Brinker comp sales up; profits rise to $81.13M for 9 months

Nation's Restaurant News, May 8, 2000 by Richard Papiernik

DALLAS -- In a nine-month performance driven by comparable-store increases at its three core concepts, Brinker International Inc. reported earnings up 56.8 percent, to $81.13 million, from $51.75 million in the same period a year earlier. Revenues grew 18.6 percent, to $1.58 billion, from $1.34 billion.

In the fiscal 2000 third quarter ended Mar. 29, profits grew 40.6 percent, to $28.6 million, from $20.34 million in the same quarter of fiscal 1999. Revenues rose 20 percent, to $551.2 million, from $459.2 million.

Third-quarter comparable sales were up 9 percent at Chili's Grill & Bar, up 7.1 percent at Romano's Macaroni Grill and up 5.9 percent at the On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina.

Brinker vice chairman and chief executive Ron McDougall attributed the performance to "the right concepts, the right people and the right strategy." He said the third quarter gave the company its 12th consecutive quarter in which it exceeded earnings growth of 15 percent.