 790-5470
Fx:  (212) 790-5435
 
Cooperatieve Central Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank,           $6,000,000.00           3.0000%
B.A., "Rabobank Nederland", New York Branch
245 Park Avenue
New York, New York  10167
Attn:  Joana M. Socowski
Ph:  (212) 916-7801
Fx:  (212) 916-7863
 
Riggs Bank, NationsBank, N.A.                             $6,000,000.00           3.0000%
808 17th Street, N.W., 10th Floor
Washington, DC  20006
Attn:  Jeff White
Ph:  (202) 835-4504
Fx:  (202) 835-5977
 
The Sanwa Bank, Limited                                   $6,000,000.00           3.0000%
55 E. 52nd Street
New York, New York  10055
Attn:  Christian Kambour
Ph:  (212) 339-6232
Fx:  (212) 754-1304
</TABLE>


                              Schedule I - Page 6
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>

<S>                                        <C>                      <C>
Sumitomo Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.,        $  6,000,000.00          3.0000%
  New York Branch                                           
527 Madison Avenue                                          
New York, New York  10022                                   
Attn:  Betsy Quirk                                          
Ph:  (212) 326-0553                                         
Fx:  (212) 418-4848                                         
                                                            
The Toyo Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.         $  6,000,000.00          3.0000%
666 5th Avenue, 33rd Floor                                  
New York, New York  10103                                   
Attn:  Cuthbert Hamilton                                    
Ph:  (212) 307-3408                                         
Fx:  (212) 307-3498                                         
                                                            
U.S. Bank National Association             $  6,000,000.00          3.0000%
601 2nd Avenue South
MPFP0702
Minneapolis, Minnesota  55402-4302
Attn:  Christopher H. Patton
Ph:  (612) 973-0555
Fx:  (612) 973-0825
 
Bank Hapoalim B.M.                                 -                   -
1515 Market Street, Suite 200
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  19102
Attn:  Ellen Frank
Ph:  (215) 665-2251
Fx:  (215) 665-2217                   
                                         -------------------    -------------
                                           $200,000,000.00        100.0000%
</TABLE>


                              Schedule I - Page 7
<PAGE>
 
                                  SCHEDULE II
                                        
                       Schedule Intentionally Left Blank









                             Schedule III - Page 1
<PAGE>
 
                                  SCHEDULE III
                                        
                      Form of Guarantor Joinder Agreement
                      -----------------------------------

     THIS GUARANTOR JOINDER AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), dated as of
                                            ---------               
_____________, 19__, is by and between _____________________, a
___________________ (the "Subsidiary"), and NATIONSBANK, N.A., in its capacity
                          ----------                                          
as Administrative Agent under that certain 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of
December 23, 1997 (as the same may be modified or amended from time to time, the
"Credit Agreement"), among Rykoff-Sexton, Inc. and JP Foodservice Distributors,
 ----------------                                                              
Inc. (the "Borrowers"), the Lenders party thereto, NationsBank, N.A., as
           ---------                                                    
Administrative Agent, NationsBanc Montgomery Securities, Inc. and Chase
Securities, Inc., as Co-Arrangers, The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Syndication
Agent, and Bank of America, NT & SA, as Documentation Agent.  All of the defined
terms in the Guaranty Agreement (as defined in the Credit Agreement) are
incorporated herein by reference.

     The Borrowers are required by Section 8.18 of the Credit Agreement to cause
the Subsidiary to execute this Guarantor Joinder Agreement.

     Accordingly, the Subsidiary hereby agrees as follows with the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders:

     1.   The Subsidiary hereby acknowledges, agrees and confirms that, by its
execution of this Agreement, the Subsidiary will be deemed to be a party to the
Guaranty Agreement and a "Guarantor" for all purposes of the Guaranty Agreement,
and shall have all of the obligations of a Guarantor thereunder as if it had
executed the Guaranty Agreement.  The Subsidiary hereby ratifies, as of the date
hereof, and agrees to be bound by, all of the terms, provisions and conditions
contained in the Guaranty Agreement, including without limitation all of the
undertakings and waivers set forth therein.  Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing terms of this paragraph 1, the Subsidiary, subject to the
limitations set forth in Section 1 of the Guaranty Agreement, hereby jointly and
severally, together with the other Guarantors, guarantees to the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders, as provided in such Section 1 of the Guaranty Agreement,
the prompt payment when due, by acceleration or otherwise, of the Borrowers'
Obligations.

     [2.  If the Subsidiary is not incorporated or organized under the laws of
any State of the United States or the District of Columbia, then the Subsidiary
hereby agrees as follows:

          (i)(A) Without limiting the generality of Sections 19(a) and (b) of
     the Guaranty Agreement, the Subsidiary agrees that any controversy or claim
     with respect to it arising out of or relating to the Guaranty Agreement
     may, at the option of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, be settled
     immediately by submitting the same to binding arbitration in New York City
     (or such other place as the parties may agree) in accordance with the
     Commercial Arbitration Rules then obtaining of the American Arbitration
     Association.  Upon the request and submission of any controversy or claim
     for arbitration 


                             Schedule III - Page 2
<PAGE>
 
     under the Guaranty Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall give the
     Subsidiary not less than 45 days written notice of the request for
     arbitration, the nature of the controversy or claim, and the time and place
     set for arbitration. The Subsidiary agrees that such notice is reasonable
     to enable it sufficient time to prepare and present its case before the
     arbitration panel. Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitration panel
     may be entered in any court in which any action could have been brought or
     maintained pursuant to subparagraph (ii) below, including without
     limitation any court of the State of New York or any Federal court sitting
     in the State of New York. The expenses of arbitration shall be paid by the
     Subsidiary.

          (B)  The provisions of subparagraph (A) above are intended to comply
     with the requirements of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement
     of Foreign Arbitral Awards (the "Convention").  To the extent that any
     provisions of such subparagraph (A) are not consistent with or fail to
     conform to the requirements set out in the Convention, such subparagraph
     (A) shall be deemed amended to conform to the requirements of the
     Convention.

          (C)  The Subsidiary hereby specifically consents and submits to the
     jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and courts of the
     United States located in the State of New York for purposes of entry of a
     judgment or arbitration award entered by the arbitration panel.

          (D)  The Subsidiary hereby irrevocably appoints ________________, with
     an address on the date hereof at __________________________________ (the
     "New York Process Administrative Agent"), as process agent in its name,
     place and stead to receive and forward service of any and all writs,
     summonses and other legal process in any suit, action or proceeding brought
     in the State of New York, agrees that such service in any such suit, action
     or proceeding may be made upon the New York Process Administrative Agent
     and agrees to take all such action as may be necessary to continue said
     appointment in full force and effect or to appoint another agent so that
     the Subsidiary will at all times have an agent in the State of New York for
     service of process for the above purposes.

          (ii) The guarantee of the Subsidiary pursuant to the Guaranty
     Agreement is (in part) an international transaction in which payment of
     dollars in Charlotte, North Carolina, is of the essence, and dollars shall
     be the currency of account in all events.  The payment obligation of the
     Subsidiary shall not be discharged by an amount paid in another currency or
     in another place, whether pursuant to a judgment or otherwise, to the
     extent that the amount so paid on prompt conversion to dollars and transfer
     to Charlotte, North Carolina, under normal banking procedures does not
     yield the amount of dollars in Charlotte, North Carolina due hereunder.  In
     the event that any payment by the Subsidiary, whether pursuant to a
     judgment or otherwise, upon conversion and transfer does not result in
     payment of such amount of dollars in Charlotte, North Carolina, the
     Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have a separate cause of action
     against the


                             Schedule III - Page 3
<PAGE>
 
     Subsidiary for the additional amount necessary to yield the amount due and
     owing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.]/1/

     3.   This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts and by the
different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each constituting an
original, but all together constituting one and the same instrument.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Subsidiary has caused this Agreement to be duly
executed by its authorized officer, and the Administrative Agent, for the
benefit of the Lenders, has caused the same to be accepted by its authorized
officer, as of the day and year first above written.

                                  [SUBSIDIARY]
             
                                  By
                                    ---------------------------------
             
                                  Title
                                       ------------------------------
             
                                  Acknowledged and accepted:
             
                                  NATIONSBANK, N.A.,
                                  as Administrative Agent as aforesaid for
                                  the Lenders
             
                                  By
                                    ---------------------------------
             
                                  Title
                                       ------------------------------


----------------------------
/1/  For use only if the Subsidiary is not incorporated or organized under the
     law of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia.



                             Schedule III - Page 4
<PAGE>
 
                                  SCHEDULE IV

                          Form of Guaranty Agreement
                          --------------------------


     THIS GUARANTY AGREEMENT, dated as of December 23, 1997 (the "Guaranty
                                                                  --------
Agreement"), is given by
---------               

     JP FOODSERVICE, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Parent"), and THOSE
SUBSIDIARIES of the Borrowers identified on the signature pages hereto (together
with each other subsidiary which may become a party hereto by execution of a
Guarantor Joinder Agreement, the "Guarantors"); in favor of
                                  ----------               

     NATIONSBANK, N.A., a national banking association, in its capacity as agent
(in such capacity, hereinafter referred to as the "Administrative Agent") for
                                                   --------------------      
the various lenders from time to time parties to that certain 364-Day Credit
Agreement dated as of December 23, 1997 (such Credit Agreement, as the same may
be modified or amended from time to time, being hereinafter referred to as the
"Credit Agreement") among Rykoff-Sexton, Inc. and JP Foodservice Distributors,
-----------------                                                             
Inc. (the "Borrowers"), the Lenders party thereto, NationsBank, N.A., as
           ---------                                                    
Administrative Agent, NationsBanc Montgomery Securities, Inc. and Chase
Securities, Inc., as Co-Arrangers, The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Syndication
Agent, and Bank of America, NT & SA, as Documentation Agent (capitalized terms
used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings provided in the
Credit Agreement).

RECITALS:
-------- 

     1.   Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Lenders have agreed, subject to
certain terms and conditions, to make available certain credit facilities to the
Borrowers.

     2.   As a condition precedent to making such credit facilities available to
the Borrowers, the Lenders have required, among other things, the Parent and
each of the Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of the
Borrowers to guarantee all of the Borrowers' obligations arising under the
Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents referred to therein.

     3.   Other than the Parent, each of the Guarantors is a Restricted
Subsidiary of a Borrower.

     NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the execution and delivery by
the Lenders of the Credit Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration,
receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, the Guarantors hereby agree as follows:

     1.   Guarantee of Payment.  The Guarantors hereby irrevocably and
          --------------------                                        
unconditionally guarantee, jointly and severally, to the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders the prompt 

                             Schedule IV - Page 1
<PAGE>
 
payment, when due, by acceleration or otherwise, of the Borrowers' Obligations.
For the purposes hereof the "Borrowers' Obligations" means all indebtedness,
obligations and liabilities of the Borrowers under the Credit Agreement or any
other of the Credit Documents to which either Borrower is a party, now existing
or hereafter arising, due or to become due, direct or indirect, absolute or
contingent, howsoever evidenced, held or acquired, as such Borrowers'
Obligations may be modified, extended, renewed or replaced from time to time.
The guaranty of the Guarantors as set forth in this Section 1 is a guaranty of
payment and not of collection.

     Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any of
the other Credit Documents, the liability of each Guarantor with respect to the
Borrowers' Obligations guaranteed hereunder shall not exceed the Maximum
Guaranteed Amount for such Guarantor.  For purposes hereof:

     (i)    "Maximum Guaranteed Amount" shall mean, for any Guarantor as of any
     date of determination thereof, the sum of (a) with respect to each
     Extension of Credit (or portion thereof) the proceeds of which are used to
     make a Direct Transfer to such Guarantor, the outstanding amount of such
     Extension of Credit (or such portion thereof), together with accrued and
     unpaid interest thereon, plus (b) with respect to each Extension of Credit
                              ----                                             
     (or portion thereof) the proceeds of which are not used to make a Direct
     Transfer to such Guarantor, the lesser of (1) the outstanding amount of all
     such Extensions of Credit (or such portions thereof), together with accrued
     and unpaid interest thereon, as of the earlier of the date that enforcement
     is sought against such Guarantor hereunder or the date of the commencement
     of a case under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in which such Guarantor is a
     debtor, or (2) 95% of the Adjusted Net Worth of such Guarantor at the time
     of such Extension of Credit, after deducting therefrom the amount
     determined pursuant to clause (a) above.

     (ii)   "Extension of Credit" shall mean the making of any Loan.

     (iii)  "Direct Transfer" shall mean, in respect of any Guarantor, (a) all
     loans, advances or capital contributions made to or for the benefit of such
     Guarantor with proceeds of any Extension of Credit, (b) all debt securities
     or other obligations of such Guarantor acquired from such Guarantor or
     retired by such Guarantor with proceeds of any Extension of Credit, (c) the
     fair market value of all property acquired with proceeds of any Extension
     of Credit and transferred, absolutely and not as collateral, to such
     Guarantor and (d) all equity securities of such Guarantor acquired from
     such Guarantor with proceeds of any Extension of Credit.

     (iv)   "Adjusted Net Worth" shall mean, with respect to any Guarantor as of
     any date of determination thereof, the excess of (a) the amount of the
     "present fair saleable value" of the assets of such Guarantor as of such
     date of determination, over (b) the amount of all "liabilities, contingent
     or otherwise", of such Guarantor as of such date of determination, as such
     quoted terms are determined in accordance with applicable Federal and state
     laws governing determinations of the insolvency of debtors.  In determining
     the Adjusted Net 

                             Schedule IV - Page 2
<PAGE>
 
     Worth of any Guarantor for purposes of calculating the Maximum Guaranteed
     Amount for such Guarantor in respect of any Extension of Credit, the
     liabilities of such Guarantor to be used in such determination pursuant to
     clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall in any event include the
     liabilities of such Guarantor hereunder in respect of all Extensions of
     Credit other than the Extension of Credit in respect of which such
     calculation is being made.

     2.   Release of Collateral, Parties Liable, etc.  Each of the Guarantors
          -------------------------------------------                        
agrees that the time or place of payment of the Borrowers' Obligations may be
changed or extended, in whole or in part, to a time certain or otherwise, and
may be renewed or accelerated, in whole or in part; that the Borrowers may be
granted indulgences generally; that any provisions of the Credit Documents or
any other documents executed in connection with this transaction may be
modified, amended or waived; that any party liable for the payment of the
Borrowers' Obligations may be granted indulgences or released; and that any
deposit balance for the credit of the Borrowers or any other party liable for
the payment of the Borrowers' Obligations may be released, in whole or in part,
at, before and/or after the stated, extended or accelerated maturity of the
Borrowers' Obligations, all without notice to or further assent by the
Guarantors, or any of them, who shall remain bound thereon, notwithstanding any
such extension, renewal, acceleration, modification, indulgence or release.

     3.   Waiver of Rights.  Each of the Guarantors expressly waives:  (a)
          ----------------                                                
notice of acceptance of this Guaranty Agreement by the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders and of all extensions of credit to the Borrowers by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender; (b) presentment and demand for payment of
any of the Borrowers' Obligations; (c) protest and notice of dishonor or of
default to such Guarantor or to any other party with respect to the Borrowers'
Obligations or with respect to any security therefor; (d) all other notices to
which such Guarantor might otherwise be entitled; (e) demand for payment under
this Guaranty Agreement; and (f) any right to assert against the Administrative
Agent or any Lender, as a defense, counterclaim, set-off or cross-claim, any
defense (legal or equitable), set-off, counterclaim or claim which such
Guarantor may now or hereafter have against the Administrative Agent or any
Lender or the Borrowers, but such waiver shall not prevent such Guarantor from
asserting against the Administrative Agent or any Lender in a separate action,
any claim, action, cause of action, or demand that such Guarantor might have,
whether or not arising out of this Guaranty Agreement.

     4.   Primary Liability of Guarantors.  Each of the Guarantors agrees that
          -------------------------------                                     
this Guaranty Agreement may be enforced by the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders without the necessity at any time of having recourse to the Borrowers
under the Credit Agreement or otherwise, and each of the Guarantors hereby
waives the right to require the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to proceed
against the Borrowers or any other person (including a co-guarantor) or to
require the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to pursue any other remedy or
enforce any other right.  Each of the Guarantors further agrees that it shall
have no right of subrogation, reimbursement or indemnity whatsoever for the
Borrowers' Obligations, so long as any amounts payable to the Administrative
Agent or the Lenders in respect of the Borrowers' Obligations 

                             Schedule IV - Page 3
<PAGE>
 
shall remain outstanding and until all of the Commitments under the Credit
Agreement shall have been terminated. Each of the Guarantors further agrees that
nothing contained herein shall prevent the Administrative Agent or the Lenders
from suing the Borrowers with respect to their obligations under the Credit
Agreement or from exercising any other rights available to the Administrative
Agent or the Lenders under the Credit Agreement if neither the Borrowers nor the
Guarantors timely performs the obligations of the Borrowers thereunder, and the
exercise of any of the aforesaid rights shall not constitute a discharge of any
Guarantor's obligations hereunder; it being the purpose and intent of each of
the Guarantors that such Guarantor's obligations hereunder shall be absolute,
irrevocable, independent and unconditional under any and all circumstances.
Neither the Guarantors' obligations under this Guaranty Agreement nor any remedy
for the enforcement thereof shall be impaired, modified, changed or released in
any manner whatsoever by an impairment, modification, change, release or
limitation of the liability of the Borrowers, by reason of either Borrower's
bankruptcy or insolvency or by reason of the invalidity or unenforceability of
all or any portion of the Borrowers' Obligations. Each of the Guarantors
acknowledges that the term "Borrowers' Obligations" as used in this Guaranty
Agreement includes any payments made by either Borrower to the Administrative
Agent or any Lender and subsequently recovered by such Borrower or a trustee for
such Borrower pursuant to such Borrower's bankruptcy or insolvency and that the
guaranty of each of the Guarantors hereunder shall be reinstated to the extent
of such recovery.

     5.   Reasonable Attorneys' Fees.  If at any time or times hereafter the
          --------------------------                                        
Administrative Agent or the Lenders employ counsel to pursue collection, to
intervene, to sue for enforcement of the terms hereof or of the Credit Agreement
or any other of the Credit Documents, or to file a petition, complaint, answer,
motion or other pleading in any suit or proceeding relating to this Guaranty
Agreement, the Credit Agreement or any other of the Credit Documents, then in
such event, all of the reasonable attorneys' fees relating thereto shall be an
additional liability of the Guarantors to the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders hereunder, payable on demand.

     6.   Set-off.  Each Guarantor agrees that in the event such Guarantor fails
          -------                                                               
to pay its obligations hereunder when due and payable under this Guaranty
Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall have all rights of set-off to the
extent available under, and to the extent exercised in accordance with,
applicable law.

     7.   Term of Guarantee; Representations and Warranties.  This Guaranty
          -------------------------------------------------                
Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the Borrowers'
Obligations are fully and indefeasibly paid, performed and discharged.  This
Guaranty Agreement covers the Borrowers' Obligations whether presently
outstanding or arising subsequent to the date hereof including all amounts
advanced by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in stages or installments.
Each Guarantor warrants and represents to the Administrative Agent (i) that such
Guarantor is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, (ii) that such
Guarantor has all corporate powers and all material governmental licenses,
authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now
conducted, (iii) that the execution and delivery by such Guarantor of this
Guaranty Agreement and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party and the
performance by such Guarantor of 

                             Schedule IV - Page 4
<PAGE>
 
its obligations hereunder and thereunder are within the corporate power of such
Guarantor, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, require
no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or
official (except for any such action or filing that has been taken and is in
full force and effect) and do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any
provision of applicable law or regulation or of the certificate of incorporation
or bylaws (or other organizational documents) of such Guarantor or of any
material agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree, or other material
instrument binding upon such Guarantor or result in the creation or imposition
(other than pursuant to the Credit Documents) of any Lien on any asset of such
Guarantor and (iv) that this Guaranty Agreement and the other Credit Documents
to which such Guarantor is a party constitute valid, binding and enforceable
agreements of such Guarantor and, when executed and delivered, will constitute
valid and binding obligations of such Guarantor.

     8.   Further Representations and Warranties.  Each Guarantor agrees that
          --------------------------------------                             
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders will have no obligation to investigate
the financial condition or affairs of the Borrowers for the benefit of such
Guarantor nor to advise such Guarantor of any fact respecting, or any change in,
the financial condition or affairs of the Borrowers which might come to the
knowledge of the Administrative Agent or any Lender at any time, whether or not
the Administrative Agent or any Lender knows or believes or has reason to know
or believe that any such fact or change is unknown to such Guarantor or might
(or does) materially increase the risk of such Guarantor as guarantor or might
(or would) affect the willingness of such Guarantor to continue as guarantor
with respect to the Borrowers' Obligations.

     9.   Additional Liability of Guarantors.  If any Guarantor is or becomes
          ----------------------------------                                 
liable for any indebtedness owing by the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent
or any Lender by endorsement or otherwise other than under this Guaranty
Agreement, such liability shall not be in any manner impaired or reduced hereby
but shall have all and the same force and effect it would have had if this
Guaranty Agreement had not existed and such Guarantor's liability hereunder
shall not be in any manner impaired or reduced thereby.

     10.  Cumulative Rights.  All rights of the Administrative Agent and the
          -----------------                                                 
Lenders hereunder or otherwise arising under any documents executed in
connection with or as security for the Borrowers' Obligations are separate and
cumulative and may be pursued separately, successively or concurrently, or not
pursued, without affecting or limiting any other right of the Administrative
Agent or any Lender and without affecting or impairing the liability of any of
the Guarantors.

     11.  Usury.  Notwithstanding any other provisions herein contained, no
          -----                                                            
provision of this Guaranty Agreement shall require or permit the collection from
any Guarantor of interest in excess of the maximum rate or amount that such
Guarantor may be required or permitted to pay pursuant to any applicable law.
In the event any such interest is collected, it shall be applied in reduction of
such Guarantor's obligations hereunder, and the remainder of such excess
collected shall be returned to such Guarantor once such obligations have been
fully satisfied.

                             Schedule IV - Page 5
<PAGE>
 
     12.  The Administrative Agent.  In acting under or by virtue of this
          ------------------------                                       
Guaranty Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to all the
rights, authority, privileges and immunities provided in Article XI of the
Credit Agreement, all of which provisions are incorporated by reference herein
with the same force and effect as if set forth herein. Each of the Guarantors
hereby releases the Administrative Agent from any liability for any act or
omission relating to this Guaranty Agreement, except such as may result from the
Administrative Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct.

     13.  Restricted Subsidiaries.  In the event that a Guarantor shall cease to
          -----------------------                                               
be a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement,
then such Guarantor shall, automatically and without further act on the part of
the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, be released from its obligations under
this Guaranty Agreement.

     14.  Successors and Assigns.  This Guaranty Agreement shall be binding on
          ----------------------                                              
and enforceable against each Guarantor and its successors and assigns; provided
                                                                       --------
that none of the Guarantors may assign or transfer any of its obligations
hereunder without prior written consent of the Required Lenders; provided
                                                                 --------
further, that, except as otherwise permitted by Section 13 hereof and Section
-------                                                                      
8.18 of the Credit Agreement, none of the Guarantors may be released from their
obligations under this Guaranty Agreement to the extent any such release would
constitute a substantial portion of the benefits provided by the Guarantors
taken as whole without the consent of each Lender affected thereby.  This
Guaranty Agreement is intended for and shall inure to the benefit of the
Administrative Agent and each Lender and each and every person who shall from
time to time be or become the owner or holder of any of the Borrowers'
Obligations, and each and every reference herein to "Administrative Agent" or
"Lender" shall include and refer to each and every successor or assignee of the
Administrative Agent or any Lender at any time holding or owning any part of or
interest in any part of the Borrowers' Obligations.  This Guaranty Agreement
shall be transferable and negotiable with the same force and effect, and to the
same extent, that the Borrowers' Obligations are transferable and negotiable, it
being understood and stipulated that upon assignment or transfer by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender of any of the Borrowers' Obligations the
legal holder or owner of the Borrowers' Obligations (or a part thereof or
interest therein thus transferred or assigned by the Administrative Agent or any
Lender) shall (except as otherwise stipulated by the Administrative Agent or any
such Lender in its assignment) have and may exercise all of the rights granted
to the Administrative Agent or such Lender under this Guaranty Agreement to the
extent of that part of or interest in the Borrowers' Obligations thus assigned
or transferred to said person.  Each Guarantor expressly waives notice of
transfer or assignment of the Borrowers' Obligations, or any part thereof, or of
the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder.  Failure to give
notice will not affect the liabilities of the Guarantors hereunder.

     15.  Application of Payments.  Each of the Administrative Agent and the
          -----------------------                                           
Lenders may apply any payments received by it from any source against that
portion of the Borrowers' Obligations (principal, interest, court costs,
attorneys' fees or other) in such priority and fashion as it may deem
appropriate.

                             Schedule IV - Page 6
<PAGE>
 
     16.  Modifications.  Subject to the terms of Section 12.07 of the Credit
          -------------                                                      
Agreement, this Guaranty Agreement and the provisions hereof may be changed,
discharged or terminated only by an instrument in writing signed by each of the
Guarantors affected thereby and the Administrative Agent.

     17.  Notices.  Notices and other communications provided for herein shall
          -------                                                             
be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service,
mailed or sent by telex, telecopy, graphic scanning or other telegraphic
communications equipment of the sending party, as follows:

     (a)  if to any Guarantor, to it c/o JP Foodservice Distributors, Inc., 9830
Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, Maryland 21046, Attention of Vice President-
Finance and Controller (Facsimile No. 410-309-6296);

     (b)  if to the Administrative Agent, to it at 6610 Rockledge Drive, 6th
Floor, MD2-600-06-05, Bethesda, Maryland 20817-1876, Attention of Michael R.
Heredia (Facsimile No. 301-571-0719).

All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance
with the provisions of this Guaranty Agreement shall be deemed to have been
given on the date of receipt if delivered by hand or overnight courier service
or sent by telex, telecopy, graphic scanning or other telegraphic communications
equipment of the sender, or on the date five (5) Business Days after dispatch by
certified or registered mail if mailed, in each case delivered, sent or mailed
(properly addressed) to such party as provided in this Section 17 or at such
other address or telex, telecopy or other number as shall be designated by such
party in a notice to each other party complying with the terms of this Section
17.

     18.  Net Payments.  All payments made by the Guarantors hereunder will be
          ------------                                                        
made without set-off or counterclaim.  All payments by the Guarantors hereunder
shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any
Taxes (as hereinafter defined), except to the extent that such deduction or
withholding is required by law.  For purposes of this Section 18, "Taxes" shall
mean any present or future license, registration or other fees, taxes or other
amounts for or on account of levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings
or other charges of whatsoever nature, imposed, levied, collected, withheld or
assessed by any governmental or taxing authority, excluding income and franchise
taxes imposed on a Lender (i) by a jurisdiction under which such Lender is
organized or operating in connection with this Guaranty Agreement or any
political subdivision thereof or (ii) as a result of a present or former
connection between the jurisdiction of the governmental or taxing authority
imposing such taxes and the Lender.  If the Guarantors shall be required to
withhold or deduct Taxes (other than U.S. Taxes as defined in Section 4.05 of
the Credit Agreement) from any sum payable hereunder, (i) the sum payable shall
be increased as may be necessary so that the amount received is equal to the sum
which would have been received had no withholdings or deductions been made, (ii)
the Guarantors shall make such necessary withholdings or deductions and (iii)
the Guarantors shall pay the full 

                             Schedule IV - Page 7
<PAGE>
 
amount withheld or deducted to the relevant authority according to applicable
law so that the Lenders shall not be required to make any deduction or payment
of Taxes. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section, the Guarantors
shall not be required to make payment hereunder to the extent such amounts
relate to any period prior to the date that is 90 days prior to the date that
the Guarantors first receive notice from such Lender requesting payment of any
such additional amounts.

     19.  Severability.  In the event that any provision hereof shall be deemed
          ------------                                                         
to be invalid by reason of the operation of any law or by reason of the
interpretation placed thereon by any court, this Guaranty Agreement shall be
construed as not containing such provision, but only as to such jurisdictions
where such law or interpretation is operative, and the invalidity of such
provision shall not affect the validity of any remaining provision hereof, and
any and all other provisions hereof which are otherwise lawful and valid shall
remain in full force and effect.

     20.  Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Venue; Waiver of Jury
          ----------------------------------------------------------------
Trial.
------

     (a)  THIS GUARANTY AGREEMENT AND ALL AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS,
MODIFICATIONS, WAIVERS AND CONSENTS RELATING HERETO SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK
WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW RULES OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF
THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

     (b)  EACH OF THE GUARANTORS HEREBY CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY
STATE OR FEDERAL COURT LOCATED WITHIN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK, STATE OF NEW YORK,
AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY
AGREEMENT MAY BE LITIGATED IN SUCH COURTS, AND EACH OF THE GUARANTORS WAIVES ANY
OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY HAVE BASED ON IMPROPER VENUE OR FORUM NON CONVENIENS TO
                                                       --------------------   
THE CONDUCT OF ANY PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT AND WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF
ANY AND ALL PROCESS UPON IT, AND CONSENTS THAT ALL SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS BE
MADE BY MAIL OR MESSENGER DIRECTED TO IT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 17 HEREOF AND
THAT SERVICE SO MADE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE COMPLETED UPON THE EARLIER OF ACTUAL
RECEIPT OR FIVE BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE SAME SHALL HAVE BEEN MAILED TO SUCH
GUARANTOR IN ACCORDANCE HEREWITH. NOTHING CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION SHALL AFFECT
THE RIGHT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR THE LENDERS TO SERVE LEGAL PROCESS IN
ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN THE
COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION AGAINST ANY OF THE GUARANTORS OR TO ENFORCE A
JUDGMENT OBTAINED IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. EACH OF THE

                             Schedule IV - Page 8
<PAGE>
 
GUARANTORS ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE TIME AND EXPENSE REQUIRED FOR TRIAL BY JURY
EXCEED THE TIME AND EXPENSE FOR A BENCH TRIAL AND HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE EXTENT
PERMITTED BY LAW, TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

     21.  Headings.  The headings in this instrument are for convenience of
          --------                                                         
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning of any
provisions hereof.

     22.  Counterparts.  This Guaranty Agreement may be executed in any number
          ------------                                                        
of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an
original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.  It
shall not be necessary in making proof of this Guaranty Agreement to produce or
account for more than one such counterpart.

     23.  Rights of the Required Lenders.  All rights of the Administrative
          ------------------------------                                   
Agent hereunder, if not exercised by the Administrative Agent, may be exercised
by the Required Lenders.

                  [Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

                             Schedule IV - Page 9
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Guarantors has caused this Guaranty
Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.


                               JP FOODSERVICE, INC.,
                               a Delaware corporation

                               By
                                 -------------------------------
                                  Lewis Hay, III
                                  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
                                  Officer

                               BEIJING CHEF, INC.,
                               a Delaware corporation
                               E & H DISTRIBUTING CO.,
                               (d/b/a Valley Food Distributors of Nevada),
                               a Nevada corporation
                               HARRISON'S PRIME MEATS & PROVISIONS, INC., a
                               Nevada corporation
                               JPF REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS, INC.,
                               a Delaware corporation
                               ILLINOIS FRUIT & PRODUCE CORP.,
                               an Illinois corporation
                               SKY BROS., INC.,
                               a Pennsylvania corporation
                               MAZO-LERCH COMPANY,
                               a Delaware corporation
                               TRANS-PORTE, INC.,
                               a Delaware corporation
                               EL PASADO, INC.,
                               a Delaware corporation
                               RITUALS COFFEE COMPANY,
                               a Delaware corporation
                               ROSELI PRODUCTS CORPORATION,
                               a Delaware corporation
                               SQUERI FOOD SERVICE, INC.,
                               an Ohio corporation
                               NEVADA BAKING COMPANY,
                               a Nevada corporation
                               OUTWEST MEAT COMPANY,
                               a Nevada corporation
                               HILLTOP HEARTH BAKERIES, INC.,
                               a Delaware corporation
                               CROSS VALLEY FARMS, INC.,

                             Schedule IV - Page 10
<PAGE>
 
                               a Delaware corporation


                               By:
                                  --------------------------------------
                                  Lewis Hay, III
                                  Vice President
                                  for each of the foregoing


                             Schedule IV - Page 11
<PAGE>
 
                               BIGGERS BROTHERS, INC.,
                               a Delaware corporation
                               BRB HOLDINGS, INC.,
                               a Delaware corporation
                               F.H. BEVEVINO & COMPANY, INC.,
                               a Pennsylvania corporation
                               FOOD DISTRIBUTION CONCEPTS, INC.,
                               a Delaware corporation
                               JOHN SEXTON & CO.,
                               a Delaware corporation
                               KING'S FOODSERVICE, INC.,
                               a Kentucky corporation
                               JP FOOD DISTRIBUTORS, INC.,
                               a Delaware corporation
                               ROANOKE RESTAURANT SERVICE, INC.,
                               a Virginia corporation
                               RYKOFF-SEXTON SERVICES, INC.,
                               a Nevada corporation
                               TARGETED SPECIALTY SERVICES, INC.,
                               a Delaware corporation
                               US FOODSERVICE OF ATLANTA, INC.,
                               a Delaware corporation
                               US FOODSERVICE OF FLORIDA, INC.,
                               a Delaware corporation
                               US FOODSERVICE OF ILLINOIS, INC.,
                               a Delaware corporation
                               US SYSTEMS DISTRIBUTION, INC.,
                               a Texas corporation
                               WHITE SWAN, INC.,
                               a Delaware corporation
                               WS HOLDINGS CORPORATION,
                               a Delaware corporation

                               By
                                 ------------------------------- 
                                  Richard J. Martin
                                  Vice President
                                  for each of the foregoing

                               US FOODSERVICE, INC.,
                               a Delaware corporation

                               By
                                 ------------------------------- 
                                  Richard J. Martin
                                   Senior Vice President


                             Schedule IV - Page 12
<PAGE>
 
ACCEPTED:

NATIONSBANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
as aforesaid for the Lenders

By
  ---------------------------------
Title
     ------------------------------



                             Schedule IV - Page 13
<PAGE>
 
                                  SCHEDULE V

                          Form of Notice of Borrowing
                          ---------------------------

NationsBank, N.A.
NationsBank Plaza, 6th Floor
NC1-002-06-19
Charlotte, North Carolina  28255
Attention of Kathy Mumpower

Dear Sirs:

     The undersigned Borrower refers to the 364-Day Credit Agreement dated as of
December 23, 1997 (as it may be amended, modified, extended or restated from
time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), among Rykoff-Sexton, Inc. and JP
                   ----------------                                    
Foodservice Distributors, Inc. (the "Borrowers"), the Lenders party thereto,
                                     ---------                              
NationsBank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, NationsBanc Montgomery Securities,
Inc. and Chase Securities, Inc., as Co-Arrangers, The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Syndication Agent, and Bank of America, NT & SA, as Documentation Agent.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

The Borrower hereby gives you notice pursuant to Section 2.01(b)(i) of the
Credit Agreement that it requests a Revolving Loan advance, and in that
connection sets forth below the terms on which such Revolving Loan advance is
requested to be made:

(A)  Date of advance
     (which is a Business Day)   
                                       --------------------------

(B)  Aggregate principal amount
     of advance                   
                                       --------------------------

(C)  Interest rate basis
     (Base Rate Loan, Eurodollar
     Loan, or a combination thereof)    
                                       --------------------------

(D)  Interest Period and the
     last day thereof (if Eurodollar
     Loan is requested)           
                                       --------------------------


     The delivery of this Notice of Borrowing shall constitute a representation
and warranty by the Borrowers of the correctness of the matters specified in
Sections 5.02(b), (c) and (d) of the Credit Agreement.


                                    Very truly yours,

                                    By:
                                       ---------------------------------
                                    Title:
                                          ------------------------------



                              Schedule V - Page 1
<PAGE>
 
                                 SCHEDULE VA-1

                        Form of Competitive Bid Request
                        -------------------------------

NationsBank, N.A.,
 as Agent for the Lenders
NationsBank Plaza, 6th Floor
NC1-002-06-19
Charlotte, North Carolina  28255
Attn:  Kathy Mumpower

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     The undersigned Borrower refers to the 364-Day Credit Agreement dated as of
December 23, 1997 (as amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time,
the "Credit Agreement"), among Rykoff-Sexton, Inc. and JP Foodservice
     ----------------                                                
Distributors, Inc. (the "Borrowers"), the Lenders party thereto, NationsBank,
                         ---------                                           
N.A., as Administrative Agent, NationsBanc Montgomery Securities, Inc. and Chase
Securities, Inc., as Co-Arrangers, The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Syndication
Agent, and Bank of America, NT & SA, as Documentation Agent.  Capitalized terms
used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to
such terms in the Credit Agreement.  The Borrower hereby gives you notice
pursuant to Section 2.02(b) of the Credit Agreement that it requests
solicitation of Competitive Bids under the Credit Agreement, and in connection
herewith sets forth below the terms on which the related Competitive Loans
borrowing is requested to be made:

     (A)  Date of Competitive Loan borrowing
          (which is a Business Day)          
                                               ----------------------------

     (B)  Principal amount of
          Competitive Loan borrowing          
                                               ----------------------------

     (C)  Interest Period and the last day
          thereof                      
                                               ----------------------------


     The delivery of this Competitive Bid Request shall constitute a
representation and warranty by the Borrowers of the correctness of the matters
specified in Sections 5.02(b), (c) and (d) of the Credit Agreement.


                                          Very truly yours,


                                          By:
                                              -----------------------------

                                          Title:
                                                ---------------------------



                              Schedule V - Page 2
<PAGE>
 
                                 SCHEDULE VA-2

              Form of Notice of Receipt of Competitive Bid Request
              ----------------------------------------------------

[Name of Lender]
[Address]

Attention:

Dear Sirs:

     Reference is made to the 364-Day Credit Agreement dated as of December 23,
1997 (as amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the "Credit
                                                                         ------
Agreement"), among Rykoff-Sexton, Inc. and JP Foodservice Distributors, Inc.
---------                                                                   
(the "Borrowers"), the Lenders party thereto, NationsBank, N.A., as
      ---------                                                    
Administrative Agent, NationsBanc Montgomery Securities, Inc. and Chase
Securities, Inc., as Co-Arrangers, The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Syndication
Agent, and Bank of America, NT & SA, as Documentation Agent.  Capitalized terms
used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to
such terms in the Credit Agreement.  A Borrower made a Competitive Bid Request
on ____________, 19__, pursuant to Section 2.02(b) of the Credit Agreement, and
in that connection you are invited to submit a Competitive Bid by 10:00 A.M.
(Charlotte, North Carolina time) on ___________, 19__ [Business Day next
succeeding the date of receipt by the Administrative Agent of the related
Competitive Bid Request].  Your Competitive Bid must comply with Section 2.02(c)
of the Credit Agreement and the terms as set forth below on which the
Competitive Bid Request was made:


     (A)  Date of Competitive Borrowing     
                                            ---------------------------------

     (B)  Principal amount of
          Competitive Borrowing            
                                            ---------------------------------

     (C)  Interest Period and the last
          day thereof                   
                                            ---------------------------------


                                  Very truly yours,

                                  NATIONSBANK, N.A.,
                                  as Administrative Agent

                                  By
                                     ----------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        

                              Schedule V - Page 3
<PAGE>
 
                                 SCHEDULE VA-3

                            Form of Competitive Bid
                            -----------------------

NationsBank, N.A.,
 as Agent for the Lenders
NationsBank Plaza, 6th Floor
NC1-002-06-19
Charlotte, North Carolina  28255
Attn:  Kathy Mumpower

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     The undersigned, [Name of Lender], refers to the 364-Day Credit Agreement
dated as of December 23, 1997 (as amended, modified, extended or restated from
time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), among Rykoff-Sexton, Inc. and JP
                   ----------------                                    
Foodservice Distributors, Inc. (the "Borrowers"), the Lenders party thereto,
                                     ---------                              
NationsBank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, NationsBanc Montgomery Securities,
Inc. and Chase Securities, Inc., as Co-Arrangers, The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Syndication Agent, and Bank of America, NT & SA, as Documentation Agent.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.  The undersigned hereby
makes a Competitive Bid pursuant to Section 2.02(c) of the Credit Agreement, in
response to the Competitive Bid Request made by a Borrower on ____________,
19__, and in that connection sets forth below the terms on which such
Competitive Bid is made:

     (A)  Minimum (not less than $1,000,000           minimum:
                                                              ----------------
          and integral multiples of $1,000,000        maximum:
                                                              ----------------
          in excess thereof) and maximum
          Principal Amounts

     (B)  Competitive Bid Rate(s)                     
                                                      ------------------------

     (C)  Interest Period(s) and last
          day(s) thereof                 
                                                      ------------------------


     The undersigned hereby confirms that it is prepared, subject to the
conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement, to extend credit to the Borrowers
upon acceptance by the applicable Borrower of this bid in accordance with
Section 2.02(e) of the Credit Agreement.

                                  Very truly yours,

                                  [NAME OF LENDER]

                                  By:
                                     ----------------------------------------

                                  Title:
                                        -------------------------------------


                              Schedule V - Page 4
<PAGE>
 
                                 SCHEDULE VA-4

                  Form of Competitive Bid Accept/Reject Letter
                  --------------------------------------------

NationsBank, N.A.,
 as Agent for the Lenders
NationsBank Plaza, 6th Floor
NC1-002-06-19
Charlotte, North Carolina  28255
Attn:  Agency Services

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     The undersigned Borrower refers to the 364-Day Credit Agreement dated as of
December 23, 1997 (as amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time,
the "Credit Agreement"), among Rykoff-Sexton, Inc. and JP Foodservice
     ----------------                                                
Distributors, Inc. (the "Borrowers"), the Lenders party thereto, NationsBank,
                         ---------                                           
N.A., as Administrative Agent, NationsBanc Montgomery Securities, Inc. and Chase
Securities, Inc., as Co-Arrangers, The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Syndication
Agent, and Bank of America, NT & SA, as Documentation Agent.

     In accordance with Section 2.02(e) of the Credit Agreement, in connection
with our Competitive Bid Request dated ____________, 19__ and in accordance with
Section 2.02(e) of the Credit Agreement, we hereby accept the following bids for
maturity on [date]:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

Principal Amount      Competitive Bid Rate              Lender
----------------      --------------------              ------
<S>                   <C>                               <C> 
$                              [%]
$                              [%]

We hereby reject the following bids:

<CAPTION> 

Principal Amount      Competitive Bid Rate              Lender
----------------      --------------------              ------
<S>                   <C>                               <C> 
$                              [%]
$                              [%]
</TABLE> 


                                  Very truly yours,


                                  By:
                                     ------------------------------------- 

                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------------


                              Schedule V - Page 5
<PAGE>
 
                                  SCHEDULE VI

                    Form of Notice of Extension/Conversion
                    --------------------------------------

NationsBank, N.A.
NationsBank Plaza, 6th Floor
NC1-002-06-19
Charlotte, North Carolina  28255
Attention of Kathy Mumpower

Dear Sirs:

The undersigned Borrower refers to the 364-Day Credit Agreement dated as of
December 23, 1997 (as it may be amended, modified, extended or restated from
time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), among Rykoff-Sexton, Inc. and JP
                   ----------------                                    
Foodservice Distributors, Inc. (the "Borrowers"), the Lenders party thereto,
                                     ---------                              
NationsBank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, NationsBanc Montgomery Securities,
Inc. and Chase Securities, Inc., as Co-Arrangers, The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Syndication Agent, and Bank of America, NT & SA, as Documentation Agent.

Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

The undersigned Borrower hereby gives you notice pursuant to Section 3.03 of the
Credit Agreement that it requests an extension or conversion of an outstanding
Revolving Loan and in that connection sets forth below the terms on which such
extension or conversion is requested to be made:

(A)  Loan(s) to be extended or converted    
                                            ------------------------------

(B)  Date of extension or conversion
     (which, in the case of a Eurodollar
     Loan, is the last day of the
     the applicable Interest Period)        
                                            ------------------------------

(C)  Aggregate principal amount
     of extension or conversion        
                                            ------------------------------

(D)  Interest rate basis
     (Base Rate Loan, Eurodollar
     Loan, or a combination thereof)       
                                            ------------------------------

(E)  Interest Period and the
     last day thereof (if Eurodollar
     Loan is requested)              
                                            ------------------------------



                             Schedule VI - Page 1
<PAGE>
 
     The delivery of this Notice of Extension/Conversion shall constitute a
representation and warranty by the Borrowers of the correctness of the matters
specified in Sections 5.02(b), (c) and (d) of the Credit Agreement.


                                          Very truly yours,

                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------


                             Schedule VI - Page 2
<PAGE>
 
                                 SCHEDULE XIV

                      Form of Lender Assignment Agreement
                      -----------------------------------

Reference is made to the 364-Day Credit Agreement dated as of December 23, 1997
(as it may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the
"Credit Agreement"), among Rykoff-Sexton, Inc., JP Foodservice Distributors,
 ----------------                                                           
Inc., the Lenders party thereto, NationsBank, N.A., as Administrative Agent,
NationsBanc Montgomery Securities, Inc. and Chase Securities, Inc., as Co-
Arrangers, The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Syndication Agent, and Bank of America,
NT & SA, as Documentation Agent.

Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

     1.   The Assignor hereby sells and assigns, without recourse, to the
Assignee, and the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes, without recourse, from
the Assignor, effective as of the Effective Date set forth below, the interests
set forth below (the "Assigned Interest") in the Assignor's rights and
                      -----------------                               
obligations under the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents,
including, without limitation, the interests set forth below in the Commitment
of the Assignor on the Effective Date, the Revolving Loans and Competitive Loans
owing to the Assignor which are outstanding on the Effective Date, together with
unpaid interest accrued on the assigned Loans to the Effective Date and the
amount, if any, set forth below of the Fees accrued to the Effective Date for
the account of the Assignor.  Each of the Assignor and the Assignee hereby makes
and agrees to be bound by all the representations, warranties and agreements set
forth in Section 12.04(b) of the Credit Agreement.  From and after the Effective
Date (i) the Assignee, if it is not already a Lender under the Credit Agreement,
shall be a party to and be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement and,
to the extent of the interests assigned by this Assignment Agreement, have the
rights and obligations of a Lender thereunder and under the other Credit
Documents and (ii) the Assignor shall, to the extent of the interests assigned
by this Assignment Agreement, relinquish its rights and be released from its
obligations under the Credit Agreement.

     2.   This Assignment Agreement is being delivered to the Administrative
Agent pursuant to Section 12.04(b) of the Credit Agreement together with a
processing and recordation fee of $2,500.

     3.   This Assignment Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Date of Assignment:

Legal Name of Assignor:

Legal Name of Assignee:
<PAGE>
 
Effective Date of Assignment
(may not be fewer than 5 Business
Days after the Date of Assignment):

Commitment Percentage Assigned:

Revolving Loans Assigned:

Fees Assigned:


THE TERMS SET FORTH ABOVE
ARE HEREBY AGREED TO:

__________________________, AS ASSIGNOR

By:_____________________________________
Title:

_________________________, AS ASSIGNEE

By:_____________________________________
Title:


CONSENTED TO:

NATIONSBANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent

By:___________________________________
Title:


JP FOODSERVICE DISTRIBUTORS, INC.

By:___________________________________
Title:

RYKOFF-SEXTON, INC.

By:___________________________________
Title:

                             Schedule XIV - Page 2