Benihana Inc. (NASDAQ: BNHNA; BNHN), operator of the nation’s largest chain of Japanese theme and sushi restaurants, today reported total restaurant sales and comparable restaurant sales for the second four-week period (November 8 – December 5, 2010) of the third fiscal quarter 2011.
For the second four-week period, total restaurant sales increased 3.7% to $22.7 million from $21.9 million, while Company-wide comparable restaurant sales increased 4.5%, representing the tenth consecutive period of comparable restaurant sales increases. By concept, comparable restaurant sales increased 8.9% at Benihana Teppanyaki, but decreased 3.7% at RA Sushi and 1.8% at Haru. There were a total of 386 store-operating weeks in the second four-week period of the third fiscal quarter 2011 compared to a total of 392 store-operating weeks in the second four-week period of the third fiscal quarter 2010.
Richard C. Stockinger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, “The continued success of our Renewal Program, combined with our ‘Chef’s Special’ promotion, helped us achieve an impressive 12.6% increase in guest count during the four-week period. This is our largest year-over-year same period gain since the onset of the Renewal Program in September 2009. While we are pleased with the comparable sales performance of our flagship Teppanyaki brand, we also appreciate our need to address the renewed softness at both RA Sushi and Haru, and intend to do so through various menu, promotional, and marketing initiatives.”