Nation's Restaurant News Daily NewsFax articles from October 2001

Nation's Restaurant News Daily NewsFax archives from October 2001

MCDONALD'S CORP.(services information)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 31, 2001... OAK BROOK Ill. - MCDONALD'S CORP., concluding its two-day biennial analyst meeting, said it would retrofit 10 existing restaurants next year in Evansville, Ind., to feature a diner concept inside a traditional McDonald's. The effort is aimed...

METROMEDIA RESTAURANT GROUP.(employee layoffs)(Brief Article)
October 31, 2001... PLANO, Texas - METROMEDIA RESTAURANT GROUP laid off 29 corporate employees as part of a restructuring plan to decentralize the company and lower overhead costs during the current economic downturn. Additional layoffs at the corporate level...

AMERICA WEST AIRLINES.(service information)(Brief Article)
October 31, 2001... PHOENIX - AMERICA WEST AIRLINES said it would resume foodservice on most flights between Phoenix and several East Coast cities, including Boston, New York and Washington Anthony Mule, senior vice president of customer service, said meal...

BIG BOY RESTAURANTS.(Big Boy International Inc. restaurant in Michigan)(Brief Article)
October 31, 2001... WARREN, Mich. - BIG BOY RESTAURANTS rolled out an offshoot of its family restaurant called BIG BOY ORIGINAL "AT THE MOVIES" in a former JOHNNY ROCKETS site in the Star Southfield Entertainment Centre in Southfield, Mich. Big Boy Original...

PAPA JOHN'S INTERNATIONAL INC.(third-quarter earnings)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 31, 2001... LOUISVILLE, Ky. - PAPA JOHN'S INTERNATIONAL INC. said third-quarter profits fell 9 percent to $10.5 million, vs. results of the year-ago period. Nine-month earnings were flat at $35.7 million as revenue for the period grew 6 percent to $727.2...

SCHLOTZSKY'S INC.(third-quarter earnings)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 31, 2001... AUSTIN, Texas - SCHLOTZSKY'S INC.'s third-quarter earnings were $658,538, more than 4.5 times the year-ago period's profits. Nine-month earnings were $2 million, vs. a loss of $27 million, on a revenue rise of 6 percent to $46.9 million....

STOCK WATCH.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 31, 2001... STOCK WATCH Pct. Tues. Top Gainers (over $3) change Close Schlotzaky's Inc. 9.28 $5.90 Sonic Corp. 5.13 33.59 Peet's Coffee & Tea Inc. 3.74 ...

MCDONALD's CORP.(plans)(Brief Article)
October 30, 2001... OAK BROOK, Ill. --During its two-day biennial analyst meeting here, MCDONALD's CORP. shared business plans for next year and lowered its 2002 per-share earnings forecast to a growth rate of 5 percent to 10 percent before the effect of foreign...

FLYING FOOD GROUP.(staff cuts)(Brief Article)
October 30, 2001... CHICAGO -- Airline caterer FLYING FOOD GROUP cut about 22 percent of its work force of 1,800 around the U.S., according to a report in Crain's Chicago Business. MILTON LIU, Flying Food's senior vice president, blamed flight cutbacks by its...

BOSTON MARKET, A DIVISION OF MCDONALD'S CORP.(planning expansion into the Toronto market)(Brief Article)
October 30, 2001... GOLDEN, Colo. -- Moving forward with expansion plans outside the United States, BOSTON MARKET, a division of MCDONALD'S CORP., said it expects to open three restaurants in the Toronto market during the fall of 2002 in partnership with...

CHICKEN KITCHEN CORP.(2001 earnings report)(Brief Article)
October 30, 2001... MIAMI -- CHICKEN KITCHEN CORP., which operates three units and franchises 12 namesake restaurants, reported a fiscal 2001 loss of $288,638, vs. a fiscal 2000 loss of $1.1 million. The fourth-quarter loss was $42,695, compared with a year-ago...

AVADO BRANDS INC.(3rd-quarter earnings)(Brief Article)
October 30, 2001... MADISON. Ga - Hampered by the $45 million write-down of its 14-unit Canyon Cafe brand, AVADO BRANDS INC. reported a third-quarter loss of $64.4 million, compared with a loss of $8.3 million in the year-ago period. "As Canyon Cafe's sales have...

SWISS FOOD AND BEVERAGE COMPANY NESTLE.(Nestle to buy Hagen Dazs stake from Ice Cream Partners USA)(Brief Article)
October 30, 2001... ZURICH -- Swiss food and beverage company NESTLE said it is interested in talking full control of HAAGEN-DAZS ice cream by acquiring the 50-percent stake owned by its current partner in the ICE CREAM PARTNERS USA venture. THE PILLSBURY Co....

CRONIN/WALLWORK CURRY.(gets Bertucci's advertising account)(Brief Article)
October 30, 2001... NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. -- BERTUCCI'S hired Boston-based CRONIN/WALLWORK CURRY to handle its $4 million advertising account. In addition to developing creative, the advertising company will be responsible for brand building and & driving traffic...

STOCK WATCH.(top restaurant industry stock price gainers and losers)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 30, 2001... STOCKWATCH Pct. Mon. change Close Top Gainers (over $3) Benihana Inc. 10.10 $11.45 Schlotzsky's Inc. 6.47 5.40 TBAEntertainment ...

Phoenix Restaurant Group. (Just In).(facility closure information)(Brief Article)
October 29, 2001... NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- PHOENIX RESTAURANT GROUP has closed 57 of its 149 restaurants in the past two weeks, including 25 franchised Denny's and 32 branches of the Nashville-based company's Black-Eyed Pea chain, in Arizona, Maryland, New Mexico,...

Olive Hospitality Inc. (Just In).(signs contract with AFC ENTERPRISES INC)(Brief Article)
October 29, 2001... ATLANTA -- OLIVE HOSPITALITY INC. agreed to develop 30 POPEYES CHICKEN & BISCUTTS restaurants over the next seven years in the Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, area. Under Olive's deal with the Popeyes subsidiary of AFC ENTERPRISES INC.,...

Uncle Bud's Catfish. (Just In).(restaurant vaccination information)(Brief Article)
October 29, 2001... NASHVILLE -- County officials here in recent days vaccinated more than 800 customers of UNCLE BUD'S CATFISH restaurant who may have been exposed to hepatitis A from an infected employee, the Nashville Tennessean reported. The employee worked...

Restaurant Week. (Just In).(restaurant industry conference information)(Brief Article)
October 29, 2001... WASHINGTON -- To boost restaurant business, the first-ever RESTAURANT WEEK here will be held Nov. 12-18 under the sponsorship of the RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON and the WASHINGTON CONVENTION AND TOURISM CORP. The event...

Keyshawn Johnson. (Just In).(signs contract with Profusion restaurant group)(Brief Article)
October 29, 2001... Tampa, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver KEYSHAWN JOHNSON joined the PROFUSION restaurant group in opening its first United States location, a 12,000-square-foot, 300-seat venuc. The French-Asian upstart marks the second restaurant...

Big Boy Restaurants International. (Just In).(signs agreement with BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA)(Brief Article)
October 29, 2001... DETROIT -- BIG BOY RESTAURANTS INTERNATIONAL and the BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA are partnering for their annual "Operation Can Do" food drive to feed the hungry. On Nov. 10 hundreds of local scouts will collect canned goods, and Big Boy units will...

Mexican Restaurants. (Financial briefs).(MEXICAN RESTAURANTS INC buyout decision)(Brief Article)
October 29, 2001... HOUSTON -- The board of MEXICAN RESTAURANTS INC. has rejected as inadequate all buyout proposals received by the company. Mexican said its board further accepted advisors' recommendations to continue focusing on operational improvements and...

Kraft Foods Inc. (Supplier News).(company layoff information)(Brief Article)
October 29, 2001... NORTHFIELD, Ill. -- KRAFT FOODS INC. said it intends to trim 1,000 jobs from its 117,000-person workforce through voluntary retirements based on an enhanced benefits program. The Northfield-based company said the program would be offered to...

StockWatch.(Restaurant industry securities information)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 29, 2001... STOCKWATCH Top Gainers Pct. Fri. change Close Outback Steakhouse 9.09 $29.40 Panera Bread Co. 7.21 42.40 Garden Fresh Rents. 5.23...

BURGER KING CORP.(promotions)(Brief Article)
October 26, 2001... MIAMI -- BURGER KING CORP., in yet another move to prepare for its pending separation from London-based parent company DIAGEO PLC, revamped its finance division to put new worldwide standards in place. BK said the new structure would enable...

PANDA RESTAURANT GROUP.(acquires stake in FoodBrand L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
October 26, 2001... SOUTH PASADENA, Calif -- PANDA RESTAURANT GROUP, formerly Panda Management Co., whose PANDA EXPRESS chain is the largest Chinese quick-service brand, said it is qcquiring a 40-percent stake in FOODBRAND LLC, a 2-year-old subsidiary of...

SODEXHO INC.(joint venture with Standard Coffee Service Co.)(Brief Article)
October 26, 2001... GAITHERSBURG, Md. -- SODEXHO INC.'s Corporate Services division launched two joint ventures, with New Orleans-based STANDARD COFFEE SERVICE CO., for office refreshment, and Fort Lauderdale, Fla-based ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATES., for vending.

ROMACORP INC.(franchise deal with Ruben Mansur Jr.)(Brief Article)
October 26, 2001... DALLAS -- ROMACORP INC.'s international subsidiary, ROMA SYSTEMS INC., signed a franchise deal with RUBEN MANSUR JR to develop TONY ROMA'S restaurants in the Netherlands Antilles islands of Curacao, St. Maarten, Bonaire and Aruba. Mansur...

LITTLE CAESARS ENTERPRISES INC.(to sell units)(Brief Article)
October 26, 2001... DETROIT -- LITTLE CAESARS ENTERPRISES INC. said it will sell more than 500 company-owned units to franchisees, the Detroit News reported. The sale would reduce the pizza chain's number of company-operated units to between 50 and 100. Little...

PANERA BREAD CO.(sales)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 26, 2001... ST. LOUIS -- PANERA BREAD CO., whose other bakery-case chain is SAINT LOUIS BREAD CO., said systemwide same-store sales rose 5.4 percent in the four weeks ended Oct. 6, vs. the same year-ago period. For the 12 weeks ended Oct. 6, same-store...

O'CHARLEY'S INC.(earnings)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 26, 2001... NASHVILLE, Tenn -- Hampered by an aftertax charge of $3.8 million for the planned closing of five stores in the next year, 163-unit O'CHARLEY'S INC. posted an 88-percent decline in third-quarter earnings to $495,000. Nine-month profits fell...

HARDEE'S FOOD SYSTEMS INC.(new agency to handle advertising account)(Brief Article)
October 26, 2001... ST. LOUIS -- HARDEE'S FOOD SYSTEMS INC. selected Los Angeles-based MENDELSOHNZIEN to handle its national creative advertising account M/Z, which also handles Hardee's sister chain Carl's Jr., said Hardee's needs consistent advertising to...

STOCK WATCH.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
October 26, 2001... STOCKWATCH Pct. Thurs. Top Gainers (over $3) change close O'Charley's 7.80 S15.75 Diedrich Coffee Co. 6.59 3.56 CKE Restaurants Inc. 4.88 ...

TACO BELL.(testing a special menu in one location)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2001... GARDEN GROVE, Calif.--TACO BELL is testing a new concept called TACO BELL GRILL at are flagged branch here in a Hispanic neighborhood on Harbor Boulevard at Banner Avenue, about three miles south of Disneyland. In addition to a limited number...

MCDONALD'S CORP.(filed suit against Simon Marketing and Jerome Jacobson for game fraud)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2001... CHICACO--MCDONALD'S CORP. filed a federal lawsuit here against SIMON MARKETING INC., which formerly ran the chain's game promotions and employed the alleged mastermind of a ring previously charged with cheating McDonald's out of more than $20...

DAMON'S INTERNATIONAL.(ad campaign to include new name, Damon's Grill)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2001... COLUMBUS, Ohio --- DAMON'S INTERNATIONAL will add the word "grill" to the name of its casual-dining restaurants on Oct. 29, revamp their menus and break a regional ad campaign as part of rebranding efforts that began last spring The 145-unit...

CHARLIE TROTTER.(planning a London restaurant)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2001... CHICAGO -- CHARLIE TROTTER, chef-owner of the acclaimed CHARLIE TROTTER'S restaurant, signed a lease to open a restaurant in London. Expected to debut next year, the new place will be more casual than his Chicago restaurant and may have an...

DINE OUT FOR AMERICA.(raised about $18 million for disaster relief)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2001... SEATTLE -- About $18 million was raised on Oct. 11 in the international DINE OUT FOR AMERICA effort by restaurants to send aid to victims of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, according to Seattle-based RESTAURANTS UNLIMITED INC., whose employees...

CHANG'S CHINA BISTRO INC.(third quarter figures)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2001... PHOENIX--P.F. CHANG's CHINA BISTRO INC. reported a 68-percent increase in third-quarter earnings to $3.6 million, vs. the previous-year period. Nine-month earnings rose 63 percent to $10.8 million as revenue grew 38 percent to $229.4 million...

DOMINO'S INC.(third quarter profits)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2001... ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- For the third quarter ended Sept. 9, DOMINO'S INC. reported a 66.7-percent jump in net income to $7.9 million, compared with $4.8 million in the year-ago period. Revenues in the quarter were up 8.1 percent to $289.5...

ROMACORP INC.(created new v.p. position for Brad Lutz)(Brief Article)
October 25, 2001... DALLAS -- ROMACORP INC. appointed BRAD LUTZ to the newly created post of vice president of people and learning for the 243-unit TONY ROMA'S casual-dining chain. He has been in charge of domestic and international training for Tony Roma's...

STOCKWATCH.(Brief Article)
October 25, 2001... STOCKWATCH Pct. Web. Top Gainers (over $3) change Close Lone Star Steak House 10.79 $13.55 Morton's Rest. Group 6.00 9.90 Smith & Wollensky 4.72...

BLIMPIE INTERNATIONAL INC.(Brief Article)
October 24, 2001... NEW YORK--BLIMPIE INTERNATIONAL INC., franchisor of about 2,000 sandwich shops in the U.S. and 15 other countries, said it and six of its directors were named defendants in a class-action lawsuit by a shareholder alleging that the company's...

BOBBY RUBINO.(Brief Article)
October 24, 2001... FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- BOBBY RUBINO, 70-year-old-founder of BOBBY RUBINO'S PLACE FOR RIBS, died last Thursday after suffering from a liver disease, the Associated Press reported. Rubino opened his first namesake restaurant in 1979 after a...

MORTON'S RESTAURANT GROUP.(Brief Article)
October 24, 2001... NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. -- MORTON'S RESTAURANT GROUP, saying same-store sales in the third quarter were off 16 percent, including a 26-percent drop in September, reported a quarterly loss of $1.95 million on revenue of $52.3 million, vs. net...

PICCADILLY CAFETERIAS INC.(Brief Article)
October 24, 2001... BATON ROUGE, La. -- Despite the negative impact of a $1.1 million charge for the early paydown of debt, 215-unit PICCADILLY CAFETERIAS INC. posted first-quarter net earnings of $91,000, vs. a loss of $1.9 million in the year-ago period. The...

CHAMPPS ENTERTAINMENT INC.(Brief Article)
October 24, 2001... ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- CHAMPPS ENTERTAINMENT INC. reported a 72-percent plunge in earnings for the first quarter ended Sept. 30. Net profit for the period was $476,000, vs. $1.7 million in the year-ago quareter. Revenues were up 5.1 percent to...

J. ALEXANDER'S CORP.(Brief Article)
October 24, 2001... NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- J. ALEXANDER'S CORP., operator of 23 namesake dinnerhouses, reported a third-quarter loss of $274,000, vs. a loss of $322,000 in the year-ago period. The nine-month loss was $40,000, vs. year-ago earnings of $293,000, as...

CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN INC.(Brief Article)
October 24, 2001... LOS ANGELES -- CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN INC. said its 128-unit chain's same-store sales in the fourth quarter could be flat or down 1 percent as fully diluted earnings per share could be lower than previous estimates, or 14 cents to 16 cents....

BRINKER INTERNATIONAL INC.(Brief Article)
October 24, 2001... DALLAS -- BRINKER INTERNATIONAL INC. reported a 13-percent increase in first-quarter profits to $39.6 million. Revenue rose 17 percent to $690.5 million. Consolidated same-store sales grew 0.5 percent, rising 29 percent at Chili's and falling...

BACK YARD BURGERS INC.(Brief Article)
October 24, 2001... MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- BACK YARD BURGERS INC. reported a 90-percent increase in third-quarter earnings to $275,000. Nine-month earnings rose 85 percent to $796,000. Nine-month revenue grew 6 percent to $23.4 million. Third-quarter same-store sales...

AUNTIE ANNE'S INC.(MERRILL SMUCKER)(Brief Article)
October 24, 2001... GAP, Pa. -- Soft-pretzel franchisor AUNTIE ANNE'S INC. named MERRILL SMUCKER manager of franchise sales and marketing for Auntie Anne's, Cookie Farm and Auntie Anne's Creamo Classic Cones. Smucker previously was an Auntie Anne's franchises.

FUDDRUCKERS RESTAURANTS.(FRANK MORALES chief operating officer)(Brief Article)
October 24, 2001... BEVERLY, Mass. -- FUDDRUCKERS RESTAURANTS named FRANK MORALES chief operating officer. He formerly was executive vice president of Taco Bueno Restaurants, regional VP for Long John Silver's and district manager at Jack in the Box.

STOCK WATCH.(Illustration)
October 24, 2001... STOCK WATCH Pct. Tues. Top Gainers (over $3) change Close Friendly Ice Cream Corp. 9.36 $5.14 Diedrich Coffee Co. 6.25 3.23 Checkers Drive-In Rests. 5.06 ...

STEVE WYNN.(planning new Le Reve resort in Las Vegas, NV)(Brief Article)
October 23, 2001... LAS VEGAS -- STEVE WYNN, whose founding of Mirage Resorts here helped spark the city's hypertheme hotel boom, population explosion and ascent as a restaurant mecca, disclosed plans to include a branch of New York's famed BALTHAZAR brasserie...

AMERICAN HOSPITALITY CONCEPTS INC.(plans to offer company-owned restaurants to franchisees)(Brief Article)
October 23, 2001... BRAINTREE, Mass. -- AMERICAN HOSPITALITY CONCEPTS INC., parent company of the 32-year-old GROUND ROUND GRILLAND BAR casual-dining chain, disclosed plans to offer company-owned restaurants to franchisees. AHCI currently operates about 150...

KRISPY KREME.(makes Forbes list of '200 Best Small Companies')(Brief Article)
October 23, 2001... NEW YORK--KRISPY KREME was one of eight restaurant companies to score a spot on FORBES magazine's list of "200 Best Small Companies," coming in at No. 94. Ranked by profitability and growth, criteria for the list also included a minimum of...

PREZZO INTERNATIONAL.(planning three new restaurants)(Brief Article)
October 23, 2001... BOCARATON, Fla-PREZZO INTERNATIONAL, operator of three upscale-casual Prezzo restaurants, will open three more next year including one next spring in Orlando, Fla, according to business development director GARY PACIELLO. The Orlando venture...

FRISCH'S RESTAURANTS INC.(1st-quarter earnings report)(Brief Article)
October 23, 2001... CINCINNATI -- FRISCH'S RESTAURANTS INC. reported a 16-percent decline in first-quarter earnings, to $2 million, on a 16-percent increase in sales, to $63.2 million, vs. the previous-year period. The comparable year-ago quarter included net...

TAMRESTAURANTS INC.(changes management)(Brief Article)
October 23, 2001... NEWYORK--TAMRESTAURANTS INC.'s chief executive, FRANK CRETELLA, and chairman of the board, KEN HARRIS, have resigned from the company Two other board members, LUKE JOHNSON and JEANNE CRETELLA, also resigned their posts. TAM, operator of LUNDY...

MICROS SYSTEMS INC.(to provide point-of-sale systems technology to Perkins Restaurant and Bakery)(Brief Article)
October 23, 2001... COLUMBIA, Md. -- Information technology provider MICROS SYSTEMS INC. signed an agreement to provide its its point-of-sale system technology to PERKINS RESTAURANT & BAKERY. Perkins will use the technology for all new store openings for the...

MCDONALD'S RESTAURANTS.(Fruit N' Yogurt Parfait sales in northeastern Indiana to benefit Ronald McDonald Family Room at Parkview Hospital)(Brief Article)
October 23, 2001... FORT WAYNE, Ind -- Northeastern Indiana MCDONALD'S restaurants will donate 25 cents of every Fruit 'N Yogurt Parfait purchase to the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Parkview Hospital here through Dec.31. The room will be a place for families...

STOCK WATCH.(top restaurant industry stock price movements)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 23, 2001... STOCK WATCH Pct. Mon. Top Gainers (over $3) change Close Friendly Ice Cream Corp. 10.59 $4.70 Ark Restaurant Group 6.86 6.54 California Pizza Kitchen 6.04 ...

HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL.(Planet Hollywood International files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection)(Brief Article)
October 22, 2001... ORLANDO, Fla. -- Citing an "enormous decline in tourist travel" since Sept 11. PLANET HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL Friday told securities regulators that it and 18 of its operating subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in...

DELTA AIR LINES.(to eliminate food service)(Brief Article)
October 22, 2001... WASHINGTON -- Even as DELTA AIR LINES said it will follow the lead of American Airlines, TWA and US Airways in eliminating meal service on most flights to save money amid the air travel slump, AFL-CIO president JOHN SWEENEY was urging...

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL COMMISSION.(loses case regarding liquor advertising law)(Brief Article)
October 22, 2001... SALT LAKE CITY -- In an out-of-court settlement of the federal lawsuit that promoted the recent overhaul of Utah's restrictive liquor advertising law, the stare's ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL COMMISSION agreed to pay plaintiff attorney BRIAN...

PRANDIUM INC.(Chi-Chi's Mexican restaurant to open in Cedar Rapids, Iowa)(Brief Article)
October 22, 2001... IRVINE, Calif. -- PRANDIUM INC. parent of the Chi-Chi's Mexican dinnerhouse chain, is scheduled to open the second location of its fast-casual MESQUITE BEACH restaurant today in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Menu items at the restaurant, known for its...

WENDY'S INTERNATIONAL INC.(repurchases 9.7 million shares)(Brief Article)
October 22, 2001... DUBLIN, Ohio -- WENDY'S INTERNATIONAL INC. repurchased 9.7 million of its shares for $250 million from Ronald Joyce, co-founder of Tim Hortonos, and entities he owns. Wendy's used about $50 million in available cash and borrowed the rest to...

CHECKERS DRIVE-IN RESTAURANTS INC.(third quarter earnings)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 22, 2001... CLEARWATER, Fla. -- CHECKERS DRIVE-IN RESTAURANTS INC. reported a 44-percent decline in third-quarter earnings to $452,000. vs. the previous-year period. The company said minimal units were sold, opened or transferred during the quarter....

BURGER KING.(raises money for Scholars Program)(Brief Article)
October 22, 2001... MIAMI -- BURGER KING is raising money for its Scholars Program with a "Small Fries for Little Monsters" promotion. Participating Burger King restaurants will sell $1 coupon books containing eight coupons for one free small order of fries or...

STOCKWATCH.(restaurant top gainers and losers)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
October 22, 2001... STOCKWATCH Pct. Frl. Top Gainers (over $3) change Close CKE Restaurants Inc. 11.23 $7.03 Friendly Ice Cream Corp. 8.97 4.25 Landry's Seafood 4.66 16.85...

BURGER KING CORP.(buys Florida restaurants)
October 19, 2001... MIAMI -- BURGER KING CORP. said it acquired 30 restaurants in Florida from Bloomington, Minn.-based NATH FRANCHISE GROUP, which remains one of the chain's largest franchisees with 102 stores. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. A. BK...

PORT CITY JAVA INC.(to open Wild Flour Bread Co. concept)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2001... WILMINGTON, N.C. -- Regional coffee operator PORT CITY JAVA INC., whose 41-unit brand now operates in six states as well as Iceland, is preparing the launch of WILD FLOUR BREAD CO., a bakery-cafe prototype, in its home market here. According...

FHG ACQUISITION LLC.(buys Checkers units from Capital Management)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2001... MT. LAUREL, N.J. -- In a $13 million deal, FHG ACQUISITION LLC here bought 10 CHECKERS restaurants and real estate on Long Island, N.Y., from former Checkers franchisee CAPITAL MANAGEMENT. FHG is led by 17-year Burger King veteran JOSEPH...

NOODLES & CO.(Mary Beth Lewis, executive vice president)(Brief Article)
October 19, 2001... BOULDER, Colo. -- Fast-casual chain NOODLES & CO. tapped MARY BETH LEWIS as executive vice president and chief administrative officer, effective Oct. 29. She previously served as chief financial officer for Wild Oats Markets Inc., overseeing...

MCDONALD'S CORP.(third quarter finances)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 19, 2001... OAK BROOK, Ill. -- MCDONALD'S CORP., in reporting its fourth straight quarter of decreased earnings, said net income fell 1 percent to $545.5 million in the third quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with the year-ago period. The company took an...

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INC.(third quarter financials)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 19, 2001... CALABASAS HILLS, Calif. -- THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INC. reported record results for the third quarter ended Oct. 2, including a 24-percent gain in total revenues to $137.6 million and a 15-percent jump in operating income before preopening...

Chicken Scratch.(Kentucky Fried Chicken contest)
October 19, 2001... TORONTO -- KFC launched an $80 million scratch-and-win contest in Canada featuring ten $1 million prizes and other awards up to $200,000. The "Chicken Scratch" promo, the first of its kind for KFC in Canada, runs through Nov. 18.

STOCK WATCH.(restaurant companies)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 19, 2001... STOCK WATCH Pct. Thurs. Top Gainers (over $3) Change Close TBA Entertainment 11.48 $3.40 CBRL Inc. 5.50 23.60 Applebee's Int'l Inc. 4.45 ...

MCDONALD'S CORP.(laying off employees)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 18, 2001... OAK BROOK, Ill. -- MCDONALD'S CORP., in a move to restructure its U.S. business, out costs and improve operations and customer service, said it would consolidate its 37 domestic regions into 21 by eliminating 16 regional management teams and...

FLAT TOP GRILL.(eliminates president's position)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2001... CHICAGO -- FLAT TOP GRILL eliminated the position of president, which was held for the past year by LORET CARDONE, a human resources expert and veteran of the Left at Albuqueuque chain and Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises. Flat Top's founder...

ALTES LLC.(forms sister group to acquire Rally's Hamburgers Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2001... BOCA RATON, Fla -- ALTES LLC, a 50-unit Checkers and Rally's franchisee in Arkansas, Missouri and Virginia, has formed a sister group, SETLA LLC, to acquire 60 Rally's units in five Ohio markets. Altes/Setla chief executive Robert Alrod said...

LUBY'S INC.(closing cafeterias and announcement of fiscal year loss)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 18, 2001... SAN ANTONIO -- LUBY'S INC. raid it would close 17 of its 212 cafeterias, 11 by the end of next month and the remaining six by next August Luby's also reported a net loss of $32 million for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, vs. net income of $9.1...

JAMIE COULTER.(being sued by California Public EMployees' Retirement System)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 18, 2001... SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The nation's largest pension fund said it is suing JAMIE COULTER, chief executive of LONE STAR STEAKHOUSE & SALOON INC., over stock options and "golden parachute" benefits that allegedly have cost the Wichita, Kan.,...