Greg Creed, Yum! Brands Inc. chief executive, recently credited Taco Bell’s 5 percent rise in third-quarter same-store sales with helping lift his multi-concept company’s overall comps, adding, “I think this brand is set up for continued success.” He cited Taco Bell’s $5 Box value meals, steak nachos and nacho fries as among factors behind its sales growth. For quarters ended closest to Sept. 30, Taco Bell’s 5 percent growth bested all 15 other quick-service systems or their components tracked by NRN.

Kona Grill Inc.’s recent executive turnover came at a company confronting two years of quarterly same-store sales decreases averaging 7.7 percent. Steve Schussler, who joined Kona co-founder and returning chief executive Marcus Jundt as a co-CEO in November, resigned in early January to focus on his own company, Schussler Creative Inc., Kona officials said. Jundt and Schussler had succeeded Jim Kuhn, who left after being appointed CEO in August. Kona had reported a 14.1 percent decline in third-quarter comps. Prior to Kona Grill’s slump begun in the fourth quarter of 2016, it had reported positive same-store sales in 24 of the previous 25 quarters.

*Annual same-store sales for 11 systems or system components for which the most recent reported quarter — reported on or before Jan. 22, 2019 — concluded a fiscal year

** Latest Year = reported preliminary result

*Annual same-store sales for 11 systems or system components for which the most recent reported quarter — reported on or before Jan. 22, 2019 — concluded a fiscal year

** Latest Year = reported preliminary result