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J. Alexander’s Corporation Reports Results for First Quarter of 2011 Fiscal Year

2011-05-02

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Restaurant News Resource Average weekly same store sales per restaurant increased by 5.5%.

J. Alexander’s Corporation (NASDAQ: JAX) reported operating results for the first quarter ended April 3, 2011.

“We are working as diligently as we can to manage our input costs”

A summary of the first quarter of 2011 compared to the first quarter of 2010 follows:

Net sales increased 5.2% to $40,749,000 from $38,725,000.
Average weekly same store sales per restaurant increased by 5.5%.
Income before income taxes increased 26.9% to $1,372,000 from $1,081,000 in the first quarter of 2010.
Income tax expense was $310,000 for the first quarter of 2011 compared to $284,000 in the first quarter of 2010.
Net income increased by 33.2% to $1,062,000 from $797,000 in the first quarter of 2010, and earnings per diluted share increased to $.18 from $.13 in the comparable quarter of 2010.

Commenting on results for the first quarter of fiscal 2011, Lonnie J. Stout II, Chairman, President and CEO, said, “The first quarter just ended was another period of solid improvement in our financial performance. We are pleased with overall results, which included our sixth consecutive quarter of same store sales growth. We believe our same store sales performance continues to be among the best in the upscale casual dining segment of our industry.”

For the first quarter of 2011, J. Alexander’s Corporation recorded average weekly same store sales per restaurant of $95,300, up from $90,300 in the corresponding quarter a year earlier. The Company’s average weekly sales per restaurant for the first quarter of 2011 were the same as the same store average because same store sales calculations are based on restaurants open for more than 18 months and no new restaurants have opened since December of 2008. The 5.5% increase in average weekly same store sales per restaurant for the first quarter of 2011 compared to the first quarter of 2010 was greater than the 5.2% increase in total net sales because of the exclusion from the weekly average calculation of a total of ten restaurant days that certain restaurants were closed due to inclement weather in the first quarter of 2011.

J. Alexander’s Corporation reported an increase of 0.7% in average weekly guest counts per restaurant from the comparable period of 2010. The average guest check, including alcoholic beverage sales for the quarter rose 4.5% to an estimated $26.36 from approximately $25.23. The effect of menu price increases for the quarter just ended was approximately 2.6% compared to the same period a year earlier.

The Company’s increases in same store sales contributed to lower labor and related costs and other restaurant operating expenses as percentages of net sales during the first quarter of the current year compared to the first quarter of 2010. Total labor and related costs decreased from 33.1% of net sales to 32.4% of net sales. Other restaurant operating expenses decreased to 20.6% of net sales from 21.8% of net sales.

Cost of sales increased to 33.0% of net sales for the first quarter of 2011 from 31.5% of net sales in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

For the first quarter of 2011, J. Alexander’s Corporation’s restaurant operating margins (net sales minus total restaurant operating expenses divided by net sales) increased to 10.4% from 9.6% in the same period of 2010.

“The sharp rise in input costs in several food categories has been and continues to be a significant concern,” Stout noted. “For the first quarter, our food input costs rose by about 8% from the corresponding period in 2010. “Produce costs in the quarter just ended climbed more than 20% over the same quarter a year ago, while seafood and beef prices increased approximately 9% and 7.5%, respectively. “

Stout said that J. Alexander’s Corporation is implementing a plan to offset some of the Company’s higher input costs. He said the plan includes reformatting the Company’s menus to include separate lunch and dinner menus in each restaurant as well as modest menu price increases primarily on some of the Company’s dinner menu items.

“We are working as diligently as we can to manage our input costs,” Stout emphasized, “but we will not pursue any measure that could diminish the dining experience of our guests. As always, our primary focus will be to provide our guests with the highest quality and freshest products possible.”

Stout said the Company’s same store sales trends in the second quarter to date have remained favorable and generally in line with those of the first quarter. “Based on our recent trends we are encouraged about the prospects for continued same store sales growth in the second quarter,” Stout observed. “We do remain somewhat concerned, however, about the possible negative impact that higher gasoline prices and potential volatility in consumer confidence levels could have on our sales trends. “

J. Alexander’s Corporation operates 33 J. Alexander’s restaurant in thirteen states: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas. The Company’s menu features a wide selection of American classics, including steaks, prime rib of beef and fresh seafood, as well as a large assortment of interesting salads, sandwiches and desserts. J. Alexander’s also has a full-service bar that features an outstanding selection of wines by the glass and bottle.

J. Alexander's Corporation and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited in thousands, except per share amounts)
	Quarter Ended
	April 3			April 4
	2011			2010


Net sales	$	40,749		$	38,725
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales		13,452			12,201
Restaurant labor and related costs		13,204			12,833
Depreciation and amortization of restaurant property and equipment		1,466			1,526
Other operating expenses		8,407			8,456
Total restaurant operating expenses		36,529			35,016
General and administrative expenses		2,444			2,161
Operating income		1,776			1,548
Other income (expense):
Interest expense		(424	)		(486)
Other, net		20			19
Total other expense		(404	)		(467)
Income before income taxes		1,372			1,081
Income tax provision		310			284
Net income	$	1,062		$	797

Earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share	$	.18		$	.13
Diluted earnings per share	$	.18		$	.13

Weighted average number of shares:
Basic earnings per share		5,978			5,947
Diluted earnings per share		6,058			5,964

J. Alexander's Corporation and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Income Percentages of Net Sales (Unaudited)
	Quarter Ended
	April 3			April 4
	2011			2010
Net sales		100.0	%		100.0	%
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales		33.0			31.5
Restaurant labor and related costs		32.4			33.1
Depreciation and amortization of restaurant property and equipment		3.6			3.9
Other operating expenses		20.6			21.8
Total restaurant operating expenses		89.6			90.4
General and administrative expenses		6.0			5.6
Operating income		4.4			4.0
Other income (expense):
Interest expense		(1.0	)		(1.3	)
Other, net		—			—
Total other expense		(1.0	)		(1.2	)
Income before income taxes		3.4			2.8
Income tax provision		0.8			0.7
Net income		2.6	%		2.1	%

Note: Certain percentage totals do not sum due to rounding.

Average Weekly Sales Information:

Average weekly sales per restaurant	$	95,300		$	90,300
Percent change		5.5	%

Same store weekly sales per restaurant (1)	$	95,300		$	90,300
Percent change		5.5	%

(1) The Company includes restaurants in the same store sales base after they have been in operation for more than 18 months. All of the Company’s restaurants were included in the same store sales base as of the beginning of the third quarter of 2010.

J. Alexander's Corporation and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited in thousands)

	April 3		January 2
	2011		2011
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	7,617	$	8,602
Income taxes receivable		79		306
Other current assets		5,545		5,000
Total current assets		13,241		13,908

Other assets		1,789		1,684
Property and equipment, net		73,598		74,699
Deferred income taxes		152		152
Deferred Charges, net		481		508
	$	89,261	$	90,951

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities	$	10,266	$	13,071
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations		18,205		18,479
Other long-term liabilities		11,041		10,871
Stockholders’ equity		49,749		48,530
	$	89,261	$	90,951