(BSNS WIRE) Chicago Pizza & Brewery, Inc. Reports Record Earnings for It Chicago Pizza & Brewery, Inc. Reports Record Earnings for Its Third Quarter 1998 of $285,000, or $.04 Per Share Business Editors MISSION VIEJO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 1998-- Revenues Increased 13.2% and Comparable Same Store Sales Increased 12.0% at Its BJ's Restaurants Chicago Pizza & Brewery, Inc. (Nasdaq:CHGO and CHGOW) released results for its third quarter ended September 30, 1998. The Company reported net income of $285,000, or $.04 per share, as compared to net income of $23,000 for the same period in 1997. Income from operations for the third quarter 1998 was $356,000, a $304,000 increase from the $52,000 income from operations achieved during the third quarter of 1997. Cash flow from operations (income from operations plus depreciation and amortization) increased to $779,000 for the third quarter of 1998 from $403,000 for the corresponding period in 1997. The Company continued to experience substantially increased revenues at its BJ's restaurants, achieving a 12.0% overall increase in sales for the third quarter of 1998 over the third quarter of 1997 at restaurants operated as BJ's during the entire comparable periods. The increase in comparable store sales was mitigated by a decrease in sales at the two converted Pietro's restaurants included for the first time in a quarterly comparable store analysis. These restaurants, converted during the second and third quarters of 1997, were experiencing their honeymoon periods during the third quarter of 1997. Revenues at these two restaurants declined 22% during the comparable period of 1998. Excluding these two units, comparable store sales at the BJ's restaurants increased 17.4% during the third quarter of 1998 as compared to the third quarter of 1997. "The results of our third quarter continue the favorable quarterly trend we have experienced all year," remarked Paul Motenko, CEO. "Particularly encouraging is that the trends in both revenue and costs have been favorable during this period. Even with the over 25% increase in the price of cheese experienced this quarter over the comparable quarter of last year, cost of sales overall has been reduced from 30.2% to 27.4%. Operating expenses were reduced as well from 69.1% in the third quarter of 1997 to 68.3% in the third quarter of 1998." Per Jerry Hennessy, the Company's president, "During the third quarter, which is historically our best, many of the BJ's restaurants achieved single month revenue records. While the converted Northwest restaurants have experienced revenue reductions since their post-conversion honeymoon stage, these restaurants are still experiencing significantly increased revenues as compared to when they were operated as Pietro's." Due to the revenue performance of the existing and converted BJ's restaurants, total revenues increased 13.2% from $7,209,000 to $8,158,000. Per Hennessy, "Our focus during the first three quarters of 1998 was on the converted restaurants in the Northwest. The conversions, plus our same store sales increases at the BJ's restaurants, have resulted in year-to-date revenue growth of 16.5%. We are currently actively involved in the construction of our next two units in Arcadia and Woodland Hills, California. We believe the addition of these two units plus the Valencia, California unit, which is anticipated to open in the summer of 1999, should provide an acceleration of revenue growth for 1999. For the nine months ended September 30, 1998, the Company reported revenues of $22,871,000 as compared to revenues of $19,634,000 for the comparable period in 1997. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 1998, was $284,000 as compared with a $31,000 net loss for the same period in 1997. Cash flow from operations increased to $1,849,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 from $805,000 for the same period of 1997. The Company recently experienced two favorable developments. Approximately a week ago, video lottery equipment was installed in the Stark Street restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Also, the Company received a bronze medal in the Pale Ale category at the prestigious 1998 Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado for its Piranha Pale Ale. Chicago Pizza & Brewery, Inc. operates 27 casual dining restaurants, some of which incorporate brewpubs. Eight of the restaurants are located in Southern California, one in Lahaina, Maui and one is located in Boulder, Colorado. In 1996, the Company acquired restaurants in Oregon and Washington from Pietro's Corporation with the plan to convert them to BJ's restaurants. The first five conversions were completed during 1997. Two additional conversions were completed during the first quarter of 1998. The remaining 10 restaurants, operating as pizzerias under the Pietro's name, are awaiting renovation and/or conversion to one of the BJ's concepts. The information presented herein contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which are intended to be converted by the safe harbors created thereby. The Company's results may differ significantly from the results indicated by such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the Company's ability to manage growth and conversions, (2) construction delays, (3) restaurant and brewery industry competition and other such industry considerations, (4) marketing and other limitations based on the Company's historic concentration in Southern California and current concentration in the Northwest, (5) consumer trends, (6) increased food costs and wages, including without limitation, the recent increase in the minimum wage, and (7) other general economic and regulatory conditions. Further information concerning these and other factors is included in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. -0- *T Chicago Pizza & Brewery, Inc. Consolidated Financial Data (in thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Statement of Operations Data: 1998 1997 1998 1997 Revenue $ 8,158 $ 7,209 $22,871 $19,633 Cost of sales 2,232 2,176 6,403 5,826 Gross profit 5,926 5,033 16,468 13,807 Cost and Expenses: Labor and benefits 2,883 2,462 8,176 6,693 Occupancy 666 614 1,899 1,791 Operating expenses 937 889 2,676 2,502 General and administrative 661 665 1,868 2,016 Depreciation and amortization 423 351 1,346 954 Total cost and expenses 5,570 4,981 15,965 13,956 Income (loss) from operations 356 52 503 (149) Other Income (Expense): Gain on involuntary conversion of assets 191 Interest expense, net (50) (18) (158) (76) Other income (expense), net 1 3 (4) 12 Total other income (expense) (49) (15) (162) 127 Income (loss) before minority interest and income taxes 307 37 341 (22) Minority interest in partnership (22) (14) (55) (8) Income (loss) before income taxes 285 23 286 (30) Income tax expense (2) (1) Net income (loss) $ 285 $ 23 $ 284 $ (31) Basic and dilutive net income common per share $ 0.04 $ 0.00 $ 0.04 $ 0.00 Sept. 30, 1998 Dec. 31, 1997 Balance Sheet Data (end of period): Cash $ 1,415 $ 1,705 Total assets $17,642 $17,842 Total long-term debt (including current portion) $ 3,111 $ 3,543 Shareholders' equity $12,092 $11,808 *T --30--ap/sf* ari/sf CONTACT: Chicago Pizza & Brewery Paul Motenko, CEO, 949/367-8616 ext. 107 Brenda Eames, Investor Relations, 310/796-0229 KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA OREGON COLORADO HAWAII INDUSTRY KEYWORD: RESTAURANTS EARNINGS Today's News On The Net - Business Wire's full file on the Internet with Hyperlinks to your home page. 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