Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.18

                               INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

     THIS INDEMNITY AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as of
this 20th day of November, 2002 by and between Aurora Foods Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and Thomas M. Hudgins, a director of the Company
(the "Director").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS, the Company and the Director recognize that the legal risks and
potential liabilities associated with lawsuits filed against the directors of
the Company pose a significant deterrent to experienced and capable individuals
serving as directors of the Company;

     WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that the result of the foregoing maybe to
encourage those directors who nonetheless determine to serve the Company in such
capacity to act with undue conservatism in the performance of their duties to
the Company and, thus, may result in less effective direction, supervision and
management of the Company's business and operations;

     WHEREAS, Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law is not
exclusive of other rights to which those indemnified thereunder may be entitled
under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or
otherwise and, thus, does not by itself limit the extent to which the Company
may indemnify (and advance expenses to) persons serving as its directors;

     WHEREAS, the Company desires to have the Director begin or continue to
serve as a director of the Company, free from undue concern for unpredictable,
inappropriate or unreasonable legal risks and personal liabilities by reason of
performing his duty to the Company or his status as a director, and the Director
desires to begin or continue to serve as a director of the Company.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, mutual covenants and
agreements of the parties contained herein and the mutual benefits to be derived
from this Agreement, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

     1. Agreement to Serve. The Director agrees to begin or to continue to serve
the Company as a director, provided, however, that nothing contained in this
Agreement shall create or supersede or amend any existing contract of employment
between the Company and the Director, or the Securityholders Agreement dated as
of April 8, 1998 and the termination of the Director's relationship with the
Company by either party hereto shall not be restricted by this Agreement. Should
the Director and the Company agree and subject to any written employment
agreement between the Director and the Company, the Director may also serve
another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture,
employee benefit plan, trust including, without limitation, any subsidiary or
other enterprise affiliated with the Company (any

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and all of which are collectively referred to herein as an "Affiliate"), in
which event the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall automatically apply
to any such other service to the full extent permitted by applicable law without
the need for any additional action on the part of the Director or the Company.

     2.   Indemnity.

     (a)  Subject to the conditions and limitations of this Paragraph 2
          (including without limitation Paragraph 2(b) below), the Company
          shall, to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General
          Corporation Law as it may then be in effect, indemnify and hold the
          Director and his estate, heirs and legal representatives (each an
          "Indemnified Party") harmless if any of them is, becomes or was a
          party to or witness or other participant in, or is or was threatened
          to be made a party to or witness or other participant in, any Claim
          (as defined below) by reason of (or arising in part out of) an
          Indemnifiable Event (as defined below) against any and all expenses
          (including attorneys', accountants' and other experts' fees,
          disbursements and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes
          and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement incurred by the
          Indemnified Party in connection with preparation for or in defense of
          such Claim (collectively, "Indemnified Amounts"). "Claim" means any
          threatened, pending or completed action, cause of action, suit or
          proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
          or other, including, without limitation, an action by or in the right
          of any corporation (including without limitation, the Company) of any
          type or kind, domestic or foreign, or any limited liability company,
          partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
          enterprise, whether predicated on foreign, federal, state or local law
          and whether formal or informal. "Indemnifiable Event" means any event
          or occurrence related to the fact that the Director is or was or has
          agreed to become a director or other representative of the Company, or
          is or was serving or has agreed to serve in any capacity, at the
          request of the Company, in any other corporation, limited liability
          company, partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or
          other enterprise, or by reason of anything done or not done by the
          Director in any such capacity.

     (b)  Any indemnification under paragraph (a) of this Paragraph 2 shall be
          made by the Company only as authorized in the specific case upon a
          determination that the Director acted in good faith and in a manner he
          reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
          the Company and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding,
          had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided,
          however, that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any Claim
          as to which the Director shall have been adjudged to be liable to the
          Company unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of
          the State of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was
          brought shall determine upon application that, despite the
          adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the
          case, the Indemnified Party is fairly and reasonably entitled to
          indemnity for such Indemnified Amounts which the Court of Chancery of
          the State of Delaware or such other court shall deem proper. Such
          determination (each, a "Board Action") shall be made (1) by the Board
          of Directors by a

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          majority vote of the directors who are not a party to such Claim with
          respect to an Indemnifiable Event, even if less than a quorum, or (2)
          by a committee of such directors appointed by a majority vote of such
          directors, even if less than a quorum, or (3) by the Board of
          Directors acting upon an opinion in writing of independent legal
          counsel, if there are no such directors or if a majority of such
          directors so direct.

     (c)  Notwithstanding anything in the Company's Certificate of
          Incorporation, By-Laws, or this Agreement to the contrary, if so
          requested by an Indemnified Party the Company shall advance (an
          "Expense Advance") (within 30 days of such request) any and all
          Indemnified Amounts relating to a Claim to such Indemnified Party,
          upon the receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of such
          Indemnified Party to repay such Expense Advance if a judgment or other
          final adjudication adverse to such Indemnified Party (as to which all
          rights or appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) establishes
          that such Indemnified Party, with respect to such Claim, is not
          eligible for indemnification.

     (d)  The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or
          granted pursuant to, this Paragraph 2 shall not be deemed exclusive of
          any other rights to which an Indemnified Party seeking indemnification
          or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any by-law, other
          agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, policy of
          insurance or otherwise, both as to action of the Director in his
          official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding
          such office.

     (e)  For the purposes of this Paragraph 2, references to "the Company"
          shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation or limited
          liability company, any constituent corporation or limited liability
          company (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a
          consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had
          continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its
          directors, officers, employees or agents, so that the Director if he
          is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent
          entity, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent entity
          as a director, officer, employee, agent, trustee, fiduciary or other
          representative of another corporation, limited liability company,
          partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in
          the same position under the provisions of this Paragraph 2 with
          respect to the resulting or surviving entity as he would have with
          respect to such constituent entity if its separate existence had
          continued.

     (f)  Any repeal or modification of relevant provisions of the Delaware
          General Corporation Law or any other applicable laws shall not in any
          way diminish any rights to indemnification of an Indemnified Party or
          the obligations of the Company arising hereunder except to the extent
          required by law. All rights and obligations of the Company and the
          Director and the other Indemnified Parties under this Agreement shall
          continue in full force and effect despite the subsequent amendment or
          modification of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws,
          as such are in effect on the date hereof, and such rights and
          obligations

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          shall not be affected by any such amendment or modification, any
          resolution of the Board of Directors or the stockholders of the
          Company, or any other corporate action which in any way seeks to
          diminish any of the rights of the Director and the other Indemnified
          Parties or the obligations of the Company under this Agreement. If
          this Paragraph 2 or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any
          ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall
          nevertheless indemnify each Indemnified Party as to Indemnified
          Amounts with respect to any Claim, no matter by whom brought, and
          advance expenses (including attorneys', accountants' and other
          experts' fees, disbursements and expenses), in each such Claim to the
          full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Paragraph 2
          that shall not have been invalidated and to the full extent permitted
          by applicable law.

     (g)  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the settlement of any
          Claim that is entered into without the prior written consent of the
          Company shall be covered by the terms hereof as determined by the
          Company in its sole discretion pursuant to Paragraph 2(b).

     (h)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent
          that the Indemnified Party has been successful on the merits or
          otherwise in defense of any or all Claims relating in whole or in part
          to an Indemnifiable Event or in defense of any issue or matter
          therein, including, without limitation, dismissal without prejudice,
          the Indemnified Party shall be indemnified against any and all
          Indemnified Amounts paid or to be paid in settlement of such Claim. In
          connection with any determination by Board Action or by a court of
          competent jurisdiction that the Indemnified Party is not entitled to
          be indemnified hereunder, the burden of proof shall be on the Company
          to establish that the Indemnified Party is not so entitled.

     3. Payment of Indemnity. Indemnified Amounts and Expense Advances, if any,
provided to any Indemnified Party by the Company under this Agreement upon the
final disposition or conclusion of a Claim unless otherwise ordered by the court
before which such Claim was brought, shall be paid by the Company (net of all
amounts, if any, previously advanced to the Indemnified Party or Parties
pursuant to Paragraph 2(c)) to the Indemnified Party (or to such other person as
the Indemnified Party may designate in writing to the Company) within 30 days
after the receipt of the Indemnified Party's written request therefor, which
request shall include a reasonably comprehensive accounting of amounts for which
indemnification is being sought and shall refer to one or more of the
provision(s) of this Agreement pursuant to which such claim is being made. All
expenses associated with the indemnification process set forth in this Agreement
or enforcements of rights hereunder shall be paid by the Company.

     4. Termination of an Action is Nonconclusive. The termination of any
Action, no matter by whom brought, by judgment, order, settlement, conviction,
or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself,
create a presumption that the Director has not met the applicable standard(s) of
conduct set forth in Paragraph 2 of this Agreement.

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     5. Partial Indemnification; Interest.

     (a)  If it is determined by the court before which a Claim is brought or a
          court having competent jurisdiction that the Indemnified Party is
          entitled to indemnification as to some claims, issues or matters, but
          not as to other claims, issues or matters involved in such Claim, no
          matter by whom brought, the court shall authorize the reasonable
          proration of the Indemnified Amounts with respect to which
          indemnification is sought by the Indemnified Party, among such claims,
          issues or matters as the court shall deem appropriate in light of all
          of the circumstances of such Claim.

     (b)  If it is determined by the court before which such Claim was brought
          or a court having competent jurisdiction that certain Indemnified
          Amounts incurred by the Indemnified Party are, for whatever reason,
          unreasonable in amount, the court shall authorize indemnification to
          be paid by the Company to the Indemnified Party for only such amounts
          as the court shall deem reasonable in light of all of the
          circumstances of such Claim.

     6. Representation of Company. The Company represents and warrants to the
Director that neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
Company nor the consummation of the transactions set forth herein or
contemplated hereby will conflict with or result in any violation of, or
constitute a breach of, or a default under, the Certificate of Incorporation or
Bylaws of the Company, or under any contract, instrument, agreement,
understanding, mortgage, indenture, lease, insurance policy, permit, concession,
grant, franchise, license, judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance,
rule or regulation applicable to the Company.

     7. Insurance.

     (a)  To the extent the Company maintains at any time an insurance policy or
          policies providing directors' and officers' liability insurance,
          Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies, in accordance
          with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage
          available for any other Company director or officer under such
          insurance policy. The purchase and maintenance of such insurance shall
          not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the
          parties hereto, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement shall
          not in any way be construed to limit or affect the rights and
          obligations of the Company or of the other parties under any such
          insurance policy.

     (b)  In the event of payment to an Indemnified Party under this Agreement,
          the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all
          of the rights of recovery with respect to such payment of the
          Indemnified Party, who shall execute and deliver all instruments,
          documents, and other papers and shall perform any and all acts or
          deeds reasonably necessary or advisable to secure such rights.

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     8. Notice to the Company by Director. The Director agrees to, and each
other Indemnified Party shall, notify the Company promptly upon being served
with or having knowledge of any citation, summons, complaint, indictment or any
other similar document relating to any Action which is reasonably likely to
result in a claim of indemnification under this Agreement.

     9. Continuation of Rights and Obligations. The terms and provisions of this
Agreement shall survive and continue as to the Director and the other
Indemnified Parties notwithstanding whether the Director ceases to be a director
of the Company or of an Affiliate.

     10. Amendment and Modification. This Agreement may be amended, modified or
supplemented only by the written agreement of the Director and the Company
(subject to approval by the Board of Directors).

     11. Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assigned (including without
limitation by operation of law or merger) by the Company or the Director without
the prior written consent of the other party hereto, except that the Company may
assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any Affiliate for whom
the Director is serving as an executive thereof, provided, however, that no
permitted assignment shall release the assignor from its obligations hereunder.
Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns, including, without limitation, any successor
to the Company by way of merger, consolidation and/or disposition of all or
substantially all of the capital stock or assets of the Company.

     12. Governing Law. All matters with respect to this Agreement, including,
without limitation, matters of validity, construction, effect and performance,
shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to
contracts made and to be performed therein between the residents thereof
(regardless of the laws that might otherwise be applicable under principles of
conflicts of law).

     13. Headings. The headings used in this Agreement are for convenience and
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

     14. Severability. Without limiting the provisions of Paragraph 2(f) hereof,
if any provision of this Agreement shall be deemed invalid, unenforceable or
inoperative, or if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any of the
provisions of this Agreement contravene public policy, this Agreement shall be
construed so that the remaining provisions shall not be affected, but shall
remain in full force and effect, and any such provisions which are held to be
invalid, unenforceable or inoperative or which contravene public policy by such
court shall be deemed, without further action, to be modified, amended and/or
limited, but only to the extent necessary to render the same valid and
enforceable, and the Company shall thereafter indemnify the Indemnified Party
against reasonable expenses (including attorneys', accountants' and other
experts' fees, disbursements and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts
incurred in settlement with respect to any Action, no matter by whom brought, to
the full extent permitted by any applicable provisions of this Agreement that
shall not have been invalidated and to the full extent otherwise permitted by
the Delaware General Corporation Law as it may then be in effect.

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     15. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been given when delivered by hand or two (2) business days after being mailed by
a recognized international private courier (by way of example, FedEx and UPS) or
by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, with postage prepaid:

                  If to the Director, to:

                  Thomas M. Hudgins
                  179 East 70th
                  New York, NY 10021

     or to such other person or address as the Director shall furnish to the
     Company in writing.

                  If to the Company, to:

                  Aurora Foods Inc.
                  11432 Lackland Road
                  St. Louis, Missouri 63146
                  Attention: Chief Executive Officer

     or to such other person or address as the Company shall furnish to the
     Director in writing.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

DIRECTOR:                                      AURORA FOODS INC.

 /s/ Thomas M. Hudgins                         By: /s/ William R. McManaman
----------------------                             ------------------------
Name: Thomas M. Hudgins                        Name: William R. McManaman
                                                    ----------------------------
                                               Title: Chief Financial Officer
                                                    ----------------------------<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.26

            SEVERANCE, CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT

     This SEVERANCE, CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT is made as of
July 23, 2002 (the "Effective Date") between Aurora Foods Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company") and Thomas O. Ellinwood (the "Executive").

     WHEREAS, the Executive is currently employed by the Company; and

     WHEREAS, the Company wishes to provide the Executive with severance under
certain conditions in return for the Executive keeping certain information
confidential and not competing with the Company and the Executive wishes to
accept such terms.

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

1.   COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION.

     1.1. Other than for Cause. If the Company shall terminate the Executive's
employment other than for Cause, death or Incapacity and, if no benefits are
payable to the Executive under a separate severance agreement or an executive
severance plan (acknowledged in writing by the Executive to supersede the
provisions of this Section 1.1) as a result of such termination, then the
Company shall pay or provide to the Executive:

          (a) as soon as reasonably practicable after the Termination Date, all
     salary and benefits in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date and
     due to the Executive through the Termination Date; and

          (b) The Executive's salary in effect immediately prior to the
     Termination Date until the second anniversary of the Termination Date,
     payable on a bi-weekly basis or such other time increment as the Executive
     and the Company mutually agree.

With respect to any termination of employment to which this Section 1.1 applies,
until the earlier to occur of (1) the second anniversary of the Termination Date
or (2) the date on which the Executive receives from another employer (including
self-employment or engaging in an enterprise as a sole proprietor or partner)
medical and dental benefits substantially comparable to those made available by
the Company to the Executive immediately prior to the Termination Date (the
"Benefits Termination Date"), the Company shall, if the Executive was
participating in any Company medical and dental insurance plans immediately
prior to the Termination Date and subject to any employee contribution
applicable to the Executive immediately prior to the Termination Date, continue
to provide and contribute to the cost of the Executive's participation in such
medical and dental insurance plans so long as the Executive is entitled to
continue such participation under applicable law and plan terms. The obligations
of the Company to the Executive under this Section 1.1 (other than clause (a) of
the first sentence of this Section 1.1) are conditioned upon the Executive's
signing a release of claims in the form of Exhibit A (the "Release") within 21
days of the Termination Date on and upon such Release remaining in full force
and effect thereafter. Except as otherwise provided, all severance payments
under this Section 1.1 will be in the form of salary continuation, payable in
accordance with the normal payroll practices of the Company and will begin at
the Company's next regular payroll period following the effective date of the
Release, but shall be retroactive to the Termination Date; provided, that
payments to the Executive under this Section 1.1 shall not be reduced by reason
of any compensation payments the Executive receives from employment subsequent
to the Termination Date.

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     1.2. Post-Termination Obligations Generally. Except as expressly set forth
in this Section 1, in any stock option plan in which the Executive was
participating and as provided by law, the Company shall have no further
obligations to the Executive following the Termination Date, and performance by
the Company of any obligation specifically provided in this Section 1 shall
constitute full settlement of any claim that the Executive may have on account
of such termination against the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates and
all of their respective past and present officers, directors, stockholders,
controlling Persons, employees, agents, representatives, successors and assigns
and all other others connected with any of them, both individually and in their
official capacities.

     1.3. Change of Control. If within two years of a Change of Control, the
Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason or the Company terminates
the Executive's employment other than for Cause, the Company shall have no
further obligations to the Executive under this Agreement other than (i) a lump
sum payment equal to two times the sum of the salary and the bonus paid to the
Executive during the preceding twelve months; and (ii) continued contributions
(if the Executive was participating in any Company medical and dental insurance
plans immediately prior to the Termination Date and subject to any employee
contribution applicable to the Executive immediately prior to the Termination
Date), until the Benefits Termination Date, to the cost of the Executive's
participation in such medical and dental insurance plans so long as the
Executive is entitled to continue such participation under applicable law and
plan terms.

2. WITHHOLDING. All payments made by the Company under this Agreement shall be
reduced by any tax or other amounts required to be withheld by the Company under
applicable law.

3. UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE; INVENTIONS.

     3.1. Confidential Information. The Executive acknowledges that the Company
and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates continually develop Confidential
Information, that the Executive may develop Confidential Information for the
Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates and that the Executive may learn of
Confidential Information during the course of employment. The Executive will
comply with the policies and procedures of the Company and its Subsidiaries and
Affiliates for protecting Confidential Information and agrees not to disclose to
any Person (except as required by applicable law or for the proper performance
of his duties and responsibilities to the Company and its Subsidiaries and
Affiliates), or use for his own benefit or gain, any Confidential Information
obtained by the Executive incident to his employment or other association with
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates. The Executive understands
that this restriction shall continue to apply after his employment terminates,
regardless of the reason for such termination.

     3.2. Protection of Documents. All documents, records, tapes and other media
of every kind and description relating to the business, present or otherwise, of
the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates and any copies, in whole or in
part, thereof (the "Documents"), whether or not prepared by the Executive, shall
be the sole and exclusive property of the Company or its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates. The Executive shall safeguard all Documents and shall surrender to
the Company at the time his employment terminates, or at such earlier time or
times as the Board or its designee may specify, all Documents then in the
Executive's possession or control.

     3.3. Proprietary Rights. Any and all inventions, discoveries, developments,
methods, processes, compositions, works, supplier and customer lists (including
information relating to the generation and updating thereof), concepts and ideas
(whether or not patentable or copyrightable) (collectively, "Inventions")
conceived, made, developed, created or reduced to practice (collectively,
"Conceived") by the Executive (whether at the request or suggestion of the
Company or otherwise, whether alone or in conjunction with others, and whether
during regular hours of work or otherwise)

                                       -2-

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during the term of his employment by the Company, which may be directly or
indirectly useful in, or related to, the business, ventures or other activities
of or products manufactured or sold by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates or any business or products contemplated by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or Affiliates while the Executive was or is an employee, officer or
director of the Company (collectively, "Proprietary Rights"), together with
Inventions so Conceived by the Executive within the six-month period following
the Termination Date and which directly relate to Company work initiated,
conducted, observed, or contemplated prior to the Termination Date, shall be
promptly and fully disclosed by the Executive to the Board and shall be the
exclusive property of the Company as against the Executive and his successors,
heirs, devisees, legatees and assigns, and the Executive hereby assigns to the
Company his entire right, title and interest therein and shall promptly deliver
to the Company all papers, drawings, models, data and other material relating to
any of the foregoing Proprietary Rights conceived, made, developed, created or
reduced to practice by him as aforesaid. All copyrightable Proprietary Rights
shall be considered "works made for hire." The Executive shall, upon the
Company's request and without any payment therefor or expense with respect
thereto, execute any documents necessary or advisable in the reasonable opinion
of the Company's counsel to assign, and confirm the Company's title in, his
entire right, title and interest in the foregoing Proprietary Rights and to
direct issuance of patents or copyrights to the Company with respect to such
Proprietary Rights as are the Company's exclusive property as against the
Executive and his successors, heirs, devisees, legatees and assigns under this
Section 3.3 or to vest in the Company title to such Proprietary Rights as
against the Executive and his successors, heirs, devisees, legatees and assigns,
the expense of securing any such patent or copyright, however, to be borne by
the Company.

4. RESTRICTED ACTIVITIES. The Executive agrees that some restrictions on his
activities during and after his employment are necessary to protect the
goodwill, Confidential Information and other legitimate interests of the Company
and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates:

     4.1. Non-Competition. While the Executive is employed by the Company and
for a period of two years immediately following the Termination Date (the
"Non-Competition Period"), the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly,
whether as owner, partner, investor, consultant, agent, employee, co-venturer or
otherwise, compete with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates
within the United States in any Competitive Business or undertake any planning
for any Competitive Business. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
during the Non-Competition Period, the Executive will not solicit or encourage
any Person who is or was a customer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates to terminate its relationship with any of them, or to conduct with
any other Person any business or activity which such customer conducted with the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, and which is or would be
detrimental to the Company.

     4.2. Outside Activities. The Executive agrees that during his employment
with the Company, he will not undertake any outside activity, whether or not
competitive with the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates, that could reasonably give rise to a conflict of interest or
otherwise interfere with the performance of his duties and obligations to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates.

     4.3. Non-Solicitation of Employees. Acknowledging the strong interest of
the Company in an undisrupted workplace, the Executive further agrees that while
he is employed by the Company and for a period of two years immediately
following the Termination Date, the Executive will not (a) directly, or
indirectly through agents or other representatives, seek to persuade, solicit or
encourage any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates
to discontinue employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates or (b) solicit or encourage any independent contractor providing
services to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to terminate or
diminish its relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates.

                                      -3-

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     4.4. Ownership of Securities. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 4, the Executive shall have the right to acquire as a passive investor
(with no involvement in the operations or management of the business) up to 1%
of any class of securities which is (a) issued by any Person engaged in a
Competitive Business and (b) publicly traded on a national securities exchange
or over-the-counter market.

5. ENFORCEMENT OF COVENANTS. The Executive acknowledges that he has carefully
read and considered all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including
the restraints imposed upon him pursuant to Sections 3 and 4. The Executive
agrees that such restraints are necessary for the reasonable and proper
protection of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates and that each and
every one of the restraints is reasonable in respect to subject matter, length
of time and geographic area. The Executive further acknowledges that, were he to
breach any of the covenants contained in Section 3 and 4, the damage to the
Company would be irreparable. The Executive therefore agrees that the Company,
in addition to any other remedies available to it, shall be entitled to
preliminary and permanent injunctive (or other equitable) relief against any
breach or threatened breach by the Executive of any of such covenants, without
having to post bond. The Company will be entitled to recover from the Executive
any attorneys fees and costs it incurs in connection with the successful
enforcement of its rights under Sections 3 and 4, and the Executive will be
entitled to recover from the Company reasonable attorneys fees and costs he
incurs in connection with the successful defense of any such enforcement action
brought by the Company. The parties further agree that, in the event that any
provision of Sections 3 and 4 shall be determined by any court of competent
jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of its being extended over too great
a time, too large a geographic area or too great a range of activities, such
provision shall be deemed to be modified to permit its enforcement to the
maximum extent permitted by law.

6. NOT AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. This Agreement is not an employment agreement
and does not confer on the Executive any right to continued retention by the
Company or its Subsidiaries as an employee or otherwise, nor will it affect any
right of the Company to terminate an employment, service or similar relationship
at any time.

7. NOTICES. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the parties hereto to
be effective shall be in writing, by facsimile, by overnight courier or by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid and return receipt requested, and
shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon: (a) delivery by hand, (b)
one business day after being sent by nationally recognized overnight courier; or
(c) in the case of transmission by facsimile, when confirmation of receipt is
obtained. Such communications shall be addressed and directed to the parties as
follows (or to such other address as either party shall designate by giving like
notice of such change to the other party):

         If to the Executive:

                  Thomas O. Ellinwood
                  232 North Kingshighway, Apartment 1905
                  St. Louis, MO 63108

         If to the Company:

                  Aurora Foods Inc.
                  11432 Lackland Road
                  St. Louis, MO 63146
                  Attention: Chief Executive Officer
                  Facsimile: (314) 632-5633

                                      -4-

<PAGE>

8. DEFINITIONS; CERTAIN RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. Certain capitalized terms are
used in this Agreement with the specific meanings defined below in this Section
8. Except as otherwise explicitly specified to the contrary or unless the
context clearly requires otherwise, (a) the capitalized term "Section" refers to
sections of this Agreement, (b) the capitalized term "Exhibit" refers to
exhibits to this Agreement, (c) references to a particular Section include all
subsections thereof, (d) the word "including" shall be construed as "including
without limitation" and (e) references to "$" mean United States dollars.

     8.1. "AAA" is defined in Section 14.

     8.2. "Affiliate" shall mean (a) any Person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the
Company (or other specified Person), (b) any other Person which, together with
its Affiliates (as defined in clause (a) above) shall, directly or indirectly,
own beneficially or control the voting of at least 10% of the ownership interest
in the Company (or other specified Person) and (c) any other Person of which the
Company (or other specified Person) and its Affiliates (as defined in clauses
(a) and (b) above) shall, directly or indirectly, own beneficially or control
the voting of at least 10% of any class of outstanding capital stock or other
evidence of beneficial interest or of any interest as a general partner or joint
venturer.

     8.3. "Beneficial Owner" shall have the meaning in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5
under the Exchange Act, except that a Person shall be deemed to have a
"beneficial ownership" of all shares that any such Person has the right to
acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage
of time.

     8.4. "Benefits Termination Date" is defined in Section 1.1.

     8.5. "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

     8.6. "Cause" means (a) the Executive's breach of any of his obligations set
forth in this Agreement; (b) the Executive's breach of his fiduciary duties as
an officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates,
or as an officer, trustee, director or other fiduciary of any pension or
employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates;
(c) the Executive's commission of a felony involving fraud, personal dishonesty
or moral turpitude (whether or not in connection with his employment); or (d)
the Executive's failure to follow the reasonable instructions of the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company.

     8.7. "Change of Control" means:

          (a) any person (used as such term is defined in Sections 1.3(d) and
     14(d) of the Exchange Act) other than one or more Permitted Holders, is or
     becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 35% of
     the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company; provided that
     the Permitted Holders are Beneficial Owners of, directly or indirectly, in
     the aggregate, a lesser percentage of the total voting power of the Voting
     Stock of the Company than such other person (used as such term is defined
     in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) and do not have the right
     or ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for
     election a majority of the Board; provided, further, that a person (used as
     such term is defined in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) shall
     be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of any Voting Stock of a Person held
     by any other Person (the "Parent Corporation") if such other person (used
     as such term is defined in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is
     the Beneficial Owner of, directly or indirectly, more than 35% of the
     voting power of the Voting Stock of the Parent Corporation and the
     Permitted Holders are Beneficial Owners of, directly or indirectly, in the
     aggregate, a lesser percentage of the voting power of the Voting

                                      -5-

<PAGE>

     Stock of the Parent Corporation and do not have the right or ability by
     voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for election a
     majority of the board of directors of the Parent Corporation; or

          (b) the consummation, through one transaction or a series of related
     transactions, of a reorganization, merger or consolidation, in each case,
     unless, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation the
     shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such reorganization,
     merger or consolidation are the Beneficial Owners, directly or indirectly,
     of more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of Common
     Stock resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation and the
     combined voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company; or

          (c) the consummation, through one transaction or a series of related
     transactions, of (i) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company
     or (ii) the sale, disposition or other transfer or removal of assets of the
     Company to which 40% of the Company's annualized revenues as of December
     31, 2001 are directly attributable; provided, that a Change of Control
     shall not be deemed to have occurred if the entity or entities acquiring
     control in such sale or disposition are the Permitted Holders or their
     Affiliates.

     8.8.  "Common Stock" means the common stock, $.01 par value, of the
Company.

     8.9.  "Company" is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

     8.10. "Competitive Business" means any existing business conducted by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries during the term of the Executive's employment
with the Company; provided that the phrase "existing business" shall for
purposes of this Section 8.10 be deemed to include any business actively
proposed to be conducted by the Company and for which the Company has developed
a formal business or marketing plan during the term, whether or not it existed
on the effective date.

     8.11. "Conceived" is defined in Section 3.3.

     8.12. "Confidential Information" means any and all information regarding
the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates that is not generally known by
others with whom they compete or do business, or with whom they actively plan to
compete or do business, including such information relating to (a) the
development; research, testing, manufacturing, marketing and financial
activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (b) the Products, (c) the costs,
sources of supply, financial performance and strategic plans of the Company and
its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, (d) the identity and special needs of the
customers of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates and (e) the people
and organizations with whom the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates have
business relationships and those relationships, but excluding information which
(i) is generally available to and known by the public or (ii) is or becomes
known on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Executive.

     8.13. "Documents" is defined in Section 3.2.

     8.14. "Effective Date" is defined in the preamble.

     8.15. "Executive" is defined in the preamble.

     8.16. "Exchange Act" means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

                                      -6-

<PAGE>

     8.17. "Fenway" means Fenway Capital Partners Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership, and Fenway Capital Partners Fund II, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership.

     8.18. "Good Reason" means (a) a reduction in the amount of the Executive's
salary, or (b) a relocation of the Executive's position outside the St. Louis
metropolitan area.

     8.19. "Incapacity" means any physical or mental illness, injury or other
incapacity of the Executive.

     8.20. "Inventions" is defined in Section 3.3.

     8.21. "McCown" means McCown De Leeuw & Co. III, L.P., McCown De Leeuw & Co.
III (Europe), L.P., McCown De Leeuw & Co. III (Asia), L.P., Gamma Fund LLC,
McCown De Leeuw & Co. IV, L.P., and McCown De Leeuw & Co. IV Associates, L.P.

     8.22. "Non-Competition Period" is defined in Section 4.1.

     8.23. "Parent Corporation" is defined in Section 8.7(a).

     8.24. "Permitted Holders" means Fenway, McCown, Delta Fund LLC, California
Public Employees Retirement System, Dartford Partnership L.L.C., Tiger Oats
Limited and UBS Capital LLC.

     8.25. "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, association,
trust, joint venture, limited liability company, unincorporated organization or
entity, and any government, governmental department or agency or political
subdivision thereof.

     8.26. "Products" means all products planned, researched, developed, tested,
manufactured, sold, licensed, leased or otherwise distributed or put into use by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, together with all services
provided or planned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates,
during the Executive's employment; provided that Products shall not include
products not in distribution and for which there is not active planning,
research, development or testing or for which there is not a current formal
business or marketing plan.

     8.27. "Proprietary Rights" is defined in Section 3.3.

     8.28. "Release" is defined in Section 1.1.

     8.29. "Subsidiary" means any Person of which the Company (or other
specified Person) shall, directly or indirectly, own beneficially or control the
voting of at least a majority of the outstanding capital stock (or other shares
of beneficial interest) entitled to vote generally or at least a majority of the
partnership, joint venture or similar interests, or in which the Company (or
other specified Person) or a Subsidiary thereof shall be a general partner or
joint venturer without limited liability.

     8.30. "Termination Date" means the date on which termination of the
Executive's employment by the Company is effective.

     8.31. "Voting Stock" of a Person means all classes of capital stock of such
Person then outstanding and normally entitled to vote in the election of
directors or managers.

9. MISCELLANEOUS. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or
discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is approved by the
Board and agreed to in writing by the

                                      -7-

<PAGE>

Executive and such officer as may be specifically authorized by the Board in
connection with such approval. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of
compliance with or of any breach by the other party hereto of any condition or
provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed
a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any
prior or subsequent time. No agreement or representations, oral or otherwise,
express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by
either party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. The validity,
interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement and the legal
relations created thereby shall be governed by the domestic substantive laws of
the State of Missouri without giving effect to any choice or conflict of laws
provision or rule that would cause the application of the domestic substantive
laws of any other jurisdiction.

10. SEVERABILITY. If any portion or provision of this Agreement shall to any
extent be declared illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent
jurisdiction, then the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such
portion or provision in circumstances other than those as to which it is so
declared illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each
portion and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the
fullest extent permitted by law.

11. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may he executed in any one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

12. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between
the parties hereto, and supersedes any and all prior communications, agreements
and understandings, written or oral, with respect to severance, confidentiality
and non-competition for or by the Executive.

13. ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
(a) the Executive, his personal or legal representatives, executors,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees and (b)
the Company and its successors (including by means of reorganization, merger,
consolidation or liquidation) and permitted assigns. The Company may assign this
Agreement to any of its Subsidiaries or to any successor of the Company by
reorganization, merger, consolidation or liquidation and any transferee of all
or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company or of any division
or line of business of the Company with which the Executive is at any time
associated; provided that, except to the extent it occurs upon a Change of
Control, no such assignment shall operate to release the Company from its
payment and benefit obligations hereunder. The Executive may not assign this
Agreement.

14. ARBITRATION. With the exception of claims arising under or connected to
Sections 3 and 4, any unresolved dispute or controversy arising under or in
connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration,
conducted by a single arbitrator in St. Louis, Missouri in accordance with the
National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American
Arbitration Association ("AAA") then in effect; provided, however, that the
parties may agree to use an arbitrator other than those provided by the AAA. The
arbitrator shall not have the authority to add to, detract from, or modify, any
provision hereof nor to award punitive damages to any injured party. The
arbitrator shall have the authority to order back-pay and severance
compensation, and, to the extent deemed reasonable and appropriate by such
arbitrator given the issues involved and the outcome of the arbitration, shall
award to the prevailing, party reimbursement of out of pocket costs and expenses
(including legal fees) incurred by such party in connection with such dispute or
controversy, together with interest thereon. A decision by the arbitrator shall
be final and binding. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator's award in any
court having competent jurisdiction. Responsibility for bearing the cost of the
arbitration shall be determined by the arbitrator and shall be proportional to
the arbitrator's decision on the merits.

                                      -8-

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto set their hands, as of
the date first above written.

     THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS A BINDING ARBITRATION CLAUSE THAT MAY BE ENFORCED
BY THE PARTIES.

THE COMPANY:                                            THE EXECUTIVE:

AURORA FOODS INC.

By:   /s/ James T. Smith                                /s/ Thomas O. Ellinwood
     --------------------------------------------       -----------------------
     James T. Smith                                     Thomas O. Ellinwood
     Chairman, President and Chief Executive
     Officer

                                      -9-

<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit A
                                                                       ---------

                                RELEASE OF CLAIMS

     FOR AND IN CONSIDERATION OF the special payments and benefits to be
provided in connection with the termination of my employment in accordance with
the terms of the Severance, Confidentiality and Non-Competition Agreement dated
as of ___________, 2002 (as amended and in effect from time to time, the
"Severance Agreement") between Aurora Foods Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and me; I, on my own behalf and on behalf of my personal or legal
representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees,
devisees and legatees and all others connected with me, hereby release and
forever discharge the Company and its respective Affiliates (as defined in the
Severance Agreement) and all of their respective past and present officers,
directors, stockholders, controlling persons, employees, agents,
representatives, successors and assigns and all others connected with any of
them (all collectively, the "Released"), both individually and in their official
capacities, from any and all rights, liabilities, claims, demands and causes of
action of any type (collectively, "Claims") which I have had in the past, now
have, or might now have, through the date of my signing of this Release of
Claims, in any way resulting from, arising out of or connected with my
employment or its termination or pursuant to any federal, state, foreign or
local employment law, regulation or other requirement (including, without
limitation, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the fair employment
practices laws of the state or states in which I have been employed by the
Company, each as amended from time to time); provided, however, that the
foregoing release shall not apply to any future claim to enforce the terms of my
Severance Agreement with the Company or any future claim arising from my status
as a vested beneficiary of an employee benefit or pension benefit plan.

     In signing this Release of Claims, I acknowledge that I have had at least
21 days from the date of notice of termination of my employment to consider the
terms of this Release of Claims and that such time has been sufficient; that I
am encouraged by the Company to seek the advice of an attorney prior to signing
this Release of Claims; and that I am signing this Release of Claims voluntarily
and with a full understanding of its terms.

     I understand that I may revoke this Release of Claims at any time within
seven days of the date of my signing by written notice to the Company and that
this Release of Claims will take effect only upon the expiration of such
seven-day revocation period and only if I have not timely revoked it.

     Intending to be legally bound, I have signed this Release of Claims as of
the date first written above.

Signature:
             --------------------------------------------
             Thomas O. Ellinwood

Date Signed:
             --------------------------------------------

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