MORGANS FOODS INC
DEF 14A, 1998-06-01
EATING PLACES
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<PAGE>   1
 
================================================================================
 
                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                   (RULE 14a)
                    INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
          PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                             (AMENDMENT NO.      )
 
Filed by the Registrant  [X]
 
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  [ ]
 
Check the appropriate box:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
[ ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement               [ ]  CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE COMMISSION
                                                    ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY RULE 14a-6(e)(2))
[X]  Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ]  Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to sec.240.14a-11(c) or sec.240.14a-12
</TABLE>
 
                                MORGAN'S FOODS
                (NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
                                XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
    (NAME OF PERSON(S) FILING PROXY STATEMENT, IF OTHER THAN THE REGISTRANT)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X]  No fee required.
[ ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
 
     (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: .......
 
     (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: ..........
 
     (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
         pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
         filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): ............
 
     (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: ......................
 
     (5) Total fee paid: .......................................................
 
[ ]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
 
[ ]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
     0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
     previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
     or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
 
     (1) Amount Previously Paid: ...............................................
 
     (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: .........................
 
     (3) Filing Party: .........................................................
 
     (4) Date Filed: ...........................................................
 
================================================================================
<PAGE>   2
 
                              MORGAN'S FOODS, INC.
                                   Suite 126
                            24200 Chagrin Boulevard
                             Beachwood, Ohio 44122
 
                               ------------------
 
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                            TO BE HELD JUNE 25, 1998
 
                               ------------------
 
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS:
 
     You are hereby notified that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Morgan's
Foods, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), will be held at the Cleveland
Marriott East, 3663 Park East Dr., Beachwood, Ohio, on Thursday, June 25, 1998,
at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, for the following purposes:
 
          1. To elect the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
          2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
     meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
     Only shareholders of record at the close of business on May 13, 1998 will
be entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
                                            BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
                                                     KENNETH L. HIGNETT
                                                         Secretary
 
June 5, 1998
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON ARE URGED TO
COMPLETE, DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED
POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE TO ENSURE THAT THEIR SHARES ARE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING
OR ANY ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.
<PAGE>   3
 
                              MORGAN'S FOODS, INC.
                         24200 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 126
                             Beachwood, Ohio 44122
 
                            ------------------------
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                            ------------------------
 
     This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by and on behalf of the Board of Directors of Morgan's Foods, Inc., an
Ohio corporation (the "Company"), for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
of the Company (the "Meeting") to be held at the Cleveland Marriott East, 3663
Park East Dr., Beachwood, Ohio, on Thursday, June 25, 1998 at 10:00 a.m.,
Eastern Daylight Time, and at any adjournment thereof.
 
     This proxy statement and accompanying notice and form of proxy are being
mailed to shareholders on or about June 5, 1998. A copy of the Company's Annual
Report to Shareholders, including financial statements, for the fiscal year
ended March 1, 1998 (the "1998 fiscal year") is enclosed with this proxy
statement.
 
     The presence of any shareholder at the Meeting will not operate to revoke
his proxy. Any proxy may be revoked, at any time before it is exercised, in open
meeting, or by giving notice to the Company in writing, or by filing a duly
executed proxy bearing a later date.
 
     If the enclosed proxy is executed and returned to the Company, the persons
named therein will vote the shares represented by it at the Meeting. The proxy
permits specification of a vote for the election of directors, or the
withholding of authority to vote in the election of directors, or the
withholding of authority to vote for one or more specified nominees.
 
     Where a choice is specified in the proxy, the shares represented thereby
will be voted in accordance with such specification. If no specification is
made, such shares will be voted at the Meeting FOR the election as directors of
the nominees set forth herein under "Election of Directors".
 
     Under Ohio law and the Company's Articles of Incorporation, broker
non-votes and abstaining votes will not be counted in favor of or against
election of any nominee.
 
     The close of business on May 13, 1998, has been fixed as the record date
for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the
Meeting. As of May 7, 1998, the Company's outstanding voting securities
consisted of 2,910,839 Common Shares, without par value, each of which is
entitled to one vote on all matters to be presented to the shareholders at the
Meeting.
 
                    PROPOSAL NO. 1 -- ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
     At the Meeting, shares represented by proxies will be voted, unless
otherwise specified in such proxies, for the election of the seven nominees for
directors named in this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy. These nominees
will, if elected, serve as directors of the Company until the next annual
meeting of the shareholders and until their successors are elected and shall
qualify. All of the nominees are currently members of the Board of Directors and
have consented to be nominated and to serve if elected. If, for any reason, any
one or more nominees becomes unavailable for election, it is expected that
proxies will be voted for the election of such substitute nominees as may be
designated by the Board of Directors.
 
     If notice in writing is given by any shareholder to the President or the
Secretary of the Company, not less than 48 hours before the time fixed for
holding the Meeting, that such
 
                                        1
<PAGE>   4
 
shareholder desires that the voting for the election of directors shall be
cumulative, and if an announcement of the giving of such notice is made upon the
convening of the Meeting by the President or Secretary or by or on behalf of the
shareholder giving such notice, each shareholder shall have the right to
cumulate such voting power as he possesses at such election and to give one
candidate an amount of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected
multiplied by the number of his shares, or to distribute his votes on the same
principle among two or more candidates, as he sees fit.
 
     If voting for the election of directors is cumulative, the persons named in
the enclosed proxy will vote the shares represented by proxies given to them in
such fashion as to elect as many of the nominees as possible.
 
     The table below sets forth, as of May 7, 1998, certain information about
each of the nominees for directors.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  DIRECTOR
                                                                                   OF THE
                                             PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION                 COMPANY
         NAME             AGE               FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS                SINCE
         ----             ---               -----------------------               --------
<S>                       <C>    <C>                                              <C>
Richard A. Arons          60     Attorney                                          1985
Lawrence S. Dolin         54     President of Joy Entertainment, Inc.              1981
                                 (consultant in entertainment industry) (July
                                 1993 to present); President of The Front Row
                                 Theatre, Inc. (entertainment facility) (July
                                 1974 to December 1994)
Kenneth L. Hignett        51     Senior Vice President, Chief Financial            1993
                                 Officer and Secretary of the Company (March
                                 1992 to present); Vice President, Secretary
                                 and Treasurer of the Company (January 1991 to
                                 March 1992); Vice President and Treasurer of
                                 the Company (June 1989 to January 1991); and
                                 Vice President, Controller of TRW Real Estate
                                 Loan Services (1984 to June 1989)
Steven S. Kaufman         48     President, Co-CEO and a founding share-           1989
                                 holder, Kaufman & Cumberland Co. L.P.A. (law
                                 firm)
Bernard Lerner            71     President of Automated Packaging Systems,         1989
                                 Inc. (manufacturer of packaging materials and
                                 machinery)
James J. Liguori          49     President and Chief Operating Officer of the      1984
                                 Company (July 1988 to present); Executive
                                 Vice President of the Company (August 1987 to
                                 July 1988); Vice President of the Company
                                 (June 1979 to August 1987)
Leonard R. Stein-Sapir    59     Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive         1981
                                 Officer of the Company (April 1989 to pre-
                                 sent); Consultant to TRW, Inc. (information
                                 services division) (January 1988 to Decem-
                                 ber 1988); Chairman of the Board of Record
                                 Data TRW, Inc. (information services com-
                                 pany) January 1985 to December 1987)
</TABLE>
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   5
 
     The Company has an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, and a Stock
Option Plan Committee, the members of each of which are appointed by the Board
of Directors. The Company does not have a nominating committee.
 
     The Executive Committee consists of James J. Liguori, Lawrence S. Dolin,
Richard A. Arons and Leonard R. Stein-Sapir. This committee has the authority,
between meetings of the Board of Directors, to exercise substantially all of the
powers of the Board in the management of the business of the Company.
 
     The Audit Committee consists of Lawrence S. Dolin, Steven S. Kaufman and
Bernard Lerner. This committee considers and recommends to the Board of
Directors the appointment of independent accountants for the Company. It reviews
with such accountants the arrangements for and the scope of the audit to be
conducted by them. It also reviews the results of audits and various other
financial and accounting matters affecting the Company.
 
     The members of the Stock Option Plan Committee are Bernard Lerner, Steven
S. Kaufman, and Lawrence S. Dolin. This committee administers the Company's
stock option plans.
 
     The Board of Directors met four times, the Audit and Stock Option Plan
Committees once and the Executive Committee did not meet, during the 1998 fiscal
year. Each director currently serving on the Board attended 75% or more of the
meetings held during such year by the Board and the committee(s) on which he
served.
 
         SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
     SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS.  The following table sets
forth certain information with respect to all persons known to the Company to be
the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Company's outstanding Common Shares
as of May 7, 1998.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         NAME AND ADDRESS                              PERCENT
       OF BENEFICIAL OWNER          NUMBER OF SHARES   OF CLASS
       -------------------          ----------------   --------
<S>                                 <C>                <C>
Leonard R. Stein-Sapir (1)
24200 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 126
Beachwood, Ohio 44122                   518,430          17.3%
Richard A. Arons
24200 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 126
Beachwood, Ohio 44122                   420,833          14.4%
Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, Inc. (2)
707 Westchester Avenue
White Plains, NY 10604                  187,738           6.4%
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Includes 83,333 shares subject to exercisable options and 98 shares owned by
    Mr. Stein-Sapir's children and 1,666 shares owned by his wife. Mr.
    Stein-Sapir disclaims any beneficial interest in the shares owned by his
    wife and children.
 
(2) According to a report on Schedule 13G dated February 17, 1998, filed with
    the Securities and Exchange Commission, Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, Inc., an
    investment advisory firm ("CRM"), beneficially owned 187,738 or 6.4% of the
    outstanding Common Shares as of such date. CRM disclosed in such Schedule
    13G that it shares the power to dispose of and vote such shares.
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   6
 
     SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT.  The following table sets forth
information as of May 7, 1998, with respect to Common Shares beneficially owned
by all directors and nominees for election as directors of the Company and by
all officers and directors of the Company as a group. Each person owns
beneficially and of record the shares indicated and has sole voting and
investment power with respect thereto, except as otherwise set forth in the
footnotes to the table.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     PERCENT
                     NAME                        NUMBER OF SHARES    OF CLASS
                     ----                        ----------------    --------
<S>                                              <C>                 <C>
Richard A. Arons...............................       420,833          14.4%
Lawrence S. Dolin (1)..........................       106,125           3.7
James J. Liguori (2)...........................       107,287           3.6
Steven S. Kaufman (3)..........................         4,744             *
Leonard R. Stein-Sapir (4).....................       518,430          17.3
Bernard Lerner.................................        73,066           2.5
Kenneth L. Hignett (5).........................        13,666             *
All officers and directors as a group (10
  persons) (6).................................     1,259,172          40.6%
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
*   Less than one percent of the outstanding Common Shares of the Company.
 
(1) Includes 43,000 shares owned by a partnership of which Mr. Dolin is a
    general partner and 625 shares owned by Mr. Dolin's wife. Mr. Dolin
    disclaims any beneficial interest in the shares owned by his wife.
 
(2) Includes 83,333 shares subject to exercisable options and 166 shares owned
    by Mr. Liguori's children and 83 shares owned by his wife. Mr. Liguori
    disclaims any beneficial interest in the shares owned by his wife and
    children.
 
(3) Includes 1,007 shares owned by Mr. Kaufman's wife, as to which he disclaims
    any beneficial interest.
 
(4) Includes 83,333 shares subject to exercisable options and 98 shares owned by
    Mr. Stein-Sapir's children and 1,666 shares owned by his wife. Mr.
    Stein-Sapir disclaims any beneficial interest in the shares owned by his
    wife and children.
 
(5) Includes 10,833 shares subject to exercisable options.
 
(6) Includes 190,833 shares subject to exercisable options.
 
                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
                REPORT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON COMPENSATION
 
     Introduction.  The disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission require the Company to provide certain information concerning the
compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and the other executive officers of
the Company. The Company does not have a Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors. Decisions on the compensation of the Company's Chief Executive
Officer are made by the Board and salaries of other executive officers are set
in relation to the Chief Executive Officer.
 
     Structure.  Compensation of the Company's executive officers consists
primarily of salary and stock option grants. The Company also provides a
matching contribution to deferred compensation under a 401(k) Plan described in
a separate section of this proxy statement. Stock options have been used by the
Company to reward executives for actions which increase shareholder value. The
granting of stock options also aids in the retention of high quality executives
by providing long term incentives. The Company has no bonus plan for executives
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   7
 
nor does it provide retirement benefits. The Company believes that the Company's
compensation policy is fair to the Company's employees and shareholders and that
its total compensation package is competitive within the restaurant industry.
 
     Base Salary.  In the past, the Company has relied primarily on its own
informal surveys of compensation levels to gauge the reasonableness of the
compensation of Leonard Stein-Sapir, the Company's Chief Executive Officer.
Compensation of other executives is set in relation to the Chief Executive based
on each other executive's level of responsibility and experience and the
particular challenges facing the executive during the coming year. During fiscal
1993, the Company engaged a compensation consultant to compile comparative data
on chief executive officer compensation at similar size companies and recommend
a range of base salary for the Chief Executive Officer for fiscal 1994. The
Board of Directors has not considered it necessary to utilize a compensation
consultant since fiscal 1993. Due to the Company's significant dependence on the
efforts of the Chief Executive Officer, his services were subject to a three
year employment agreement covering the fiscal years 1994-1996 and providing for
a base salary of $250,000 for the 1996 fiscal year which Mr. Stein-Sapir
voluntarily reduced to $225,000 for such year. Under the terms of the agreement,
the Chief Executive Officer's compensation could be reviewed annually and Mr.
Stein-Sapir was eligible to participate in any bonus plan offered to other
executive officers of the Company. Mr. Stein-Sapir continued to be compensated
at the annual rate of $225,000 for the 1998 fiscal year although the employment
contract is no longer in effect.
 
     All executive officer salaries are reviewed on an annual basis. In deciding
on changes in the annual base salary of the Chief Executive Officer the Board
considers several performance factors. Among these are operating and
administrative efficiency and the maintenance of an appropriately experienced
management team. The Board also evaluates the Chief Executive Officer's
performance in the area of finding and evaluating new business opportunities to
establish the most productive strategic direction for the Company. Salary
changes for other executives are based primarily on their performance in
supporting the strategic initiatives of the Chief Executive Officer, meeting
individual goals and objectives set by the Chief Executive Officer, and
improving the operating efficiency of the Company. Also, where applicable,
changes in the duties and responsibilities of each other executive officer may
be considered in deciding on changes in annual salary. Based on a recommendation
of the Chief Executive Officer, fiscal 1998 salary evaluations for all other
officers were deferred indefinitely.
 
     Stock Options.  Stock options have been administered by the Stock Option
Committee of the Board of Directors. The Incentive Stock Option Plan expired
during fiscal 1995 and the Board of Directors has determined not to implement a
new plan at this time. Options granted under the Incentive Plan remain
outstanding until their individual expiration dates.
 
                             THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
<TABLE>
<S>                    <C>
Richard A. Arons       Leonard R. Stein-Sapir
Lawrence S. Dolin      Bernard Lerner
James J. Liguori       Kenneth L. Hignett
Steven S. Kaufman
</TABLE>
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
     The following table sets forth for each of the Company's last three fiscal
years the compensation earned by or awarded or paid to the Company's Chief
Executive Officer and each
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   8
 
of the Company's other most highly compensated executive officers earning more
than $100,000 during one or more of such years.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                    NAME AND                      FISCAL                 ALL OTHER
               PRINCIPAL POSITION                  YEAR     SALARY    COMPENSATION(1)
- ------------------------------------------------  ------   --------   ---------------
<S>                                               <C>      <C>        <C>
Leonard R. Stein-Sapir,                            1998    $225,140       $5,987
  Chairman of the Board                            1997     226,742        6,647
  and Chief Executive Officer                      1996     228,610        4,237
James J. Liguori,                                  1998    $176,500       $3,025
  President and                                    1997     173,952        1,912
  Chief Operating Officer                          1996     165,950        2,025
Kenneth L. Hignett,                                1998    $107,500       $2,178
  Senior Vice President,                           1997     107,389        2,802
  Chief Financial Officer and Secretary            1996     105,105        2,560
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Represents the value of insurance premiums paid by the Company with respect
    to term life insurance for the benefit of the named executives and the
    matching contribution made by the Company to the 401(k) Plan.
 
                      OPTION EXERCISES IN FISCAL 1998 AND
                         FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
 
     The following table sets forth certain information about the number of
options exercised during the 1998 fiscal year and the number and value of
unexercised incentive and nonqualified stock options held as of March 1, 1998 by
each executive named in the Summary Compensation Table.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           VALUE OF
                                                           NUMBER OF      UNEXERCISED
                                                          UNEXERCISED    IN-THE-MONEY
                                                         OPTIONS AS OF   OPTIONS AS OF
                                 SHARES                  MARCH 1, 1998   MARCH 1, 1998
                              ACQUIRED ON      VALUE      EXERCISABLE/   EXERCISABLE/
            NAME              EXERCISE (#)  REALIZED($)  UNEXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE
            ----              ------------  -----------  --------------  -------------
<S>                           <C>           <C>          <C>             <C>
Leonard R. Stein-Sapir             0             0       83,333/0            $0/0
James J. Liguori                   0             0       83,333/0            $0/0
Kenneth L. Hignett                 0             0       10,833/0            $0/0
</TABLE>
 
  RETIREMENT AND SAVINGS PLAN -- 401(K)
 
     Since October 1, 1993 the Company has maintained a Retirement and Savings
Plan under IRS Code Section 401(k) ("the 401(k) Plan"). The 401(k) Plan allows
eligible employees to defer a portion of their compensation before federal
income tax to a qualified trust. All employees who are at least 21 years of age,
have one year of service with the Company and have worked at least 1,000 hours
in the past year are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan. The
participants may choose from five investment options including common shares of
the Company for the investment of their deferred compensation. In addition, the
Company matches 15% of each participant's salary deferral, for the first 6% of
their salary, with common stock of the Company. For the fiscal year ended March
1, 1998 the Company contributed $19,653 to the 401(k) Plan and paid or accrued
$6,810 in administrative fees.
 
  COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
     The Company's Board of Directors performs the functions of a compensation
committee. The Company's Board includes three members who are executive officers
of the Company: James J. Liguori, Kenneth L. Hignett and Leonard R. Stein-Sapir.
During the fiscal year ended March 1,
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   9
 
1998, Mr. Liguori was President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company,
positions he has held since July 1988. From August 1987 to July 1988, he was
Executive Vice President of the Company, and from June 1978 to August 1987 he
was Vice President of the Company. During the fiscal year ended March 1, 1998,
Mr. Hignett was Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of
the Company, positions which he has held since March 1992. From January 1991 to
March 1992, he was Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Company, and
from June 1989 to January 1991 he was Vice President and Treasurer of the
Company. During the fiscal year ended March 1, 1998, Mr. Stein-Sapir was
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, positions he
has held since April 1989.
 
  DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
 
     Annual Fee.  Messrs. Arons, Dolin, Kaufman and Lerner each received $12,000
for serving on the Board of Directors during the fiscal year ended March 1,
1998. Directors who are also Officers of the Company do not receive additional
compensation as Directors. No additional compensation is paid to Directors for
serving on Committees of the Board.
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   10
 
                      SHAREHOLDER RETURN PERFORMANCE GRAPH
 
     Set forth below is a line graph comparing the cumulative total return on
the Company's Common Shares, assuming a $100 investment as of March 2, 1993 and
based on the market prices at the end of each fiscal year, with the cumulative
total return of the Standard & Poor's Midcap 400 Stock Index and a peer group
index composed of seven restaurant companies that have a market capitalization
comparable to that of the Company.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               Measurement Period                     Morgan's         S&P Midcap        Restaurant
             (Fiscal Year Covered)                     Foods              400              Index
<S>                                               <C>               <C>               <C>
1993                                                           100               100               100
1994                                                           109               110               116
1995                                                            70               113               133
1996                                                            30               145               115
1997                                                            23               171                92
1998                                                            20               233               111
</TABLE>
 
     The companies in the restaurant peer group index are Consolidated Products,
Inc., Ground Round Restaurants, Summit Family Restaurants, Inc. (formerly JB's
Restaurants, Inc.), Daka International Inc., Uno Restaurant Corp., Vi De France
Corp., and Wall Street Deli, Inc. The index is weighted based on market
capitalization. The companies included in the peer group were approved by the
Board of Directors.
 
                       SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
     Deloitte & Touche LLP serves as the Company's independent auditors. The
Board of Directors of the Company has not selected independent auditors for the
Company and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year ending February 28, 1999.
Representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP are expected to be present at the
Meeting with the opportunity to make a statement and to respond to appropriate
questions.
 
                             SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
 
     Any shareholder who intends to present a proposal for inclusion in the
proxy statement and form of proxy relating to the 1999 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders is advised that the proposal must be received by the Company at its
principal executive offices not later than January 31, 1999. The Company is not
required to include in its proxy statement or form of proxy a shareholder
proposal which is received after that date or which otherwise fails to meet
requirements for shareholder proposals established by regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   11
 
      COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
     Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
directors and executive officers, and owners of more than ten percent of the
Company's Class A Common Shares ("10% stockholders"), to file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and the American Stock Exchange
initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Common
Shares of the Company. Executive officers, directors and 10% stockholders are
required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all forms they
file pursuant to Section 16(a).
 
     To the Company's knowledge, based solely on review of the copies of such
reports furnished to the Company and written representations that no other
reports were required, during the fiscal year ended March 1, 1998, all Section
16(a) filing requirements applicable to its executive officers, directors and
10% stockholders were complied with.
 
                            EXPENSES OF SOLICITATION
 
     The cost of the solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company. In
addition to the use of the mails, proxies may be solicited by regular employees
of the Company, either personally or by telephone or telegraph. The Company does
not expect to pay any compensation for the solicitation of proxies, but it may
reimburse brokers and other persons holding shares in their names or in the
names of nominees for their expenses in sending proxy materials to beneficial
owners and obtaining proxies from such owners.
 
                                 OTHER MATTERS
 
     The Board of Directors is not aware of any matters to be presented for
action at the Meeting other than those shown in this document. Should any other
matters be properly presented for action at the Meeting, the enclosed proxy
confers upon the proxy holders named therein the authority to vote on such
matters in accordance with their judgment.
 
                                              BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
                                            KENNETH L. HIGNETT
                                              Secretary
Beachwood, Ohio
June 5, 1998
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   12
 
            P R O X Y                                                  P R O X Y
                                    MORGAN'S FOODS, INC.
 
                The undersigned hereby appoints Lawrence S. Dolin, Leonard R.
            Stein-Sapir and James J. Liguori, and each of them, attorneys and
            proxies of the undersigned with full power of substitution to attend
            the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Morgan's Foods, Inc. (the
            "Company") at Cleveland Marriott East, 3663 Park East Drive,
            Beachwood, Ohio, on Thursday, June 25, 1998 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern
            Daylight Time, or any adjournment thereof, and to vote the number of
            shares of the Company which the undersigned would be entitled to
            vote and with all the power the undersigned would possess, if
            personally present, as follows:
 
                    1. [ ] FOR, or [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for the
                following nominees for election as directors: Leonard R.
                Stein-Sapir, Richard A. Arons, Lawrence S. Dolin, James J.
                Liguori, Steven S. Kaufman, Bernard Lerner and Kenneth L.
                Hignett.
 
                (INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual
                              nominee, write that nominee's name on the line
                              provided below.)
 
                ----------------------------------------------------------------
 
                    2. On such other business as may properly come before the
                meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
                                (continued, and to be signed, on the other side)
 
            (Continued from other side)
 
                THE PROXIES WILL VOTE AS SPECIFIED ABOVE OR IF A CHOICE IS NOT
            SPECIFIED THEY WILL VOTE FOR THE NOMINEES LISTED IN ITEM 1.
                                                     Receipt of Notice of Annual
                                                     Meeting of Shareholders and
                                                     Proxy State-
                                                     ment dated June 5, 1998, is
                                                     hereby acknowledged.
 
                                                     Dated............... , 1998
 
                                                     ...........................
 
                                                     ...........................
 
                                                     ...........................
                                                            Signature(s)
 
                                                     (Please sign exactly as
                                                     your name or names
                                                     appear(s) hereon,
                                                     indicating, where proper,
                                                     official position or
                                                     representative capacity.)
 
              THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
                                   Proxy Card


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