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Exhibit 10.23    
  

 
 

MRS. FIELDS FAMOUS BRANDS, INC.
  EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN    
  

1.    Purpose.  

        The purpose of the MRS. FIELDS FAMOUS BRANDS, INC. Employee Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") is to align the
interests of officers and other employees of MRS. FIELDS FAMOUS BRANDS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and its subsidiaries, with
those of the stockholders of the Company; to attract, motivate and retain the best available executive personnel and key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries by permitting them to acquire or
increase their proprietary interest in the Company; and to reward the performance of individual officers and other employees in fulfilling their personal responsibilities for long-range
achievements. 

1.    Definitions.  

        The following terms, as used herein, shall have the following meanings: 

	(a)
	"Adjusted EBITDA" shall mean, for any fiscal year, the Company's consolidated earnings before depreciation, amortization, interest,
income taxes and other income (expense) for such fiscal year after making pro forma adjustment from the beginning of such fiscal year for any acquisitions, divestitures or discontinued operations
during such fiscal year.

	(b)
	"Award" shall mean any Option granted pursuant to the Plan.

	(c)
	"Award Agreement" shall mean any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document between the Company and a Participant
evidencing an Award.

	(d)
	"Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

	(e)
	"Capricorn" shall mean, collectively, Capricorn Investors II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and Capricorn Investors III, L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership, together with any affiliated persons.

	(f)
	"Change of Control" shall mean the earliest to occur of (i) a transaction in which Capricorn's equity investment in the Company
is reduced (including through the operation of a merger in which the Company is not the surviving corporation and the Common Stock is converted into the right to receive cash or other property) such
that Capricorn is no longer the single largest equity investor in the Company or (ii) a sale by the Company of all or substantially all of its assets.

	(g)
	"Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Company.

	(h)
	"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

	(i)
	"Committee" shall mean a committee of the Board which administers the Plan as provided herein.

	(j)
	"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1 hereof.

	(k)
	"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time now or hereafter construed, interpreted and
applied by regulations, rulings and cases.

	(l)
	"Implied Valuation" shall mean, for any fiscal year or other period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Company, the excess of
such multiple of Adjusted EBITDA for such fiscal year or other period over the Net Debt as of the end of such fiscal year or other period as shall be determined in good faith by the Committee to
represent an appropriate acquisition multiple for the Company at the time of such valuation. 

	(m)
	"Initial Public Offering" shall mean a public offering of Common Stock pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act.

	(n)
	"IRR" shall mean, as of any date, the internal rate of return, determined in accordance with generally accepted practice, on one share
of Common Stock calculated from the "Initial Date" specified in the Award Agreement through the date as of which the determination is being made, using (i)the "Initial Value" of one share specified in
the Award Agreement at the "Initial Date" specified in the Award Agreement (subject to equitable adjustment in the event of a transaction of the nature contemplated by Section 5(b)),
(ii) if the relevant date of determination is a Change of Control, the value per share of Common Stock paid pursuant to or implicit in such Change of Control as determined in good faith by the
Committee, and (iii) if the relevant date of determination is the expiration of such Option, the value per share of Common Stock as determined in good faith based on the Implied Valuation
determined by using the four most recently completed fiscal quarters of the Company for which financial statements are available as of the date of determination as the relevant fiscal period.

	(o)
	"Net Debt" shall mean, for any fiscal year or other fiscal period of the Company, the Company's consolidated debt (as evidenced by a
written agreement) net of cash and short term investments at the end of such fiscal year.

	(p)
	"Option" shall mean the right, granted pursuant to the Plan, of a holder to purchase shares of Common Stock. Options granted hereunder
shall not qualify as "incentive stock options" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

	(q)
	"Participant" shall mean an officer or other employee of the Company or a subsidiary who is, pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan,
selected to participate in the Plan.

	(r)
	"Plan" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1 hereof.

	(s)
	"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and as now or hereafter construed, interpreted
and applied by regulations, rulings and cases.

	(t)
	"Time Vested Option" shall mean an Option that will vest in an amount equal to the "Vesting Percentage" set forth in the Award
Agreements per year on the anniversaries of the date as of which it was awarded and will vest in full upon the occurrence of a Change of Control.

	(u)
	"Upside Option" shall mean an Option that will vest upon the earlier to occur of the expiration of such Option or a Change of Control
in accordance with the following: (i) IRR through such date less than 20%, no vesting; (ii) IRR through such date in the range of 20%-24.99%, 1/3 vesting;
(iii) IRR through such date in the range of 25%-29.99%, 2/3 vesting; and (iii) IRR through such date of 30% or more, full vesting. 

2.    Administration.  

        The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, subject to and not inconsistent with the express
provisions of the Plan, to administer the Plan and to exercise all the powers and authorities either specifically granted to it under the Plan or necessary or advisable in connection with the
administration of the Plan, including, without limitation, the authority to take the following actions: to grant Awards; to determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which Awards shall be
granted; to determine the type and number of Awards to be granted, the number of shares of Common Stock to which an Award may relate and the terms, conditions, restrictions and performance criteria
relating to any Award; to determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances an Award may be settled, cancelled, adjusted, forfeited, exchanged, or surrendered or accelerated or an Option
or Options may be repriced to a lower exercise price; to construe and interpret the Plan and any Award; to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; to determine the
terms and provisions of Award Agreements, consistent with the terms and provisions of the Plan; and to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan,
consistent with the terms and provisions of

 
the Plan. From and after the Initial Public Offering, the Committee shall consist of two or more persons who are intended to be "disinterested persons" within the meaning of
Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. 

3.    Eligibility.  

        Awards may be granted to officers or other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries in the sole discretion of the Committee. In determining the persons to
whom Awards shall be granted and the type of Award, the Committee shall take into account such factors as the Committee shall deem relevant in connection with accomplishing the purposes of the Plan. 

4.    Stock Subject to the Plan.  

        (a)    Number of Shares.    The maximum number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan
shall be 936,000 allocated among Time-Vested Options and Upside Options as determined by the Committee. All such shares of Common Stock shall be subject to equitable adjustment as provided
herein. Such shares may, in whole or in part, be authorized but unissued shares or shares that shall have been or may be reacquired by the Company in the open market, in private transactions or
otherwise. If any shares subject to an Award are forfeited, cancelled, exchanged or surrendered or if an Award otherwise terminates or expires without a distribution of shares to the Participant, the
shares of
Common Stock with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, cancellation, exchange, surrender, termination or expiration, again be available for Awards under the Plan. 

        (b)    Equitable Adjustment.    In the event that an extraordinary transaction or other event or circumstance
affecting the Common Stock shall occur, including, but not limited to, any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, stock or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse
stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, share exchange, sale of assets or other similar transaction or event, and the Committee determines
that a change or adjustment in the terms of any Award is appropriate, then the Committee may, in its sole discretion, make such equitable changes or adjustments or take any other actions that it deems
necessary or appropriate (which shall be effective at such time as the Committee in its sole discretion determines), including, but not limited to causing changes or adjustments to any or all of
(i) the number and kind of shares of stock or other securities or property which may thereafter be issued in connection with Awards, (ii) the number and kind of shares of stock or other
securities or property issued or issuable in respect of outstanding Awards, (iii) the exercise price relating to any Award, and (iv) any performance criteria relating to any Award. 

5.    Stock Options.  

        Each Option granted pursuant to this Section 6 shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, in such form and containing such terms and conditions as the
Committee shall from time to time approve, which Award Agreement shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions, as applicable. Each Option shall be a Time-Vested
Option or an Upside-Vested Option as determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award and specified in the related Award Agreement. 

        (a)    Stock Options    

        (1)    Number of Shares.    Each Award Agreement shall state the type or types of Options covered by such Award and
the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Option relates. 

        (2)    Option Exercise Price.    Each Award Agreement shall state the Option exercise price. The Option exercise price
shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5 hereof. Unless otherwise expressly stated in the Committee resolution expressly granting an Option, the date as of which the Committee
adopts the resolution expressly granting an Option shall be considered the day on which such Option is granted.

        (3)    Method and Time of Payment.    The Option exercise price shall be paid in full, at the time of exercise, in
cash, in shares of Common Stock held by the exercising Participant for at least six (6) months and having a fair market value (determined by the Committee)equal to such Option exercise price,
in a combination of cash and such shares of Common Stock (or other consideration deemed acceptable by the Committee) or, in the sole discretion of the Committee, through a cashless exercise by a
Participant through a qualified broker. 

        (4)    Term and Exercisability of Options.    Each Award Agreement shall provide that each Option shall become
exercisable in accordance with its characterization as a Time-Vested Option or an Upside Option; provided, that the Committee shall have the
authority to accelerate the exercisability of any outstanding Option at such time and under such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. The exercise period shall be not more
than ten (10) years from the date of the grant of the Option, or such shorter period as is determined by the Committee. The exercise period shall be subject to earlier termination as provided
in Section 6(a)(5) hereof. An Option may be exercised, as to any or all full shares of Common Stock as to which the Option has become exercisable, by written notice delivered in person or by
mail to the Secretary of the Company, specifying the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Option is being exercised, together with payment in full of the Option exercise price.
For purposes of the preceding sentence, the date of exercise will be deemed to be the date upon which the Secretary of the Company receives both the notification and such payment. 

        (5)    Termination.    If a Participant's employment by the Company or a subsidiary terminates, the Committee will
have the exclusive authority to determine if and for how long, and under what conditions, such Option may be exercised after such termination; provided,  however, that the Committee may not shorten any exercise period set forth in an Award Agreement, and  provided, further, that in no event will an Option
continue to be exercisable beyond the expiration date
of such Option. 

        (6)    Nontransferability of Common Stock.    Each Award Agreement shall provide that prior to an Initial Public
Offering, the Participant shall execute a stockholders agreement prior to being granted any Option hereunder with respect to the shares of Common Stock to which such Option relates, in such form and
containing such terms and conditions as the Committee shall from time to time approve, including without limitation, any restrictions on the transferability of such shares. 

6.    General Provisions.  

        (a)    Compliance with Legal Requirements.    The Plan and the granting and exercising of Awards, and the other
obligations of the Company under the Plan and any Award Agreement or other agreement shall be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations and to such approvals by any
regulatory or governmental authority or agency as may be required. The Company, in its discretion, may postpone the issuance or delivery of Common Stock under any Award as the Company may consider
appropriate and may require any Participant to make such representations and furnish such
information as it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance or delivery of Common Stock in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. 

        (b)    Nontransferability.    Awards shall not be transferable by a Participant other than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution or, if then permitted by Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined under the Code or Title I of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the rules thereunder, and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of a Participant only by such Participant or his guardian or legal
representative. 

        (c)    No Right To Continued Employment.    Nothing in the Plan or in any Award granted or any Award Agreement or
other agreement entered into pursuant hereto shall confer upon any Participant the right to continue in the employ of the Company or a subsidiary or to be entitled to any remuneration or benefits not
set forth in the Plan or such Award Agreement or other agreement or to interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company to terminate such Participant's employment.

        (d)    Withholding Taxes.    Where a Participant or other person is entitled to receive shares of Common Stock
pursuant to the exercise of an Option, the Company shall have the right to require the Participant or such other person to pay to the Company the amount of any taxes which the Company may be required
to withhold before delivery to such Participant or other person of a certificate or certificates representing such shares. 

        Unless
otherwise prohibited by the Committee or by applicable law, a Participant may satisfy any such withholding tax obligation by any of the following methods, or by a combination of
such methods: (a) tendering a cash payment or (b) delivering to the Company previously acquired shares of Common Stock (none of which shares may be subject to any claim, lien, security
interest, community property right or other right of spouses or present or former family members, pledge, option, voting agreement or other restriction or encumbrance of any nature whatsoever) having
an aggregate fair market value, determined by the Committee as of the date the withholding tax obligation arises, equal to the amount of the total withholding tax obligation. 

        (e)    Amendment and Termination of the Plan.    The Board or the Committee may at any time and from time to time
alter, amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan in whole or in part; provided that, no amendment which requires stockholder approval under applicable law
or in order for the Plan to continue to comply with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act shall be effective unless the same shall be approved by the requisite vote of the stockholders
of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to the other provisions of the Plan, no amendment shall affect adversely any of the rights of any Participant, without such Participant's
consent, under any Award theretofore granted under the Plan. The power to grant Options under the Plan will automatically terminate on    September 29, 2011. If the Plan is
terminated, any unexercised Option shall continue to be exercisable in accordance with its terms and the terms of the Plan in effect immediately prior to such termination. 

        (f)    Participant Rights.    No Participant shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is
no obligation for uniformity of treatment for Participants. Except as provided specifically herein, a Participant or a transferee of an Award shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any
shares of stock covered by any Award until the date of the issuance of a certificate to him for such shares. 

        (g)    Unfunded Status of Awards.    The Plan is intended to constitute an "unfunded" plan for incentive and deferred
compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater
than those of a general creditor of the Company. 

        (h)    Fractional Shares.    Fractional shares of Common Stock may be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any
Award. The Committee shall determine whether cash, other Awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares. 

        (i)    Governing Law.    The Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto shall be governed by
the laws of the State of Utah without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof. 

        (j)    Effective Date.    The Plan shall become effective on September 29, 2001. 

        (k)    Beneficiary.    A Participant may file with the Committee a written designation of a beneficiary on such form
as may be prescribed by the Committee and may, from time to time, amend or revoke such designation. If no designated beneficiary survives the Participant, the executor or administrator of the
Participant's estate shall be deemed to be the grantee's beneficiary. 

        (l)    Interpretation.    The Plan is designed and intended to comply with Rule 16b-3 promulgated
under the Exchange Act.

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Exhibit 10.23

MRS. FIELDS FAMOUS BRANDS, INC. EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLANExhibit 10.47  

 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT  

        THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into this 17th day of April, 2001, by and between SANDRA
BUFFA ("Employee") and MRS. FIELDS' ORIGINAL COOKIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"). 

RECITAL  

        This Agreement is made and entered into with reference to the following facts and objectives: 

        The
Company desires to establish its right to the services of Employee in the capacities described below, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, and Employee is willing to
accept such employment on such terms and conditions. 

        Therefore,
in consideration of the mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, Employee and the Company have agreed and do hereby agree as follows: 

AGREEMENT  

        1.    DUTIES.    The Company does hereby hire, engage, and employ the Employee as the Chief Financial Officer and
Senior Vice President of Finance of the Company and Employee does hereby accept and agree to such hiring, engagement, and employment. Employee shall serve the Company in such position fully,
diligently, competently, and in conformity with provisions of this Agreement and the corporate
policies of the Company as they presently exist, and as such policies may be amended, modified, changed, or adopted during the Period of Employment, as hereinafter defined. 

        During
the Period of Employment Employee shall also serve as the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Finance of each subsidiary or affiliate of the Company that is now
or that becomes a part of the Mrs. Fields Company Group. As used in this Agreement, the term the "Mrs. Fields Company Group" shall mean and refer to the Company and the Company's
subsidiaries and affiliates from time to time. 

        Subject
to specific elaboration by the Board of Directors of the Company as to the duties (which shall be consistent herewith and with Employee offices provided for hereunder) that are
to be performed by Employee and the manner in which such duties are to be performed, the duties of Employee shall entail those duties customarily performed by a Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice
President of Finance of a company with a sales volume and the number of employees commensurate with those of the Company. Provided, however, that at all times during the Period of Employment, Employee
shall perform those duties and fulfill those responsibilities and refrain from those activities that are reasonably prescribed or proscribed by the Board of Directors of the Company to be performed or
refrained from by her consistent with her positions with the Company. 

        Employee
shall be responsible and report only to the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer. 

        Throughout
the Period of Employment, Employee shall devote her full time, energy, and skill to the performance of her duties for the Company and for the benefit of the Company and the
Mrs. Fields Company Group. 

        Employee
shall exercise due diligence and care in the performance of her duties for and the fulfillment of her obligations to the Company under this Agreement.

 

        The
Company shall furnish Employee with office, secretarial and other facilities and services as are reasonably necessary or appropriate for the performance of Employee's duties
hereunder and consistent with her position as the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Finance of the Company. 

        2.    PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT.    The Period of Employment (as defined below) shall, unless sooner terminated as provided
herein, be the two (2) year period commencing on the date of execution of this Agreement. 

        Unless
the Company gives notice of termination as provided under this Agreement, this Agreement will automatically renew on each annual anniversary from the execution of this Agreement
for a successive two-year period. 

        3.    COMPENSATION.    

        (a)    BASE SALARY.    During the Period of Employment, the Company shall pay Employee, and Employee agrees to accept
from the Company, in payment for her services a base salary of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) per year ("Base Salary"), payable in equal semi-monthly installments or at
such other time or times as Employee and the Company shall agree. Upward adjustment to the Base Salary shall be considered by the Company's Board of Directors not less frequently than annually. The
Company's Board of Directors at any time or times may, but shall have no obligation to, supplement Employee's salary by such bonuses and/or other special payments and benefits as the Board of
Directors of the Company in its sole and absolute discretion may determine. 

        (b)    INCENTIVE COMPENSATION.    During the Period of Employment, Employee shall participate in any incentive
compensation plan adopted by the Company and available to all other senior management employees of the Company. 

        4.    FRINGE BENEFITS.    During the Period of Employment, Employee shall be entitled to the following fringe
benefits. 

        (a)    BENEFIT PLANS.    Employee shall be entitled to participate in all benefit plans and programs generally
available to all other senior management employees of the Company or to all employees of the Company working in Salt Lake City, Utah, subject to any restrictions specified in such plans and to receive
such other benefits and conditions of employment as are provided to all other senior officers or executives of the Company as of the date of this Agreement. 

        (b)    EQUITY PLAN.    Employee shall be entitled to participate in an equity based plan or arrangement which shall
consist of a minimum of 1.0% of MFH stock plus Upside Options (as defined in Employment Stock Option Plan) and stock options of TCBY yet to be determined (the "Equity Plan"). 

        Anything
in this Agreement or in such plan or arrangement to the contrary notwithstanding, the inclusion in such plan or arrangement of any provision(s) addressing participation by
Employee in such plan or arrangement for a period of years shall not be interpreted as a promise of continued employment by the Company for such period of years or any other period of time. 

        The
plan or arrangement to be proposed by Employee shall provide that any payments made thereunder, in conjunction with any other payments that constitute "parachute payments" (as
defined in Section 280G(b)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code) (the "Code"), shall be limited such that no such payments or portions thereof constitute an "excess parachute payment" (as defined in
Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code) or are otherwise nondeductible by the Company for tax purposes under any other provision of the Code. 

        (c)    VACATION AND OTHER LEAVE.    Employee shall be entitled to such amounts of paid vacation and other leave, but
not less than three (3) weeks vacation per twelve-month period of

  
employment, as from time to time may be allowed to the Company's senior management personnel generally, with such vacation to be scheduled and taken in accordance with the Company's standard vacation
policies applicable to such personnel. 

        (d)    VESTING ON DEATH OR DISABILITY.    Upon any termination of this Agreement and Employee's employment hereunder
by reason of Employee's death or Permanent Disability, as defined in Section 7(b) ("Death or Disability—Definition of Permanently Disabled and Permanent Disability"), provided that
the terms and provisions of such plan and applicable law permit, any theretofore deferred or unvested portion of any award made to Employee in respect of any retirement, pension, profit sharing, long
term incentive, and similar plans automatically shall become fully vested in Employee and shall be nonforfeitable, and shall continue in effect and be redeemable by or payable to Employee (or her
designated beneficiary or estate) at the time and on the same conditions as would have applied had Employee's employment not been so terminated. It is expressly provided, however, that nothing in this
Section 4(d) shall obligate the Company to provide full vesting upon death or disability in connection with participation by Employee in the equity plan or arrangement contemplated under
Section 4(b) ("Fringe Benefits—Equity Plan"), further, the provisions governing payment of any incentive compensation payable to Employee pursuant to the incentive compensation
plan(s) referred to in Section 3(b) ("Compensation—Incentive Compensation") shall govern any payment of incentive compensation due thereunder in the event of Employee's death or
disability. 

        5.    BUSINESS EXPENSES AND AUTOMOBILE ALLOWANCE.    During the Period of Employment, the Company shall pay, or in
case paid by Employee in the first instance, reimburse Employee for, any and all necessary, customary, and usual expenses incurred by her in connection with the performance of her duties hereunder,
including, without limitation, all traveling expenses, and entertainment expenses, upon submission of appropriate vouchers and documentation. 

        6.    NO OTHER BENEFITS OR COMPENSATION.    Employee, as a result of her employment by the Company, shall be entitled
to only the compensation and benefits provided for in this Agreement, subject to the terms thereof, and no others. 

        7.    DEATH OR DISABILITY.    

        (a)    TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.    If Employee dies during the Period of Employment, Employee's employment shall
automatically cease and terminate as of the date of Employee's death. 

        If
Employee becomes Permanently Disabled (as hereinafter defined) while employed by the Company, (i) Employee's employment and the Company's obligations hereunder, including the
payment of Base Salary pursuant to Section 3(a) ("Compensation—Base Salary") shall continue for a period of ninety (90) days from the date on which the Employee is determined
to be Permanently Disabled ("Employee s Disability Date"), and (ii) ninety (90) days after the Employee's Disability Date, Employee's employment and all obligations of the Company
hereunder shall automatically cease and terminate. 

        In
the case of Employee's death or Permanent Disability (as hereinafter defined), the Company shall be obligated to pay to Employee (or to Employee's estate in the case of Employee's
death) any Base Salary and any incentive compensation accrued to Employee as of the date of the Employee's death, or in the case of Employee's Permanent Disability, as of the Employee's Disability
Date. In the event Employee's employment is terminated on account of Employee's Permanent Disability, she shall, so long as her Permanent Disability continues, remain eligible for all benefits
provided under any long-term disability programs of the Company in effect at the time of such termination, subject to the terms and conditions of any such programs, as the same may be
changed, modified, or terminated for or with respect to all senior management personnel of the Company.

 

        (b)    DEFINITION OF PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND PERMANENT DISABILITY.    For purposes of this Agreement (other than
Sections 4 (a) ("Fringe Benefits—Benefit Plans"), 4 (d) ("Fringe Benefits—Vesting on Death or Disability"), and the provisions relating to disability insurance
contained in the last sentence of Section 7(a) ("Death or Disability—Termination of Employment"), the terms "Permanently Disabled" and "Permanent Disability" shall mean Employee's
inability, because of physical or mental illness or injury, to perform substantially all of her customary duties pursuant to this Agreement, and the continuation of such disabled condition for a
period of ninety (90) continuous days, or for not less than one hundred eighty (180) days during any continuous twenty-four (24) month period. Whether Employee is
Permanently Disabled shall be certified to the Company by a Qualified Physician (as hereinafter defined), or if requested by Employee a panel of three Qualified Physicians. If Employee requests such a
panel, Employee and the Company shall each select a Qualified Physician who together shall then select a third Qualified Physician. The determination of the individual Qualified Physician or the
panel, as the case may be, shall be binding and conclusive for all purposes. As used herein, the term "Qualified Physician" shall mean any medical doctor who is licensed to practice medicine in the
State of Utah and is reasonably acceptable to each of Employee and the Company. Employee and the Company may in any instance, and in lieu of a determination by a Qualified Physician or panel of
Qualified Physicians, agree between themselves that Employee is Permanently Disabled. The terms Permanent Disability and Permanently Disabled as used herein may have meanings different from those used
in any disability insurance policy or program maintained by Employee or the Company. 

        8.    TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY.    

        (a)    TERMINATION FOR CAUSE.    The Company, by action of its Board of Directors, may, by providing written notice to
Employee, terminate the employment of Employee under this Agreement for "cause" at any time. The term "cause" for purpose of this Agreement shall mean: 

          (i)  The
refusal of Employee to implement or adhere to lawful policies or directives of the Board of Directors of the Company consistent with this Agreement; or 

        (ii)  Employee's
conviction of or entrance of a plea of nolo contendere to (A) a felony, (B) to any other crime,
which other crime is punishable by incarceration for a period of one (1) year or longer, or (C) other conduct of a criminal nature that may have an adverse impact on the Company s
reputation and standing in the community; or 

        (iii)  conduct
that is in violation of Employee's common law duty of loyalty to the Company; or 

        (iv)  fraudulent
conduct by Employee in connection with the business affairs of the Company, regardless of whether said conduct is designed to defraud the Company or others;
or 

        (v)  theft,
embezzlement, or other criminal misappropriation of funds by Employee, whether from the Company or any other person; or 

        (vi)  any
breach of or Employee's failure to fulfill any of Employee's obligations, covenants, agreements, or duties under this Agreement. 

        Provided,
however, that "cause" pursuant to clause (i) or (vi) shall not be deemed to exist unless the Company has given Employee written notice thereof specifying in
reasonable detail the facts and circumstances alleged to constitute "cause", and thirty (30) days after such notice such conduct or circumstances has not entirely ceased or been entirely
remedied. If Employee's employment is terminated for "cause," the termination shall take effect upon the effective date (pursuant to Section 24 ("Notices") of written notice of such termination
to Employee. In the event Employee's employment is terminated for "cause," then except for unpaid accrued vacation, the Company shall

  
have no obligation to pay Employee any amounts, including, but not limited to Base Salary, for or with respect to any period after the effective date of the termination of Employee's employment for
"cause," including any obligation under the Incentive Plan or the Equity Plan. 

        If
the Company attempts to terminate Employee's employment pursuant to this Section 8(a) and it is ultimately determined that the Company lacked "cause," the provisions of
Section 8(b) ("Termination by the Company—Termination Without Cause") shall apply, and Employee's sole and exclusive remedy for such breach of this Agreement by the Company and/or
any other damages that Employee shall have suffered or incurred of any nature whatsoever, shall be to receive the payments expressly called for by Section 8(b) ("Termination by the Company
Termination Without Cause") with interest on any past due payments at the rate of eight percent (8%) per year from the date on which the applicable payment would have been made pursuant to
Section 8(b) ("Termination by the Company—Termination Without Cause") plus Employee's costs and expenses (including but not limited to reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred in
connection with such dispute. 

        (b)    TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE.    The Company may, with or without reason, terminate Employee's employment under
this Agreement without "cause" at any time, by providing Employee thirty (30) days prior written notice of such termination. If Employee's employment is terminated pursuant to this
Section 8(b), Employee shall not be obligated to render services to the Company following the effective date of such notice (the "Notice Date") except such services as are requested by the
Company pursuant to Section 11("Transition Period Services"), and as its sole exclusive obligation and duty to Employee resulting directly or indirectly from the termination of Employee's
employment with the Company and in full and complete settlement of any and all claims that Employee may have or claim to have arising directly or indirectly out of the termination of her employment
with the Company, the Company shall, subject to Section 12 ("Non Competition") pay Employee, as severance pay, an amount (the "Severance Amount") equal to the product of multiplying the then
current semi-monthly base salary by thirty-six (36) semi-monthly periods (the "Severance Period"). The Severance Amount shall be payable by the Company to
Employee in an amount equal to the Base Salary payable in twelve (12) equally monthly installments commencing on the Notice Date. The Company shall also pay to the Employee a portion of any
discretionary bonus (the "Bonus Portion"), as determined by the Company's Board of Directors, referred to in Section 3(a) ("Compensation—Base Salary"), that, but for the termination
of Employee's employment, would have been paid to Employee for or with respect to the calendar year in which Employee's employment is terminated. The Bonus Portion shall consist of that percentage of
the said discretionary bonus determined by dividing the number of full or partial calendar months during the calendar year in which Employee's employment is terminated that Employee was in the employ
of the Company by twelve (12). Until the end of the Severance Period or until Employee is gainfully employed by another employer, which ever time period is less, the Company shall allow Employee to
continue participation in the Company s group health insurance plan at the Company's expense. In accordance with all applicable laws, Employee shall be extended all COBRA rights and benefits at the
end of the Severance Period. 

        9.    TERMINATION BY EMPLOYEE.    

        (a)    TERMINATION—WITHOUT GOOD REASON.    Employee shall have the right to terminate this Agreement and
her employment hereunder at any time upon thirty (30) days prior written notice of such termination to the Company. Except as expressly set forth in Section 11 ("Transition Period
Services"), upon the effective date of any such termination all obligations and rights of Employee and the Company hereunder shall terminate and cease.

 

        (b)    TERMINATION—WITH GOOD REASON.    If the Company: 

          (i)  requires
Employee to relocate her home, without Employee's consent, to a location which is more than 75 miles from 2855 East Cottonwood Parkway, Suite 400, Salt Lake
City, Utah 84121; or 

        (ii)  fails
to provide Employee with the compensation and benefits called for by this Agreement; or 

        (iii)  assigns
Employee to a lower organizational level than the level at which she is on the date of this Agreement assigned, or substantially diminishes Employee's
assignment, duties, responsibilities, or operating authority from those specified in Section 1 ("Duties"); or 

        (iv)  fails
to implement an incentive compensation plan required by Section 3(b) ("Compensation—Incentive Compensation"); or 

        (v)  fails
to implement an equity plan or arrangement required by Section 4(b) ("Fringe Benefits—Equity Plan"); or 

        (vi)  is
divested, by sale, closure, liquidation, foreclosure, or other means, of any substantial part of its assets or business as now held or conducted; or 

      (vii)  breaches
this Agreement and such breach continues for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice thereof given by Employee to the Company, then any one
or more of such circumstances shall constitute "Good Reason", and, subject to the provisions of Section 10 ("Means and Effect of Termination"), Employee shall have the right to terminate this
Agreement and her employment hereunder for Good Reason, if, thirty (30) days after the effective date of Employee's notice to the Company of such circumstances constituting Good Reason, such
circumstances continue to exist, and for all purposes of this Agreement any such termination of this Agreement by Employee shall have the same effects under this Agreement as the termination of the
Employee's employment under this Agreement by Company without "cause." 

        10.    MEANS AND EFFECT OF TERMINATION.    Any termination of Employee's employment under this Agreement shall be
communicated by written notice of termination from the terminating party to the other party. The notice of termination shall indicate the specific provision(s) of this Agreement relied upon in
effecting the termination and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances alleged to provide a basis for termination, if any such basis is required by the applicable provision(s)
of this Agreement. Any notice of termination by the Company shall be approved by a resolution duly adopted by a majority of the directors of the Company then in office. The burden of establishing the
existence of "cause" or Good Reason shall be upon the terminating party. If Employee's employment is terminated by either party, then promptly after the effective date of such termination or in the
manner and at the time or times provided in the relevant Section of this Agreement, the Company promptly shall provide and pay to Employee, or in case of her death her estate or heirs, all
compensation, benefits, and reimbursements due or payable to Employee for the period to the effective date of the termination. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the calendar month in which
Employee's employment is terminated shall be counted as a full month in determining amount and vesting of any benefits under benefit plans of the Company. 

        11.    TRANSITION PERIOD SERVICES.    In the event Employee's employment is terminated by the Company pursuant to
section 8(b) ("Termination by the Company—Termination Without Cause") or by Employee pursuant to Section 9(a) ("Termination by Employee—Without Good Reason"), if
requested by the Company in writing, Employee shall render such services, on a part-time basis for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days after the effective date of the notice of
termination (whether given by the Company or by Employee), as the Company's Board of Directors reasonably requests for

  
transition purposes. Employee shall receive no compensation for such services, other than the payment of Base Salary as provided in Section 8(b) ("Termination by the
Company—Termination Without Cause") and reimbursement for expenses incurred by Employee in providing such services as provided in, and subject to the provisions of, Section 5
("Business Expenses and Automobile Allowance"). 

        12.    NON COMPETITION.    For a period of one year from the date of the termination of Employee's employment
hereunder, Employee shall not become an employee, owner (except for passive investments of not more than three percent (3%) of the outstanding shares of, or any other equity interest in, any company
or entity listed or traded on a national securities exchange or in an over-the-counter securities market), officer, agent or director of any firm or person which either
directly competes with a line or lines of business (which shall be defined as cookies, pretzels, or frozen desserts only) of the Company accounting for ten percent (10%) or more of the Company's gross
sales, revenues or earnings before taxes. If, in any judicial proceeding, a court shall refuse to enforce all of the separate covenants deemed included in this paragraph, the parties intend that those
of such covenants which, if eliminated, would permit the remaining separate covenants to be enforced in such proceedings shall, for the purpose of such proceedings, be deemed eliminated from the
provisions of this Section 12. 

        In
addition to any other remedies that may otherwise be available for a breach of Section 12 hereof by Employee, Employee agrees that in the event of such breach she shall
irrevocably forfeit any right she may have to any remaining severance payment to be made under Section 8(b) ("Termination by the Company—Termination Without Cause") subsequent to
such breach. 

        13.    ASSIGNMENT.    This Agreement is personal in its nature and neither of the parties hereto shall, without the
consent of the other, assign or transfer this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder; provided, however, that, in the event of the merger, consolidation, or transfer or sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company with or to any other individual or entity, this Agreement shall, subject to the provisions hereof, be binding upon and inure to the benefit of such
successor and such successor shall discharge and perform all the promises, covenants, duties, and obligations of the Company hereunder. 

        14.    GOVERNING LAW.    This Agreement and the legal relations hereby created between the parties hereto shall be
governed by and construed under and in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Utah, which internal laws exclude any law or rule of the State of Utah, or any interpretation thereof, that
would require or call for the application of the laws of any other state or jurisdiction hereto. 

        15.    ENTIRE AGREEMENT.    Except with respect to final agreement regarding those open incentive compensation matters
described in Section 3(b) ("Compensation—Incentive Compensation") and the equity plan or arrangement contemplated under Section 4(b) ("Fringe Benefits—Equity
Plan"), this Agreement embodies the entire agreement of the parties hereto respecting the matters within its scope. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements of the parties hereto on the subject
matter hereof. Any prior negotiations, correspondence, agreements, proposals, or understandings relating to the subject matter hereof shall be deemed to be merged into this Agreement and to the extent
inconsistent herewith, such negotiations, correspondence, agreements, proposals, or understandings shall be deemed to be of no force or effect. There are no representations, warranties, or agreements,
whether express or implied, or oral or written, with respect to the subject matter hereof, except as set forth herein. 

        This
Agreement shall not be modified by any oral agreement, either express or implied, and all modifications hereof shall be in writing and be signed by the parties hereto. The
provisions of this and the immediately preceding sentence themselves may not be modified, either orally or by conduct, either express or implied, and it is the declared intention of the parties hereto
that no provision of this

  
Agreement, including said two sentences, shall be modifiable in any way or manner whatsoever other than through a written document signed by the parties hereto. 

        16.    WAIVER.    Failure to insist upon strict compliance with any of the terms, covenants, or conditions hereof
shall not be deemed a waiver of such term, covenant, or condition, nor shall any waiver or relinquishment of, or failure to insist upon strict compliance with, any right or power hereunder at any one
or more times be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of such right or power at any other time or times. 

        17.    NUMBER AND GENDER.    Where the context requires, the singular shall include the plural, the plural shall
include the singular, and any gender shall include all other genders. 

        18.    SECTION HEADINGS.    The section headings in this Agreement are for the purpose of convenience only and shall
not limit or otherwise affect any of the terms hereof. 

        19.    DISPUTE RESOLUTION.    

        (a)    NEGOTIATION AND MEDIATION.    In the event any dispute arises hereunder, the parties shall first attempt to
resolve the dispute by negotiation in good faith. If the dispute cannot be timely resolved through negotiation, the parties will, before resorting to any of their remedies at law or in equity, try to
settle the dispute in good faith by mediation in Salt Lake City, Utah or such other location as the parties may agree, under the then operative mediation rules of the American Arbitration Association
or such other mediation tribunal or private mediator or medication services provider as the parties agree. The mediator shall be such person as the parties mutually agree, but if the parties have
failed to agree on a mediator within seven (7) days after the date on which any party demands that the parties proceed to mediation, the mediator shall be selected by the American Arbitration
Association or such other mediation services provider as the parties agree. 

        (b)    OTHER REMEDIES.    Failing settlement of the dispute by negotiation or mediation, the parties shall, unless
they mutually agree to resolve the dispute finally by arbitration, be entitled to pursue their legal and equitable remedies (subject to the provisions of Section 20 ("Liquidated
Damages—Breach by the Company") in any court having jurisdiction. 

        20.    LIQUIDATED DAMAGES—BREACH BY THE COMPANY.    Because the damages suffered by Employee in such an
event would be difficult or impossible to estimate, establish, ascertain, or prove, and in order to provide Employee with a remedy in such an event without the necessity and associated cost of
Employee having to establish or prove the damages suffered by Employee as a result thereof (which remedy the parties hereto have and do agree would be appropriate and adequate compensation to Employee
in such event), in the event that this Agreement and Employee's employment hereunder shall be terminated (whether by the Company or Employee) and thereafter Employee shall prevail in any dispute
between Employee and the Company relative to, involving, or concerning the legality of or justification for the termination of this Agreement and Employee's employment hereunder and any other issues
or matters directly or indirectly arising out of or in connection with such termination and Employee's employment by the Company, subject to Section 12 ("Non Competition") Employee shall be
entitled to the continued payment of the Base Salary as provided in Section 8(b) ("Termination by the Company—Termination Without Cause") as liquidated and exclusive damages and not
as a penalty, and in such case this Agreement and Employee's employment hereunder, shall for all purposes be treated as having been terminated by the Company without 46 cause" pursuant to
Section 8(b) ("Termination by the Company—Termination Without Cause"). 

        In
the event Employee files any claim, complaint, charge, action, or lawsuit against the Company or its employees, agents, officers, directors, or any other person affiliated or
associated with the Company, with any governmental agency, any state or federal court, or any mediation or arbitration

  
body or group, for or with respect to a matter, claim, or incident, known or unknown, which has occurred or arisen or which shall hereafter occur or arise relative to, involving, or concerning the
termination of this Agreement and Employee's employment hereunder (whether as a result of action of Employee or the Company) and any other issues or matters directly or indirectly arising out of or in
connection with such termination and Employee's employment by the Company, and in such claim, complaint, action, charge, or lawsuit, Employee alleges or asserts the right to recover, receive, or be
awarded damages from the Company or its employees, agents, officers, directors, or any other person affiliated or associated with the Company in addition to or in lieu of the liquidated damages
expressly provided for in this Section 20, Employee hereby stipulates, agrees, and consents to the dismissal or withdrawal, with prejudice, of any such claim, complaint, action, charge, or
lawsuit (collectively, a "Dismissible Claim"). In the event that Employee files any Dismissible Claim, Employee shall be liable to the party or parties against whom the Dismissible Claim is filed (the
"Nonfiling Party") and shall indemnify and save the Nonfiling Party harmless from all costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, attorneys fees, incurred by the Nonfiling Party and/or the
Nonfiling Party s officers, agents, employees, directors, and/or any other person affiliated or associated with the Nonfiling Party, if any, in defending or responding to any such Dismissible Claim,
regardless of whether such defense or response is before a state or federal court or administrative agency or a mediation or arbitration body and regardless of who might ultimately be deemed to be the
prevailing party as to any such Dismissible Claim. 

        21.    ATTORNEY'S FEES.    Employee and the Company agree that in any dispute resolution proceedings arising out of
this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to its or her reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred by it or her in connection with resolution of the dispute in addition to any other
relief granted. 

        22.    INDEMNIFICATION.    If Employee is made a party to, is threatened to be made a party to, or is otherwise
involved in any action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a "Proceeding") by reason of the fact that she is or was a director, officer, or employee of the
Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, including
service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether before, during or after expiration or termination of this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify and hold Employee harmless to the fullest
extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the
Company to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Company to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability, and loss (including attorneys fees, judgment
fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by Employee in connection therewith, and such indemnification shall continue after Employee
ceases to be a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company and shall inure to the benefit of Employee's heirs, executors, and administrators. The right to indemnification conferred hereby
shall include the right to be paid by the Company the reasonable expenses incurred in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition as such expenses are incurred. The indemnification
provided herein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Employee may be entitled under the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, any agreement, or vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors of the Company, or otherwise, both as to action in her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office or position, and shall continue with
respect to action in such capacities even if Employee has thereafter ceased to be a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company, and shall
inure to the benefit of Employee's heirs, executors and administrators. Except in the case of fraudulent conduct or theft, embezzlement, or other criminal misappropriation of funds by Employee, then
nothing in this Agreement waives the Company's obligations under this paragraph, even if Employee is terminated.

 

        23.    SEVERABILITY.    In the event that a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any portion of this
Agreement is in violation of any statute or public policy, then only the portions of this Agreement which violate such statute or public policy shall be stricken, All portions of this Agreement which
do not violate any statute or public policy shall continue in full force and effect. Furthermore, any court order striking any portion of this Agreement shall modify the stricken terms as narrowly as
possible to give as much effect as possible to the intentions of the parties under this Agreement. 

        24.    NOTICES.    All notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be either personally delivered or
mailed postage prepaid, by certified mail, return receipt requested, (a) if to the Company, to it at 2855 East Cottonwood Parkway, Suite 400, Salt Lake City, Utah 84121 Attention: President or
(b) if to Employee to her at 2855 East Cottonwood Parkway, Suite 400, Salt Lake City, Utah 84121 by the same means, or in either party's case to such other address or to the attention of such
person as the party has specified by prior written notice to the other party. Notice shall be effective when personally delivered, or five (5) business days after being so mailed. 

        25.    COUNTERPARTS.    This Agreement may be executed in counterparts collectively containing the signatures of each
of the parties. 

        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by duly authorized officer, and Employee has hereunto signed this Agreement, on the date first written above. 

	 	 	MRS. FIELDS' ORIGINAL COOKIES, INC.,

a Delaware Corporation (the "Company")
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  MICHAEL WARD      
	 	 	 	 	

Michael Ward
 Senior Vice President
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  SANDRA BUFFA      
	 	 	 	 	

Sandra Buffa
 ("Employee")

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