Benihana Sees Traffic Growth within Q3

MIAMI — Benihana Inc. (NASDAQ: BNHN), operator of 96 Japanese theme and sushi restaurants, reported Wednesday that its total and comparable restaurant sales for the second four-week period from November 7, 2011 through December 4, 2011 of the third fiscal quarter of 2012. The announcement marks the company's twenty-third consecutive four-week period of comparable restaurant sales growth.

For the four-week period ended December 4, 2011, total restaurant sales increased year over year by 4.6% to $23.7 million from $22.7 million, and Company-wide comparable restaurant sales increased by 6.5% to $23.6 million from $22.2 million. By concept, comparable restaurant sales increased 8.0% at Benihana Teppanyaki, 4.7% at RA Sushi, and 1.0% at Haru. These results were driven by traffic growth of 6.7% at Benihana Teppanyaki.

During the period, Benihana Teppanyaki represented approximately 67% of total restaurant sales, while RA Sushi and Haru accounted for 23% and 10% of total restaurant sales, respectively. There were 380 store-operating weeks in the second four-week period of the third fiscal quarter of 2012 compared to 386 store-operating weeks in the second four-week period of the third fiscal quarter of 2011.

Richard C. Stockinger, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Benihana Inc., said, "We are pleased to report another period of strong sales results, driven primarily by traffic increases at Benihana Teppanyaki. The 8.0% increase in comparable sales at Teppanyaki follows an 8.9% increase in the same period of the prior year. We are delighted that our execution continues to deliver outstanding results despite weak preliminary November sales for the casual dining segment, as we report our twenty-third consecutive period of comparable sales growth."

The brand has 18 franchised restaurants operating in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean.