Despite strong sales, Benihana's profits flatten

MIAMI Benihana Inc., operator or franchisor of 59 namesake teppanyaki restaurants and 20 other Japanese eateries, posted flat net income for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended April 1, as strong sales were offset by higher labor, occupancy and remodeling costs.

For the company's fourth quarter, net income totaled $4.1 million, versus $3.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Per-share profit remained the same at 35 cents, as the fiscal 2007 quarter had about 2