Benihana Q2 First Four Week Comparable Sales Up 6.1%

Benihana Inc. BNHN today reported total restaurant sales and comparable restaurant sales for the first four-week period (July 18, 2011 – August 14, 2011) of the second fiscal quarter of 2012. The announcement marks the Company's nineteenth consecutive four-week period of comparable restaurant sales growth. For the four-week period ended August 14, 2011, total restaurant sales increased year over year by 5.7% to $26.7 million from $25.2 million, and Company-wide comparable restaurant sales increased by 6.1% to $26.7 million from $25.1 million. By concept, comparable restaurant sales increased 6.8% at Benihana Teppanyaki, 5.1% at RA Sushi, and 3.5% at Haru. These results were driven by traffic growth of 4.1% at Benihana Teppanyaki, 5.3% at RA Sushi and 5.6% (dine-in traffic) at Haru. During the period, Benihana Teppanyaki represented approximately 67% of total restaurant sales, while RA Sushi and Haru accounted for 24% and 9% of total restaurant sales, respectively. There were 384 store-operating weeks in the first four-week period of the second fiscal quarter of 2012 compared to 388 store-operating weeks in the first four-week period of the second fiscal quarter of 2011.