HEATHROW Fla. Ruth’s Chris Steak House Inc., operator or franchisor of 100 namesake high-end steakhouses, said restaurant sales from corporate units surged 48.5 percent to $80.4 million for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31.
The increase from the prior year’s quarter was driven by a 7.4 percent same-store sales gain, 10 additional net restaurants in operation and one additional week of operation versus the year-earlier quarter, the company said. Average weekly restaurant volumes at corporate locations increased 8.4 percent to $118,502 for the quarter, the company reported.
Corporate revenues, including franchise and other income, are expected to total between $83.8 million and $84 million for the fourth quarter, up from $58 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005.
For the full year, sales from corporate restaurants increased 27.6 percent to $254.7 million, aided by a full-year, same-store sales increase of 6.2 percent. Total corporate revenues for fiscal 2006 are expected to total between $267.2 million and $267.4 million, up from $211.6 million for the full year of fiscal 2005.