COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 2, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Bob Evans Farms, Inc. (Nasdaq:BOBE) today announced same-store sales results for the fiscal 2008 month of September (period 5), which consists of the four weeks ended Sept. 21, 2007.
September same-store sales at Bob Evans Restaurants increased 0.4 percent from the same period a year ago. Average menu prices for the fiscal month were up approximately 2.6 percent.
September same-store sales at Mimi's Cafe decreased 2.0 percent from the same period a year ago. Average menu prices for the fiscal month were up approximately 3.9 percent.
The Company calculated its September same-store sales results based on the 541 Bob Evans Restaurants and 92 Mimi's Cafes that were open at the end of the month and for the full 12 months in both fiscal 2006 and 2007.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Steve Davis said, "Our positive same-store sales trend at Bob Evans continued during September, driven in part by our new stir-fry promotion, despite the fact that we were facing very strong comparable sales in the prior year.
"Mimi's Cafe continues to operate in a challenging casual dining environment. We are optimistic about the potential of our new seasonal menu additions we introduced last week, featuring pumpkin pancakes, a breakfast ciabatta sandwich, pumpkin spice muffins, butter-broiled lobster macaroni and cheese, pan-seared scallops and butternut squash ravioli, and wine country short ribs, among other new dishes."
About Bob Evans Farms, Inc.
Bob Evans Farms, Inc. owns and operates full-service restaurants under the Bob Evans and Mimi's Cafe brand names. At the end of the first fiscal quarter ended July 27, 2007, Bob Evans owned and operated 579 family restaurants in 18 states, primarily in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions of the United States, while Mimi's Cafe owned and operated 116 casual restaurants located in 20 states, primarily in California and other western states. Bob Evans Farms, Inc. is also a leading producer and distributor of pork sausage and a variety of complementary homestyle convenience food items under the Bob Evans and Owens brand names. For more information about Bob Evans Farms, Inc., visit the company's Web site at www.bobevans.com.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
Certain statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve various important assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements because of various factors and possible events, including, without limitation:
* Negative publicity or litigation regarding allegations of food- related illness, * Failure to achieve and maintain positive same-store sales, * Changing business and/or economic conditions, including energy costs, * Competition in the restaurant and food products industries, * Ability to control restaurant operating costs, which are impacted by market changes in the cost or availability of labor and food, minimum wage and other employment laws, fuel and utility costs, * Changes in the cost or availability of acceptable new restaurant sites, * Accurately assessing the value, future growth potential, strengths, weaknesses, contingent and other liabilities and potential profitability of Mimi's, * Adverse weather conditions in locations where we operate our restaurants, * Consumer acceptance of changes in menu offerings, price, atmosphere and/or service procedures, * Consumer acceptance of our restaurant concepts in new geographic areas, and * Changes in hog and other commodity costs.
There is also the risk that we may incorrectly analyze these risks or that the strategies developed by us to address them will be unsuccessful.
Certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions are discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 27, 2007. We note these factors for investors as contemplated by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. It is impossible to predict or identify all such risk factors. Consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete set of all potential risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date on which the statement is made to reflect unanticipated events. Any further disclosures in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission should also be consulted. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on behalf of the company are qualified by the cautionary statements in this section.