FlashNews February 6, 2006 - Chain Operating Report

February 6 , 2006

Chain Operating Report

Benihana, CKE and Darden Restaurants including Red Lobster and Olive Garden report financial results.

Benihana reported total revenues rose 11.2 percent, or $55.6 million, for the fiscal third quarter ending Jan. 1, compared to $50.1 million for the same period last year. Same-store sales increased 7.4 percent.

Buffalo Wild Wings announced total revenues for the fiscal 2005 year ending Dec. 25 rose 21.3 percent and same-store sales for the fourth quarter ending that date increased 2.5 percent.

California Pizza Kitchen announced revenues for the fourth fiscal quarter ending Jan. 1 rose 8.9 percent, or $125.4 million and same-store sales increased 5.3 percent during that period. For the 2005 fiscal year ending Jan. 1, revenues rose 13.5 percent to $479.6 million, and same-store sales increased 7.5 percent.

The Cheesecake Factory stated total revenues for the 2005 fiscal year increased 23 percent to $328.3 million and same-store sales for the fiscal year increased 1.6 percent for the Cheesecake Factory and 3.3 percent for Grand Lux Café.

CKE Restaurants Inc. reported same-store sales for Carl’s Jr. increased 5.8 percent and sales for Hardee’s increased 12.4 percent by the close of the fiscal four-week period ending Jan. 30.

Darden Restaurants reported same-store sales for its Red Lobster restaurants increased between 11 percent and 12 percent for the four-week fiscal period ending Jan. 29, compared to an 8-percent to 9-percent decrease for the same period last year. Comparable sales at Olive Garden rose 8 percent for that four-week period, compared to a 4-percent to 5-percent increase last year.

O’Charley’s Inc. reported revenues increased 5.7 percent, or $213.7 million, for the fiscal fourth quarter ending Dec. 25, 2005, and total revenues for that fiscal year rose 6.7 percent to $930.2 million. Same-store sales for the fourth fiscal quarter decreased .8 percent for O’Charley’s restaurants, and increased 1.9 percent for Ninety Nine Restaurant and Pub. Sales for Stoney River Legendary Steaks rose 7 percent during that period.

Outback Steakhouse Inc. reported systemwide, comparable sales for the four-week period ending Jan. 28. Sales rose 2 percent for its Outback Steakhouses, 7.4 percent for Carrabba’s Italian Grills, 9 percent for Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bars, 7.5 percent for Roy’s and 3.7 percent for Bonefish Grills.

Panera Bread reported systemwide, comparable sales rose 10.2 percent for the four-week period ending Jan. 24.

Ryan’s Restaurant Group announced same-store sales for the five-week period ending Feb. 1 in-creased 4.8 percent.

Wendy’s International reported same-store sales for the fiscal 2005 year ending Jan. 1 decreased for the first time in 18 years, due in part to a consumer fraud incident involving a woman who planted a finger in her chili. Same-store sales for domestic-wide Wendy’s dropped 3.7 percent, and franchise sales dropped 3.1 percent. Same-store sales for systemwide Baja Fresh stores also decreased 3.7 per-cent. Tim Horton’s sales rose 7 percent in the United States and 5.2 percent in Canada. Total revenues for 2005 increased 4.1 percent to $3.8 billion.

Wetzel’s Pretzels reported a 12-percent increase in domestic, systemwide comparable sales for its 2005 fiscal year ending Dec. 31.

Yum Brands Inc. announced world- and systemwide comparable sales rose 2 percent during the fiscal fourth quarter ending Dec. 31, and 3 percent for the 2005 fiscal year. Broken down, same-store sales rose 11 percent for Taco Bell and 8 percent for KFC, but declined 4 percent for Pizza Hut during the fourth quarter.