Benihana reports falling sales in 3rd-QBenihana reports falling sales in 3rd-Q

MIAMI Benihana Inc. cited slowed consumer spending for negative same-store sales across all three of its Japanese brands.

For the third quarter ended Jan. 4, Benihana also reported that total restaurant sales slipped 3.7 percent, to $66.8 million.

Blended same-store sales were down 11.1 percent, which reflected declines of 10.9 percent at Benihana's namesake teppanyaki chain, 9.1 percent at RA Sushi Bar and 14.6 percent at Haru sushi restaurants, the company said.

"Similar to what we and other restaurant and retail companies have experienced over the past few quarters, our comparable sales during the recent 2008 holiday season reflected the very real challenges consumers have been facing in the current economic environment," said Joel A. Schwartz, chairman and chief executive of Benihana.

During quarter, the company added three locations: Benihana restaurants in Plano, Texas, and Plymouth Meeting, Pa.; and a RA Sushi in Huntington Beach, Calif. Fourth-quarter openings include a Benihana that opened Jan. 9 in Coral Springs, Fla., and another to open in Columbus, Ohio.

The company also said it reopened a revamped Benihana unit in City of Industry, Calif., which marked the end of its multiyear remodeling project.

Benihana is scheduled to release full third-quarter results in February. The Miami-based company operates 94 restaurants nationwide, including 63 Benihanas, 22 RA Sushi Bars and nine Haru sushi restaurants. The company also has 20 franchised Benihana units in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean.