CINCINNATI, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE Amex: FRS) reported higher earnings for its 12-week fiscal second quarter ended December 15, 2009. Net earnings for the quarter increased 6.9% to $2,369,217 compared to $2,215,787 last year. Diluted earnings per share increased to $.46 per share, from $.43 per share last year. Sales declined 1.7% to $67,898,586 from $69,093,061 in last year's second quarter. For the first half of fiscal 2010, sales were $156,880,688 falling 1.3% from $158,974,692 for the first half of last year. Earnings increased 22% to $5,356,882 from $4,390,847. Diluted earnings per share rose to $1.03 from $.85 last year. Craig F. Maier, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Same store sales at our Big Boy Restaurants decreased a modest 0.4% in the second quarter. The sluggish economy and continuing high unemployment have driven down customer traffic in our restaurants." Maier added, "Our Golden Corral restaurants posted a same store sales decline of 3.6% during the second quarter. The recession in the Midwest has had an even stronger negative impact on the sales of our Golden Corrals. Despite the lower sales, our Golden Corrals managed to post their fourth straight quarter of positive earnings." The increase in earnings for the quarter in both concepts can mostly be attributed to a drop in food cost. Earnings were also helped by lower utility costs, offset to a degree by rises in pension and medical plan expenses. The Company opened two new Big Boy restaurants in the second quarter, one of which replaced an older facility on a superior nearby site. Frisch's operates 89 company-owned Big Boy restaurants and there are an additional 25 franchised Big Boy restaurants operated by licensees. The Company also operates 35 Golden Corral restaurants. Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. is a regional company that operates full service family-style restaurants under the name "Frisch's Big Boy." The Company also operates grill buffet style restaurants under the name "Golden Corral" pursuant to certain licensing agreements. All Big Boy restaurants are currently located in various regions of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Golden Corral restaurants currently operate primarily in the greater metropolitan areas of Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo, Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Company owns the trademark "Frisch's" and has exclusive, irrevocable ownership of the rights to the "Big Boy" trademark, trade name and service marks in the states of Kentucky and Indiana, and in most of Ohio and Tennessee. All of the Frisch's Big Boy restaurants also offer "drive-thru" service. The Company also licenses Big Boy restaurants to other operators, currently in certain parts of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. The Company has reported a profit every year since going public in 1960, and paid cash dividends to shareholders every quarter over the same period. Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts are forward looking statements as that item is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. Such forward looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from estimated results. Such risks and uncertainties are detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS (unaudited) (In thousands, except per share data) Twenty-eight weeks ended Twelve weeks ended ------------------ ------------------ December December December December 15, 16, 15, 16, 2009 2008 2009 2008 ---- ---- ---- ---- Sales $156,881 $158,975 $67,899 $69,093 Cost of sales Food and paper 53,076 57,747 22,802 24,473 Payroll and related 52,485 52,148 22,781 22,551 Other operating costs 35,203 35,870 15,186 15,431 ------ ------ ------ ------ 140,764 145,765 60,769 62,455 Gross profit 16,117 13,210 7,130 6,638 Administrative and advertising 7,962 7,746 3,507 3,308 Franchise fees and other revenue (688) (692) (296) (291) Gains on sale of assets - (1,116) - - --- ------ --- --- Operating profit 8,843 7,272 3,919 3,621 Interest expense 965 1,087 434 499 --- ----- --- --- Earnings before income tax 7,878 6,185 3,485 3,122 Income taxes 2,521 1,794 1,116 906 ----- ----- ----- --- NET EARNINGS $5,357 $4,391 $2,369 $2,216 ====== ====== ====== ====== Earnings per share (EPS) of common stock: Basic net earnings per share $1.05 $.86 $.46 $.43 ===== ==== ==== ==== Diluted net earnings per share $1.03 $.85 $.46 $.43 ===== ==== ==== ==== Diluted average shares outstanding 5,211 5,166 5,196 5,144 ===== ===== ===== ===== Depreciation included above $7,436 $7,265 $3,215 $3,180 ====== ====== ====== ====== Opening expense included above $226 $531 $212 $202 ==== ==== ==== ==== Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (In thousands of dollars) December 15, June 2, 2009 2009 (unaudited) ----------- Assets Current assets Cash and equivalents $1,638 $899 Receivables 1,427 1,549 Inventories 5,201 6,531 Other current assets 3,357 2,480 ----- ----- 11,623 11,459 Property and equipment 161,678 157,638 Other assets Goodwill & other intangible assets 1,502 1,548 Property held for sale and land investments 3,675 3,218 Deferred income taxes and other 3,898 3,113 ----- ----- 9,075 7,879 ----- ----- $182,376 $176,976 ======== ======== Liabilities and shareholders' equity Current liabilities Accounts payable $11,273 $8,038 Accrued expenses 9,250 11,555 Other 8,740 8,418 ----- ----- 29,263 28,011 Long-term obligations Long-term debt 21,458 21,962 Other long-term obligations 13,217 12,626 ------ ------ 34,675 34,588 Shareholders' equity 118,438 114,377 ------- ------- $182,376 $176,976 ======== ======== DATASOURCE: Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. CONTACT: Donald H. Walker, Vice President-Finance and CFO of Frisch's Restaurants, Inc., +1-513-559-5202 Web Site: http://www.frischs.com/

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