Document:

<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.23

                                 LEASE AGREEMENT

                                                              LEASE NUMBER   101

                                                        DATE OF LEASE   09-01-97

LESSOR:     LESLIE RUDD INVESTMENT COMPANY
            314 South Galena Street
            Aspen, Colorado 81611
            303-925-5866

LESSEE:     Dean & Deluca Brands, Inc.          LOCATION OF EQUIPMENT
            560 Broadway                        2526 E. 36th St.
            New York, NY   10012                North Circle
            212-226-6800                        Wichita, KS  67219

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TERM: 36 Months                       COMMENCEMENT DATE:      09-01-97

                             RENTAL PAYMENT SCHEDULE

$6,921.93 per month including sales and use tax for the first 36 months followed
by $2,198.73 per month including sales and use tax until the Lease Agreement is
terminated.

                                SECURITY DEPOSIT

$0 payable at time of signing of the Lease to be applied, if not used, to the
last 0 rental payments, plus sales and use tax, in the inverse order of their
respective maturities.

                              EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION
                    (Model #, Serial #, or Other Description)
                         Rapistan Demag Corp - Equipment
                          Conveyor Equipment Installed

<PAGE>

                                LEASE NUMBER 101

                                 LEASE AGREEMENT

This Lease shall constitute an agreement of lease and nothing herein shall be
construed as conveying to Lessee any right, title, or interest in any of the
Equipment. The undersigned agree to all terms and conditions set forth above and
in witness thereof hereby execute this Lease.

                                 NAME OF LESSEE:
                           Dean & Deluca Brands, Inc.

SIGNED BY:  /s/ DANE J. NELLER
            ------------------------------------------------
            Dane J. Neller
            Chief Executive Officer                                     Seal

This Lease shall not become effective until accepted by Lessor.

                                 NAME OF LESSOR:
                         LESLIE RUDD INVESTMENT COMPANY

ACCEPTED DATE:  09-01-97

SIGNED BY: /s/ JON BOWMAN
           -------------------------------------------------
           Jon Bowman
           Secretary

LESSEE'S SIGNATURE IN INK REQUIRED ON ORIGINAL LEASE AND LESSEE'S COPY.

                                       2<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.24

                                 LEASE AGREEMENT

                                                                LEASE NUMBER 102

                                                          DATE OF LEASE 09-01-97

LESSOR:     LESLIE RUDD INVESTMENT COMPANY
            314 South Galena Street
            Aspen, Colorado 81611
            303-925-5866

LESSEE:     Dean & Deluca Brands, Inc.          LOCATION OF EQUIPMENT
            560 Broadway                        2526 E. 36th St.
            New York, NY   10012                North Circle
            212-226-6800                        Wichita, KS 67219

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TERM: 36 Months                       COMMENCEMENT DATE: 09-01-97

                             RENTAL PAYMENT SCHEDULE

$280.52 per month including sales and use tax for the first 36 months followed
by $89.11 per month including sales and use tax until the Lease Agreement is
terminated.

                                SECURITY DEPOSIT

$0 payable at time of signing of the Lease to be applied, if not used, to the
last 0 rental payments, plus sales and use tax, in the inverse order of their
respective maturities.

                              EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION
                    (Model #, Serial #, or Other Description)
                        ADT Security Services - Equipment
                             Alarm System Installed

<PAGE>

                                LEASE NUMBER 102

                                 LEASE AGREEMENT

This Lease shall constitute an agreement of lease and nothing herein shall be
construed as conveying to Lessee any right, title, or interest in any of the
Equipment. The undersigned agree to all terms and conditions set forth above and
in witness thereof hereby execute this Lease.

                                 NAME OF LESSEE:
                           Dean & Deluca Brands, Inc.

SIGNED BY:  /s/ DANE J. NELLER
            ------------------------------------------------
            Dane J. Neller
            Chief Executive Officer                                     Seal

This Lease shall not become effective until accepted by Lessor.

                                 NAME OF LESSOR:
                         LESLIE RUDD INVESTMENT COMPANY

ACCEPTED DATE:  09-01-97

SIGNED BY: /s/ JON BOWMAN
           -------------------------------------------------
           Jon Bowman
           Secretary

LESSEE'S SIGNATURE IN INK REQUIRED ON ORIGINAL LEASE AND LESSEE'S COPY.

                                       2<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.25

                                 LEASE AGREEMENT

                                                               LEASE NUMBER  103

                                                         DATE OF LEASE  09-01-97

LESSOR:     LESLIE RUDD INVESTMENT COMPANY
            314 South Galena Street
            Aspen, Colorado  81611
            303-925-5866

LESSEE:     Dean & Deluca Brands, Inc.          LOCATION OF EQUIPMENT
            560 Broadway                        2526 E. 36th St.
            New York, NY  10012                 North Circle
            212-226-6800                        Wichita, KS  67219

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TERM: 36 Months                       COMMENCEMENT DATE: 09-01-97

                             RENTAL PAYMENT SCHEDULE

$192.84 per month including sales and use tax for the first 36 months followed
by $61.26 per month including sales and use tax until the Lease Agreement is
terminated.

                                SECURITY DEPOSIT

$0 payable at time of signing of the Lease to be applied, if not used, to the
last 0 rental payments, plus sales and use tax, in the inverse order of their
respective maturities.

                              EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION
                    (Model #, Serial #, or Other Description)
                        AAA Restaurant Supply - Equipment
           Four (4) EA 24x52 Nexel Shelving Sets & Four (4) 74" Posts

<PAGE>

                                LEASE NUMBER 103

                                 LEASE AGREEMENT

This Lease shall constitute an agreement of lease and nothing herein shall be
construed as conveying to Lessee any right, title, or interest in any of the
Equipment. The undersigned agree to all terms and conditions set forth above and
in witness thereof hereby execute this Lease.

                                 NAME OF LESSEE:
                           Dean & Deluca Brands, Inc.

SIGNED BY:  /s/ DANE J. NELLER
            ------------------------------------------------
            Dane J. Neller
            Chief Executive Officer                                     Seal

This Lease shall not become effective until accepted by Lessor.

                                 NAME OF LESSOR:
                         LESLIE RUDD INVESTMENT COMPANY

ACCEPTED DATE:  09-01-97

SIGNED BY:  /s/ JON BOWMAN
            ------------------------------------------------
            Jon Bowman
            Secretary

LESSEE'S SIGNATURE IN INK REQUIRED ON ORIGINAL LEASE AND LESSEE'S COPY.

                                       2<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

                                 LEASE AGREEMENT

                                                              LEASE NUMBER   104

                                                        DATE OF LEASE   09-01-97

LESSOR:     LESLIE RUDD INVESTMENT COMPANY
            314 South Galena Street
            Aspen, Colorado 81611
            303-925-5866

LESSEE:     Dean & Deluca Brands, Inc.          LOCATION OF EQUIPMENT
            560 Broadway                        2526 E. 36th St.
            New York, NY   10012                North Circle
            212-226-6800                        Wichita, KS 67219

TERM: 36 Months                       COMMENCEMENT DATE: 09-01-97

                             RENTAL PAYMENT SCHEDULE

$34.85 per month including sales and use tax for the first 36 months followed by
$11.07 per month including sales and use tax until the Lease Agreement is
terminated.

                                SECURITY DEPOSIT

$0 payable at time of signing of the Lease to be applied, if not used, to the
last 0 rental payments, plus sales and use tax, in the inverse order of their
respective maturities.

                              EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION
                    (Model #, Serial #, or Other Description)
                          Lift Truck Center - Equipment
                        Two (2) Crown Hand Pallet Trucks
                            S/N# 7-088217 & 7-088235

<PAGE>

                                LEASE NUMBER 104

                                 LEASE AGREEMENT

This Lease shall constitute an agreement of lease and nothing herein shall be
construed as conveying to Lessee any right, title, or interest in any of the
Equipment. The undersigned agree to all terms and conditions set forth above and
in witness thereof hereby execute this Lease.

                                 NAME OF LESSEE:
                           Dean & Deluca Brands, Inc.

SIGNED BY:  /s/ DANE J. NELLER
            ------------------------------------------------
            Dane J. Neller
            Chief Executive Officer                                     Seal

This Lease shall not become effective until accepted by Lessor.

                                 NAME OF LESSOR:
                         LESLIE RUDD INVESTMENT COMPANY

ACCEPTED DATE:  09-01-97

SIGNED BY:  /s/ JON BOWMAN
            ------------------------------------------------
            Jon Bowman
            Secretary

LESSEE'S SIGNATURE IN INK REQUIRED ON ORIGINAL LEASE AND LESSEE'S COPY.

                                       2

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