Planet Hollywood Narrows Fiscal 2000 Loss to $79.7 Million.

Byline: Jerry W. Jackson

Apr. 14--Planet Hollywood International lost $79.7 million on operations in fiscal 2000, a sharp improvement from the $194 million operating loss posted a year ago, and the struggling Orlando theme-restaurant chain's sales at existing units came close to breaking into positive territory in the fourth quarter, the company reported Friday.

"The company is moving in the right direction. We are making progress," said Christopher Thomas, president and chief financial officer.

First-quarter numbers, Thomas said, will show that the company's U.S. same-store sales -- sales at stores open a year or more -- rose 2 percent, the first …