EXHIBIT 99
                                                                    ----------

                                  NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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   SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. SEES NO REASON FOR UNUSUAL MARKET ACTIVITY

Whippany,  New Jersey,  July 24, 2002 - Suburban Propane  Partners,  L.P. (NYSE:
SPH),  a leading  marketer  of propane  gas and related  products  and  services
nationwide,  stated  it is not  aware of any  business  development  that  would
account  for  the  unusual  market  activity  in its  Common  Units  today.  The
Partnership  remains  scheduled to announce its  quarterly  earnings  before the
opening  of the New York  Stock  Exchange  tomorrow,  July 25,  2002.  Analysts,
investors and other interested  parties are encouraged to listen to management's
discussion of the  Partnership's  Fiscal 2002 third quarter results and business
outlook     by     accessing     the     call     via    the     internet     at
HTTP://WWW.SUBURBANPROPANE.COM, or by telephone as follows:

                             Phone #: (888) 276-0005
            Ask for: Suburban Propane Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2002
                             Results Conference Call

Suburban Propane Partners,  L.P. is a publicly traded Master Limited Partnership
listed on the New York Stock Exchange.  Headquartered  in Whippany,  New Jersey,
Suburban  has  been in the  customer  service  business  since  1928  and is the
nation's third largest propane gas marketer. The Partnership serves over 800,000
residential,   commercial,   industrial  and  agricultural   customers   through
approximately  330 customer  service  centers in more than 40 states.  Corporate
news,  unit prices and  additional  information  about Suburban are available 24
hours a day, 7 days a week on the company's  web site:  WWW.SUBURBANPROPANE.COM.
To receive news releases via fax: Dial 800-758-5804 and input extension 112074.

This press release contains certain forward-looking  statements which management
believes to be  reasonable  as of today's date only.  Actual  results may differ
significantly  because of risks and uncertainties  that are difficult to predict
and  many of  which  are  beyond  management's  control.  You  should  read  the
Partnership's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more  extensive  list of factors
that could affect  results.  Among them are adverse  weather  conditions,  price
volatility and availability of propane, the capacity to transport propane to our
market areas and regional  economic  conditions.  The Partnership  undertakes no
obligation  to release  revisions to its  forward-looking  statements to reflect
events or circumstances occurring after today.

Company contact:  Robert M. Plante
                  Vice President-Finance & Treasurer
                  (973) 503-9252