Frisch’s Reports Higher Sales and Earnings in the Second Quarter of Fiscal 2011

Frisch's Reports Higher Sales and Earnings in the Second Quarter of Fiscal 2011Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE Amex: FRS) reported higher earnings for its 12-week fiscal second quarter ended December 14, 2010.  Net earnings for the quarter increased 4.9% to $2,484,877 compared to $2,369,217 last year.  Diluted earnings per share increased to $.49 per share, from $.46 per share last year. Sales increased 4.1% to $70,651,447 from $67,898,586 in last year’s second quarter.  

For the first half of fiscal 2011, sales were $163,577,281 rising 4.3% from $156,880,688 for the first half of last year.  Earnings decreased 1.7% to $5,266,156 from $5,356,882.  Diluted earnings per share declined a penny to $1.02 from $1.03 last year.  

Craig F. Maier, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Total Big Boy sales increased 5.3%, as new store openings continued to push sales higher in the quarter.  Same store sales at our Big Boy Restaurants decreased 1.1% in the second quarter, due in part to the impact of new stores opening near existing restaurants.”  

Maier added, “Our Golden Corral restaurants posted a same store sales increase of 1.4% during the second quarter.  The national marketing campaigns of Golden Corral continue to drive our sales gains.”

The increase in earnings for the quarter resulted from a lower effective income tax rate, which also added to net earnings for the first half of the year.  Operating earnings were down throughout the first half of the year as a result of higher new store opening costs and increases in the cost of food sold.

The Company has opened four new Big Boy restaurants since the beginning of the fiscal year, including two in the second quarter.  Frisch’s operates 95 company-owned Big Boy restaurants and there are an additional 25 franchised Big Boy restaurants operated by licensees.  The Company also operates 35 Golden Corral restaurants.

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. is a regional company that operates full service family-style restaurants under the name “Frisch’s Big Boy.”  The Company also operates grill buffet style restaurants under the name “Golden Corral” pursuant to certain licensing agreements.  All Big Boy restaurants are currently located in various regions of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Golden Corral restaurants currently operate primarily in the greater metropolitan areas of Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo, Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  

The Company owns the trademark “Frisch’s” and has exclusive, irrevocable ownership of the rights to the “Big Boy” trademark, trade name and service marks in the states of Kentucky and Indiana, and in most of Ohio and Tennessee.  All of the Frisch’s Big Boy restaurants also offer “drive-thru” service.  The Company also licenses Big Boy restaurants to other operators, currently in certain parts of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

The Company has reported a profit every year since going public in 1960, and paid cash dividends to shareholders every quarter over the same period.

Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts are forward looking statements as that item is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. Such forward looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from estimated results. Such risks and uncertainties are detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 
Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS (unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share data)

 
Twenty-eight weeks ended Twelve weeks ended  
December 14, December 15, December 14, December 15,  
2010 2009 2010 2009  
 
Sales $     163,577 $   156,881 $ 70,651 $ 67,899  
Cost of sales  
Food and paper 56,080 53,076 24,100 22,802  
Payroll and related 54,382 52,485 23,617 22,781  
Other operating costs 36,797 35,203 15,534 15,186  
147,259 140,764 63,251 60,769  
Gross profit 16,318 16,117 7,400 7,130  
Administrative and advertising 8,805 7,962 3,992 3,507  
Franchise fees and other revenue (696) (688) (296) (296)  
Operating profit 8,209 8,843 3,704 3,919  
Interest expense 849 965 375 434  
Earnings before income tax 7,360 7,878 3,329 3,485  
Income taxes 2,134 2,521 844 1,116  
NET EARNINGS $        5,226 $      5,357 $   2,485 $   2,369  
 
Earnings per share (EPS) of common stock:  
Basic net earnings per share $1.03 $1.05 $.49 $.46  
Diluted net earnings per share $1.02 $1.03 $.49 $.46  
Diluted average shares outstanding 5,112 5,211 5,098 5,196  
Depreciation included above $        8,287 $      7,436 $   3,725 $   3,215  
Opening expense included above $           916 $         226 $     368 $     212  
                 
Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

(In thousands of Dollars)

 
December 14, June 1,  
2010 2010  
(unaudited)  
Assets  
Current assets  
Cash and equivalents $            341 $       647  
Receivables 1,410 1,534  
Inventories 5,994 5,959  
Other current assets 3,407 2,249  
11,152 10,389  
Property and equipment 171,108 168,699  
Other assets  
Goodwill & other intangible assets 1,277 1,459  
Property held for sale and land investments 4,269 3,682  
Deferred income taxes and other 4,245 5,024  
9,791 10,165  
 
$      192,051 $ 189,253  
 
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity  
Current liabilities  
Accounts payable $        11,323 $  10,558  
Accrued expenses 9,978 9,641  
Other 8,706 8,342  
30,007 28,541  
 
Long-term obligations  
Long-term debt 22,140 23,795  
Other long-term obligations 17,371 16,823  
39,511 40,618  
 
Shareholders’ equity 122,533 120,094  
 
$      192,051 $ 189,253