Untitled Document

RestaurantChains.net Alerts Newsletter
Data reflects change and activity during the most recent four-month period from:
04/28/07 to 08/29/07

September 4, 2007

A weekly newsletter covering public and
private restaurant chains featuring
under-reported
unique
facts relating to growth. Pertinent
information is
gathered, verified and analyzed in-house using
proprietary methods created in our research and
library departments.

In order to
receive the full version you must either
be a paid subscriber or sign up with an email
address that has the appropriate restaurant
chain email convention. In order to receive
specific personnel for companies mentioned
along with full profiles, you must be a
client.

Regarding growth stories listed:

We publish net unit growth from (each company
has their own four-month cycle,
percentages are not annualized as a
result) one
four-month period to the next. This is
performed by
re-verifying net growth figures of
approximately 1,000 companies per month. Once
our researchers identify the following growth
results from our research efforts, we
highlight a new round of results each week in
our newsletter. Featured growth stories are
only a fraction of the growth stories
received by clients.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In this issue
* Julys 2007 top 10 growing concepts list, below 50 units.
* Restaurant Incubator Index updated
* Growing and emerging concepts
* Why We Eat Out - The Science of Dining.
* Decreased units
* Has the Ethanol Demand Bubble Burst?
* Turning the tables on customer wait times.
* Wine Cellar Investments

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Julys 2007 top 10 growing concepts list, below 50 units.

July's release of the top 10 growing
concepts
list is here.
See results (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.restaurantchains.net%2Fjulytop10.htm)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Restaurant Incubator Index updated

July results are
posted. August will be posted next week.
The
index reflects change and growth of chains
who have less than 200 stores and at least...

See results (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.restaurantchains.net%2FRII.htm)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Growing and emerging concepts

JIM 'N NICK'S BAR-B-Q headquartered in
Birmingham, AL (founded 1985) has increased
by 2 units, from 20 to 22 (10% growth).
These are family/casual BBQ restaurants with
full bar and seating for about 100. The per
person check average is around $6-$10.
Locations are in AL, CO, FL, GA, SC and TN.
We last wrote about this concept in our
1/23/07 newsletter when they had 25% growth.
The company was also ranked #8 on our April
'07 Top Ten Fast Growers List.

Campbell, CA-based BLENDZ (founded
2003) has opened 2 units, from 5 to 7 (40%
growth) and entered into AZ. All other
locations are in CA. The restaurants are
fast casual sandwich and salad cafes, with
seating for about 30. Units are open for
breakfast, lunch and dinner. Per person
check average is $3-$8. Catering is
available. More than 70% of locations are
franchised.

Gaithersburg, MD-based GLORY DAYS
GRILL (founded 1996) has opened 2 units
over the period, from 19 to 21 (11% growth)
and entered into WV. Other locations are in
MD and VA. This company was previously
highlighted in our 4/17/07 newsletter (12%
growth). The restaurants are family/casual,
serving American cuisine, and open for lunch
and dinner. Per person check average is
about $8-$20. Seating is for around 225.
Catering and banquet services are available.
Only 2 units (10%) of locations are
franchised.

FIREFLY'S BODACIOUS BBQ based in
Marlborough, MA has increased by 1 unit, from
2 to 3 (50% growth). These are family/casual
restaurants with full bar. Seating is for
around 200 and the per person check average
is about $6-$15. Catering and banquets are
offered. All locations are in MA.

RED ROCK CHILI CO based in Santa Ana,
CA (founded 2002) has increased by 2 units,
from 4 to 6 (50% growth) and entered into NV
and TX. This is a fast casual concept,
located mostly in malls. Beer and wine is
served and catering is available at some
freestanding units. Locations are 67%
franchised and are in CA, NV and TX.

KING CRAB TAVERN & SEAFOOD GRILL
headquartered in Chicago, IL (founded
1983) has added a new concept called Al's
Place. The company increased from 4 to 5
units (20% growth). Locations are generally
upscale steak and seafood houses with full
bar and seating for around 200. The per
person check average is around $15-$30+.
Units are company owned and located in
IL.

CHEESEBURGER IN PARADISE (founded
2002) of OSI Restaurant Partners, based in
Tampa, FL has increased by 5 units, from 38
to 43 (13% growth). Additionally, the
concept has expanded into FL. Units are
family/casual with full bar and seating for
around 250. The check average per person is
about $10-$12+. Locations are in DE, FL, GA,
IL, IN, KS, MD, MI, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK,
PA, SC, VA and WI. We last reported on this
concept in our 9/26/06 newsletter when they
had a 16% growth.

Burnsville, MN-based LET'S DISH!
(founded 2003) has increased by 4 units,
from 29 to 33 (14% growth) and entered into
the state of SC. We last featured this
concept in our 1/23/07 newsletter, with a 53%
growth rate and expansion into 4 states.
This is a meal preparation company,
specializing in healthy, family-size meals
prepared in-store, either by customer or
ordered online and prepared by staff. Large
event catering is also available. Units are
currently in the states of KS, MA, MD, MN,
MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, SC, VA, and WA, with a
Middletown, DE location to open this fall.
About 70% of locations are franchised.

Laguna Hills, CA-based INDIGO JOE'S SPORTS
PUB & RESTAURANT (founded 2002) has
opened 2 units, from 14 to 16 (14% growth)
and entered into the states of NC and SC,
while also closing 1 unit, pulling out of the
state of IA. The restaurants are
family/casual sports bar & grills, open for
lunch and dinner, with an $8-$20 per person
check average. Units have seating for about
225. Locations are in the states of AL, AZ,
CA, CO, GA, MO, NC, NE, SC, and TX, with a
Louisville, KY location to open this fall.
All locations are franchised.

Huntington Beach, CA-based BJ'S
RESTAURANTS (NASDAQ: BJRI; founded 1978)
has opened 8 units, from 55 to 63 (15%
growth) and entered into 3 states (FL, OH,
and OK). The restaurants are family/casual,
specializing in pizza and American cuisine.
Units have seating for about 300, with a full
bar. Per person check average is $8-$20.
Meal periods are lunch and dinner. Special
event facilities are available. Trading
areas are AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, NV, OH, OK, OR,
and TX.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why We Eat Out - The Science of Dining.

One of the most unfortunate things that
happen when you open a business is that you
lose touch with what it would be like to be
your customer. As the owner or manager, it is
nearly impossible to get the same experience
that a paying customer would have in your
establishment. Your service will be just a
little (or a lot) better. So what can you do
to get a great perspective on what's really
going on in your four walls? Continued... (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myhalo.com%2Frestaurant%2Fsection.asp%3Fcatid%3D1500%26pageid%3D4315)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Decreased units

Garden City, ID-based MOXIE JAVA
(founded 1988) has closed 3 units, from
74 to 71 (4% downsizing) and is no longer
operating in the state of LA. The
restaurants are quick serve coffee shops,
open for breakfast, lunch and dinner hours.
Seating is for about 40. Trading areas are
AL, CA, CO, ID, MN, NC, ND, NV, OR, SC, VA,
and WY, with locations planned in HI, TX and
FL.

Wichita, KS-based TACO TICO (founded
1962) has closed 9 units, from 67 to 58 (13%
downsizing) and is no longer operating in NE.
These are quick serve Mexican restaurants,
with seating for about 60 and a $3-$8 per
person check average. Units are open for
lunch and dinner. Trading areas are AR, IA,
KS, KY, LA, OK, and TN.

Boston, MA-based LEGAL SEAFOODS
(founded 1950) has closed 2 units, from 33 to
31 (6% downsizing), while also opening 1 new
unit and entering into the state of PA.
These upscale seafood restaurants are open
for lunch and dinner, with full bar and
seating for about 150. Per person check
average is around $15-$30+. Catering and
private party facilities are available.
Restaurants are in the states of DC, FL, MA,
MD, NJ, NY, PA, RI, and VA.

Cary, NC-based BEAR ROCK CAFÉ (founded
1997) has closed 4 units, from 36 to 32 (11%
downsizing), pulling out of the states of MN
and TN, while also opening 1 unit (adding the
state of VA). Other locations are in AZ, CO,
FL, GA, MA, NC, NJ, OH, PA, and TX. We last
featured this concept in our 10/2/06
newsletter (11% downsizing). These are fast
casual American cafes, serving beer/wine,
with seating for about 100. Meal periods are
breakfast, lunch and dinner. Per person
check average is around $4-$10. Catering is
available. About 70% of units are
franchised.

Pizza hut franchisee, PIZZA HUT OF FORT
WAYNE INC headquartered in Fort Wayne, IN
(founded 1972) has decreased by 2 units, from
16 to 14 (13% downsizing). All locations are
in IN.

SENOR SAM'S MEXICAN GRILL based in OR
has decreased by 2 units, from 6 to 4 (33%
downsizing). Locations are family/casual
with seating for about 100. Per person check
average is $4-$10. Beer and wine are served
and catering is available. Units are company
owned and are in OR.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Has the Ethanol Demand Bubble Burst?

The large inverted price spread between
wholesale ethanol and gasoline since the
beginning of the summer suggests an
oversupply of ethanol.Continued.... (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Famericanrestaurantassociation.com%2Fdnn%2FServices%2FDavidMalonisWeeklyBlog%2Ftabid%2F87%2FDefault.aspx)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Turning the tables on customer wait times.

Every Saturday night, the buzz on the
restaurant floor is at its fervent, red hot
peak. As diners enjoy the last few sips of
their cappucinos
Continued... (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cyndigo.net%2Fnewswire.pdf)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wine Cellar Investments

For the non-accounting readers, I'm going to
start out with a simple definition. Inventory
turnover equals cost of goods sold divided by
average inventory. Our industry is used to
turning the food inventory every two weeks
(sometimes quicker). With a food inventory
turnover of 26, restaurant managers are often
unprepared for the much lower wine turnover
rate. Continued... (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.restaurantchains.net%2Fwci-jd.htm)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Newsletter Sponsorship

Contact us to be a content sponsor or
advertiser
of this newsletter sent to more than
24,000
foodservice professionals. Continued... (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.restaurantchains.net%2Fadpricing.htm)

Copyright 2007.
All data is a representation of in house research
including
the perpetual surveying of more than 7300
restaurant
chain concepts. Publisher accepts no
responsibility
for errors or omissions. Syndication of news
stories is available
to web and print publishers.
Media inquiries are welcome. Please call
914-591-4297.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Directory information

As a reader you are viewing a snapshot of
the companies, contacts and trend watching
performed by us. To know more including
pricing options, Continued... (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.restaurantchains.net%2Fpricing01ppmcv.htm)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quick Links...
* Testimonials - http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.restaurantchains.net%2Ftestimonials01.htm
* Newsletter Archive - http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.restaurantchains.net%2Fnewsletterarchive01.htm
* Who are some of our clients - http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.restaurantchains.net%2Fclients01.htm
* RestaurantChains.net BLOG: Brand new information. - http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.restaurantchains.net%2Fblogredirect.htm
* New RestaurantChains.net Offerings & Pricing - http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.restaurantchains.net%2Fpricing01ppmcv.htm
* RestaurantChains.net FAQ's - http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.restaurantchains.net%2FFAQs01.htm
* Restaurantchains.net Glossary of terms - http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.restaurantchains.net%2Fglossary.htm
* New weekly restaurant opening reports (785 last week) - http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.foodservicereport.com
* RestaurantChains.net - http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.restaurantchains.net%2Findex.htm
* Custom Research Offerings - http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.restaurantchains.net%2Frco2000.htm
* Advertising programs - http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.restaurantchains.net%2Fadpricing.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cyndigo - http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.Cyndigo.net

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Restaurant Recruiter - http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.foodallstars.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show - http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flrestaurantandlodgingshow.com%2Fapp%2Fhomepage.cfm%3Fappname%3D100205%26moduleid%3D0%26campaignid%3D61354632
Food cost wizards - http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=huqdgecab.0.0.y9nt8tbab.0&ts=S0279&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.joedunbar.com

Join our mailing list!
http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?p=oi&m=1101251852120&id=preview.1101251852120

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
email: keith@restaurantchains.net
phone: 914-591-4297
web: http://www.restaurantchains.net

Forward email
http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?m=1101251852120&ea=keith%40foodservicereport.com&a=1101799735943&id=preview

Update Profile/Email Address
http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?p=oo&m=1101251852120&se=100&t=1101799735943&lang=en&reason=F&id=preview.1101251852120

Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe(TM)
http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?p=un&m=1101251852120&se=100&t=1101799735943&lang=en&reason=F&id=preview.1101251852120