The Latest News

FE&S delivers relevant news of the day to the foodservice equipment and supplies marketplace.

Advertisement

Chain Restaurant Operating Report for March 9

BJ's Restaurants, Beautiful Brands International, Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Famous Dave's, UFood Restaurant Group and Wendy's/Arby's are among the restaurant chains reporting expansion and financial results this week.

BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (Nasdaq:BJRI) opened a BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse in Tyler, Texas. The chain plans to open 12 to 13 restaurants by the end of 2011, according to a company release.

Beautiful Brands International (BBI) opened 12 FreshBerry stores in the Middle East, the biggest overseas expansion for the multi-concept operator. In addition, BBI announced it opened a FreshBerry location in Wellington, Fla., the concept's 40th store in the United States.

Quick-casual restaurant chain operator Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:BAGL), reported that total revenues for its 2010 fiscal year increased 0.8 percent to $411.7 million compared to 2009 levels. System-wide comparable store sales increased 0.3 percent. Einstein Noah Restaurant group operates such concepts as the Einstein Bros. Bagels, Noah's New York Bagels, and Manhattan Bagel.

Famous Dave's of America (Nasdaq:DAVE) opened a restaurant in in Lawrence, Kan. The barbeque restaurant chain now operates five locations in Kansas.

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) has awarded UFood Restaurant Group Inc. (OTC.BB:UFFC) a contract to build and operate two UFood Grill units at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) in Maryland. The restaurants are projected to open in May 2011.

Wendy's/Arby's International, Inc., a subsidiary of Wendy's/Arby's Group, Inc. (NYSE: WEN), and Tokyo-based Higa Industries Co., Ltd., announced plans to develop and operate Wendy's restaurants in Japan. A food importer and distributor, Higa Industries is led by Ernest Higa, who successfully owned and operated 180 Domino's Pizza stores in Japan before selling this business in Feb. 2010. The first Wendy's restaurant is expected to open in Tokyo later this year.