Document:

<Page>

                                                                  EXHIBIT 4.1(a)

                   CONSENT, LIMITED WAIVER AND AMENDMENT NO. 1
                          TO REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

          This CONSENT, LIMITED WAIVER AND AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO REVOLVING CREDIT
AGREEMENT (this "CONSENT AND AMENDMENT") is dated as of February 15, 2002, by
and among (a) FRIENDLY ICE CREAM CORPORATION, a Massachusetts corporation (the
"BORROWER"), (b) the undersigned Lenders and (c) FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as
administrative agent for the Lenders a party to the Revolving Credit Agreement
(as hereinafter defined) (in such capacity, the "ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT").
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in this Consent and Amendment
shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Revolving Credit
Agreement.

          WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent are
parties to that certain Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of December 17,
2001 (as heretofore amended or otherwise amended, modified, or amended and
restated and in effect immediately prior to the date hereof, the "REVOLVING
CREDIT AGREEMENT"; the Revolving Credit Agreement as amended by this Consent and
Amendment, the "AMENDED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT");

          WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders (i) amend
Schedule 1(e) of the Revolving Credit Agreement so as to remove Property I,
Property II and Property III (each as hereinafter defined) from such Schedule,
(ii) amend Schedule 1(d) of the Revolving Credit Agreement so as to include
Property I, Property II and Property III, (iii) consent to the release of any
security interest the Lenders may have in and to Property I, Property II and
Property III, and (iv) amend Section 8.19 of the Revolving Credit Agreement; and

          WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms, subject to the conditions and in
reliance on the representations and warranties contained in this Amendment, the
undersigned Lenders and the Administrative Agent are prepared to (i) amend
Schedule 1(e) of the Revolving Credit Agreement so as to remove Property I,
Property II and Property III from such Schedule, (ii) amend Schedule 1(d) of the
Revolving Credit Agreement so as to include Property I, Property II and Property
III, and (iii) consent to the release of any security interest the Lenders may
have in and to Property I, Property II, and Property III and, (iv) amend Section
8.19 of the Revolving Credit Agreement as specifically set forth herein;

          NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants contained in this Consent and Amendment, the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent and the undersigned Lenders hereby agree as follows.

          SECTION 1. AMENDMENT OF CREDIT AGREEMENT.

          1.1. Schedule 1(e) of the Revolving Credit Agreement shall be amended
by deleting all references to (i) site number 278 located at 54-56 Main Street
in Florence, Massachusetts ("PROPERTY I"); (ii) site number 165 located at 455
Russell Street in Hadley, Massachusetts ("PROPERTY II"); and (iii) site number
1253 located at Route 6 and Commerce Street in Dickson City, Pennsylvania
("PROPERTY III").

<Page>

          1.2. Schedule 1(d) of the Revolving Credit Agreement shall be amended
by adding to such Schedule Property I, Property II and Property III.

          1.3. Section 8.19 of the Revolving Credit Agreement shall be amended
by deleting the phrase "60 days subsequent to the Closing Date," in its
entirety. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower hereby acknowledges and
agrees that it shall use its best reasonable efforts to comply with the
requirements of such Section 8.19 to obtain the Mortgages in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as soon as practicable with respect to
all locations set forth on Schedule 8.19 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

          SECTION 2. CONSENT. The Lenders hereby consent to the release, and
agree to instruct the Administrative Agent to so release any security interest,
lien or other claim the Lenders may have to or in each of Property I, Property
II and Property III, in each case promptly upon notice from the Borrower to the
Administrative Agent of the sale, disposition or other transfer thereof.

          SECTION 3. LIMITED WAIVER. The Lenders hereby waive the post closing
requirements contained in paragraphs 5 and 6 of that certain letter from the
Borrower to the Administrative Agent, dated as of December 19, 2001, and
attached hereto as Exhibit A.

          SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Borrower hereby
represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, on and as
of the date hereof, as follows:

          (a)  This Consent and Amendment has been duly executed and delivered
by the Borrower. The execution and delivery by the Borrower of this Consent and
Amendment and the performance by the Borrower of this Consent and Amendment and
the Revolving Credit Agreement have been duly authorized by proper corporate or
other proceedings by the Borrower, and this Consent and Amendment and the
Amended Revolving Credit Agreement constitute the legal, valid and binding
obligations of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with
the terms hereof and thereof, except as enforceability is limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting
generally the enforcement of creditors' rights and general principles of equity
and except to the extent that availability of the remedy of specific performance
or injunction relief is subject to the discretion of the court before which any
proceeding therefor may be brought.

          (b)  No Default or Event of Default exists on the date hereof and
after giving effect to the amendment effected by SECTION 1 hereof, the consent
described in SECTION 2 hereof and the limited waiver described in SECTION 3
hereof.

          SECTION 5. EFFECTIVENESS. This Consent and Amendment shall become
effective as of the date hereof only upon the Administrative Agent's receipt of
duly executed counterpart signature pages to this Consent and Amendment from
each of the Borrower and the Lenders.

                                      - 2 -
<Page>

          SECTION 6. APPLICABLE LAW. THIS CONSENT AND AMENDMENT SHALL BE
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF
MASSACHUSETTS WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

          SECTION 7. EXPENSES. The Borrower shall pay, in accordance with
Section 16.2 of the Revolving Credit Agreement, all reasonable out-of-pocket
costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the
preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and enforcement of this Consent
and Amendment, including, but not limited to, the fees and disbursements of
Bingham McCutchen LLP.

          SECTION 8. MISCELLANEOUS.

          8.1. From and after the date hereof, this Consent and Amendment shall
be deemed a Loan Document for all purposes of the Revolving Credit Agreement and
the other Loan Documents and each reference to Loan Documents in the Revolving
Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be deemed to include this
Consent and Amendment. This Consent and Amendment may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which
when taken together shall constitute but one agreement. Delivery of an executed
counterpart of a signature page by facsimile transmission shall be effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Consent and Amendment.

          8.2. Except as expressly provided herein, (a) this Consent and
Amendment shall not limit the rights of or otherwise adversely affect the
Lenders under the Revolving Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, and (b)
the Lenders reserve the right to insist on strict compliance with the terms of
the Revolving Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and the Borrower
expressly acknowledges such reservation of rights. The grant of the consent and
waiver herein will not, either alone or taken with other waivers of provisions
of the Revolving Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or consents with
respect thereto, be deemed to create or be evidence of a course of conduct. Any
future or additional waiver of any provision of the Revolving Credit Agreement,
or of any other Loan Document to which the Lenders are a party or have
consented, or consent with respect thereto shall be effective only if set forth
in a writing separate and distinct from this Consent and Amendment and duly
executed by such parties as are required by Section 16.12 of the Revolving
Credit Agreement.

                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                      - 3 -
<Page>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Consent
and Amendment to be executed and delivered as an agreement as of the date first
written above.

                                    FRIENDLY ICE CREAM CORPORATION

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

                                    FLEET NATIONAL BANK,
                                      individually and as Administrative Agent
                                      and as Lender

                                    By:
                                        ------------------------------------
                                        Name: Lori H. Jou
                                        Title: Vice President

                                    CITIZENS BANK,
                                      individually and as Lender

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

                                    BANKNORTH, N.A.,
                                      individually and as Lender

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

<Page>

                                    EXHIBIT A<Page>

                                                                  EXHIBIT 4.1(b)

                       LIMITED WAIVER AND AMENDMENT NO. 2
                          TO REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

          This LIMITED WAIVER AND AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
(this "LIMITED WAIVER AND AMENDMENT") is dated as of December 27, 2002, by and
among (a) FRIENDLY ICE CREAM CORPORATION, a Massachusetts corporation (the
"BORROWER"), (b) the undersigned Lenders and (c) FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as
administrative agent for the Lenders a party to the Revolving Credit Agreement
(as hereinafter defined) (in such capacity, the "ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT").
Capitalized terms as used and not otherwise defined in this Limited Waiver and
Amendment shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Revolving Credit
Agreement.

          WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent are
parties to that certain Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of December 17,
2001 (as heretofore amended or otherwise amended, modified, or amended and
restated and in effect immediately prior to the date hereof, the "REVOLVING
CREDIT AGREEMENT"; the Revolving Credit Agreement as amended by this Limited
Waiver and Amendment, the "AMENDED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT");

          WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders (a) extend the
Revolving Credit Loan Maturity Date, (b) amend Section 10.2 of the Revolving
Credit Agreement to increase the amount of permitted Capital Expenditures for
fiscal years 2002 and 2003, and (c) otherwise amend the Revolving Credit
Agreement as set forth herein; and

          WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms, subject to the conditions and in
reliance on the representations and warranties contained in this Limited Waiver
and Amendment, the undersigned Lenders are prepared to (a) extend the Revolving
Credit Loan Maturity Date, (b) amend Section 10.2 of the Revolving Credit
Agreement to increase the amount of permitted Capital Expenditures for fiscal
years 2002 and 2003, and (c) otherwise amend the Revolving Credit Agreement as
set forth herein;

          NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants contained in this Limited Waiver and Amendment, the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent and the undersigned Lenders hereby agree as follows.

          SECTION 1.  AMENDMENT OF CREDIT AGREEMENT.

          1.1.   CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS. Section 1.1 of the Revolving Credit
Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

          (a)    by amending and restating in their entirety the definitions of
"Consolidated Tangible Net Worth", "Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" and "Revolving
Credit Loan Maturity Date" as follows:

          "CONSOLIDATED  TANGIBLE  NET WORTH.  The excess of  Consolidated
          Total  Assets  over Consolidated Liabilities,

<Page>

          PLUS

          (a)    all cumulative non-cash adjustments to stockholders' deficit
          (or equity) due to changes in fair market value of pension plan assets
          net of deferred taxes

          and LESS (b) the sum of:

          (i)    the total book value of all assets of the Borrower properly
          classified as intangible assets under GAAP, including such items as
          good will, the purchase price of acquired assets in excess of the fair
          market value thereof, trademarks, trade names, service marks, brand
          names, copyrights, patents and licenses, and rights with respect to
          the foregoing plus

          (ii)   all amounts representing any write-up in the book value of any
          assets of the Borrower resulting from a revaluation thereof subsequent
          to the Balance Sheet Date."

          "FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO. As of any date of determination, the
          ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDAR, minus, the sum of (b)(i) Capital
          Expenditures (excluding Capital Expenditures made in connection with
          (A) Excess Cash Flow permitted to be used to make Permitted Excess
          Cash Flow Prepayments and not used to make such Permitted Excess Cash
          Flow Prepayments, (B) unused proceeds in respect of any Excess
          Properties Sales or (C) unused proceeds in respect of any Permitted
          Unit Sales), and (ii) cash income tax expense, to, the sum of (w)
          Consolidated Total Interest Expense payable in cash, (x) actual and
          accrued scheduled principal repayments of Indebtedness made or accrued
          during such period, (y) Rental Expense, and (z) mandatory cash
          contributions made by the Borrower to any of its pension plans due to
          changes in fair market value of pension plan assets (to the extent not
          already deducted in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA)."; and

          "REVOLVING CREDIT LOAN MATURITY DATE.  December 17, 2005.";

          (b)    the definition of "Excess Cash Flow" appearing in such Section
1.1 is hereby amended by deleting the reference to "2002 and 2003" and replacing
such reference with "2002, 2003 and 2004"; and

          (c)    the definition of "Excess Cash Flow Period" appearing in such
Section 1.1 is hereby amended by deleting the reference to "2002 and 2003" and
replacing such reference with "2002, 2003 and 2004".

                                       -2-
<Page>

          1.2.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND PROJECTIONS. Section 7.4.3 of the
Revolving Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the word "2004" and
inserting in its place the word "2005".

          1.3.   CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. Section 10.2 of the Revolving Credit
Agreement is hereby amended by amending and restating in its entirety the table
set forth at the end of such Section 10.2 as follows:

<Table>
<Caption>
                    "Fiscal Year     Capital Expenditures
                     -----------     --------------------
                        <S>              <C>
                        2002             $  17,000,000

                        2003             $  21,000,000

                        2004             $  18,000,000

                        2005             $  18,000,000"
</Table>

          1.4.   MINIMUM EBITDA. Section 10.3(b) of the Revolving Credit
Agreement is hereby amended by amending and restating in its entirety the table
set forth at the end of such Section 10.3(b) as follows:

<Table>
<Caption>
                         "Period                                 Amount
                          ------                                 ------
     <S>                                                     <C>
     First Fiscal Quarter of 2003, 2004 and 2005             $   4,000,000

     Second Fiscal Quarter of 2003, 2004 and 2005            $  14,000,000

     Third Fiscal Quarter of 2003, 2004 and 2005             $  13,000,000

     Fourth Fiscal Quarter of 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005      $   5,000,000"
</Table>

          1.5.   LEVERAGE RATIO. Section 10.4 of the Revolving Credit Agreement
is hereby amended by amending and restating in its entirety the table set forth
at the end of Section 10.4 as follows:

<Table>
<Caption>
                         "Period                                 Ratio
                          ------                                 -----
     <S>                                                     <C>
     Fourth Fiscal Quarter of 2002                           5.20:1.00

     First Fiscal Quarter of 2003 and thereafter             4.75:1.00"
</Table>

          SECTION 2. LIMITED WAIVER. The Lenders hereby waive, solely with
respect to the acquisition of and development by the Borrower of that certain
restaurant location at or near the shopping mall located at 3065 Route 50 in
Wilton, New York (the "Wilton Acquisition"), the application to such Wilton
Acquisition of clause (d) of the definition of "Permitted Acquisitions" in
Section 1.1 of the Revolving Credit Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Borrower hereby acknowledges that all other terms, conditions and
limitations contained in the Revolving

                                       -3-
<Page>

Credit Agreement, including but not limited to any limitations otherwise
provided by the application of the definition of "Permitted Acquisitions", shall
apply to the Wilton Acquisition.

          SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Borrower hereby
represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, on and as
of the date hereof, as follows:

          (a)    This Limited Waiver and Amendment has been duly executed and
delivered by the Borrower. The execution and delivery by the Borrower of this
Limited Waiver and Amendment and the performance by the Borrower of this Limited
Waiver and Amendment and the Amended Revolving Credit Agreement have been duly
authorized by proper corporate or other proceedings by the Borrower, and this
Limited Waiver and Amendment and the Amended Revolving Credit Agreement
constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower, enforceable
against the Borrower in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, except as
enforceability is limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
or other laws relating to or affecting generally the enforcement of creditors'
rights and general principles of equity and except to the extent that
availability of the remedy of specific performance or injunctive relief is
subject to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may
be brought.

          (b)    No Default or Event of Default exists on the date hereof after
giving effect to the amendment of the Revolving Credit Agreement effected by
SECTION 1 hereof, and the limited waiver described in SECTION 2 hereof.

          (c)    Except for the real property locations set forth on Schedule 1
attached hereto and made a part hereof (each such real property location is also
set forth on Schedule 8.19 (Non-Core Mortgaged Properties) of the Revolving
Credit Agreement), Borrower has obtained the Mortgages required by Section 8.19
of the Revolving Credit Agreement and has otherwise complied with such Section
8.19.

          SECTION 4. EFFECTIVENESS. This Limited Waiver and Amendment shall
become effective as of the date hereof only upon satisfaction of each of the
following conditions precedent to the Administrative Agent's satisfaction:

          (a)    AMENDMENT TO REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT. The Administrative
Agent shall have received duly executed counterpart signature pages to this
Limited Waiver and Amendment from each of the Borrower and the Lenders.

          (b)    FEES. The Administrative Agent shall have received from the
Borrower the fee (the "AMENDMENT FEE") as set forth in that certain letter
agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between the Borrower and Administrative
Agent.

          SECTION 5. APPLICABLE LAW. THIS LIMITED WAIVER AND AMENDMENT SHALL BE
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF
MASSACHUSETTS WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

                                       -4-
<Page>

          SECTION 6. EXPENSES. The Borrower shall pay, in accordance with
Section 16.2 of the Revolving Credit Agreement, all reasonable out-of-pocket
costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the
preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and enforcement of this Limited
Waiver and Amendment, including, but not limited to, the reasonable fees,
expenses and disbursements of Bingham McCutchen LLP.

          SECTION 7. MISCELLANEOUS.

          7.1.   From and after the date hereof, this Limited Waiver and
Amendment shall be deemed a Loan Document for all purposes of the Revolving
Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and each reference to Loan
Documents in the Revolving Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall
be deemed to include this Limited Waiver and Amendment. This Limited Waiver and
Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall
constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute but
one agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page by
facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed
counterpart of this Limited Waiver and Amendment.

          7.2.   Except as expressly provided herein, (a) this Limited Waiver
and Amendment shall not limit the rights of or otherwise adversely affect the
Lenders under the Revolving Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, and (b)
the Lenders reserve the right to insist on strict compliance with the terms of
the Revolving Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and the Borrower
expressly acknowledges such reservation of rights. The grant of the consent and
waiver herein will not, either alone or taken with other waivers of provisions
of the Revolving Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or consents with
respect thereto, be deemed to create or be evidence of a course of conduct. Any
future or additional waiver of any provision of the Revolving Credit Agreement,
or of any other Loan Document to which the Lenders are a party or have
consented, or consent with respect thereto shall be effective only if set forth
in a writing separate and distinct from this Limited Waiver and Amendment and
duly executed by such parties as are required by Section 16.12 of the Revolving
Credit Agreement.

                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                       -5-
<Page>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Limited
Waiver and Amendment to be executed and delivered as an agreement as of the date
first written above.

                                     FRIENDLY ICE CREAM CORPORATION

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

                                     FLEET NATIONAL BANK,
                                        individually and as Administrative Agent
                                        and as Lender

                                     By:
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        Name:  Lori H. Jou
                                        Title:  Vice President

                                     CITIZENS BANK,
                                        individually and as Lender

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

                                     BANKNORTH, N.A.,
                                        individually and as Lender

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

<Page>

                                   SCHEDULE 1

<Table>
<Caption>
          SITE #                  CITY                   STATE
          ------                  ----                   -----
          <S>                     <C>                    <C>
          00001                   Agawam                 MA

          00094                   Whitinsville           MA

          00106                   South Hadley           MA

          00116                   Fairhaven              MA

          00130                   Sudbury                MA

          00251                   Hyannis                MA

          00288                   Ramsey                 NJ

          00310                   Holden                 MA

          00328                   Woodbridge             MJ

          00446                   Reading                PA

          01133                   Chicopee               MA

          04229                   Southbury              CT
</Table>

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