<PAGE>
ARAMARK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES EXHIBIT 12
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (A)
(In thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Year Ended
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 29, October 1, October 2, October 3, September 27,
2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Income before income taxes
and minority interest $271,780 $239,413 $215,772 $215,847 $179,159
Fixed charges, excluding
capitalized interest 204,676 188,184 169,997 163,404 160,740
Other, net (3,109) (3,845) (2,063) (67) (371)
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Earnings, as adjusted $473,347 $423,752 $383,706 $379,184 $339,528
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Interest expense $149,430 $139,829 $122,681 $119,284 $117,856
Capitalized interest 624 412 3 223 414
Portion of operating lease
rentals representative
of interest factor 55,246 48,355 47,316 44,120 42,884
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Fixed charges $205,300 $188,596 $170,000 $163,627 $161,154
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Ratio of earnings to
fixed charges 2.3x 2.2x 2.3x 2.3x 2.1x
======== ========= ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
(A) For the purpose of determining the ratio of earnings to fixed charges,
earnings include pre-tax income plus fixed charges (excluding capitalized
interest). Fixed charges consist of interest on all indebtedness (including
capitalized interest) plus that portion of operating lease rentals
representative of the interest factor (deemed to be one-third of operating
lease rentals).
