According to Nation’s Restaurant News, “Two of the largest family-dining companies, Denny’s Corp. and Bob Evans Farms Inc., reported latest-quarter results Tuesday that included negative sales trends blamed on tough winter weather that kept guests at home.”

“Executives at both companies said more positive trends should be expected in the months ahead, with Denny’s pointing to sustained growth of guest counts through the second half of 2010, and Bob Evans pointing to a positive November, both of which came before blizzards and storms swept across the country in December and January. The latest quarter at Spartanburg, S.C.-based Denny’s ended Dec. 28, while Columbus, Ohio-based Bob Evans completed a fiscal third quarter ended Jan. 28. Bob Evans also operates the casual-dining Mimi’s Café. In contrast, family-dining leader IHOP was able to post a positive 1.1-percent increase in same-store sales during its latest quarter, which ended in December. It cited limited-time offers and All You Can Eat Pancakes. The same-store sales bump also was driven by a higher guest check, offsetting negative guest traffic.”

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http://nrn.com/article/same-store-sales-negative-family-chains#ixzz1EEfdFH5p