CINCINNATI, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE Alternext US: FRS) reported record sales for its 16-week fiscal first quarter ended September 23, 2008. Revenues rose 0.4% to $89,881,631 from $89,526,444 for last year's first quarter. Net earnings for the quarter decreased 11.2% to $2,175,060 compared to $2,450,485 last year. Diluted earnings per share decreased to $.42 per share, from $.47 per share last year. Craig F. Maier, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Same store sales at our Big Boy Restaurants increased 0.2% in our fiscal first quarter. We believe the high cost of gasoline and the softness in the economy have contributed to the slowdown in our same store sales at Big Boy." Maier added, "On the brighter side, our Golden Corral restaurants posted a same store sales increase of 1.2% during the first quarter. The value of our all-you-can-eat buffet has slowed the decline in customer counts in our Golden Corrals." During the quarter, the Company opened one new Big Boy restaurant and reopened another in a brand new facility. Frisch's operates 89 company-owned Big Boy restaurants and there are an additional 27 franchised Big Boy restaurants operated by licensees. The Company also operates 35 Golden Corral restaurants. The decline in earnings for the quarter can mostly be attributed to the rise in food cost that has been driven by higher commodity prices. The earnings decline was partially offset by larger gains on the sale of assets, principally closed restaurant properties. Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. is a regional company that operates full service family-style restaurants under the name "Frisch's Big Boy." The Company also operates grill buffet style restaurants under the name "Golden Corral" pursuant to certain licensing agreements. All Big Boy restaurants are currently located in various regions of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Golden Corral restaurants currently operate primarily in the greater metropolitan areas of Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo, Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Company owns the trademark "Frisch's" and has exclusive, irrevocable ownership of the rights to the "Big Boy" trademark, trade name and service marks in the states of Kentucky and Indiana, and in most of Ohio and Tennessee. All of the Frisch's Big Boy restaurants also offer "drive-thru" service. The Company also licenses Big Boy restaurants to other operators, currently in certain parts of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. The Company has reported a profit every year since going public in 1960, and paid cash dividends to shareholders every quarter over the same period. Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts are forward looking statements as that item is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. Such forward looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from estimated results. Such risks and uncertainties are detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS (unaudited) (In thousands, except per share data) Sixteen Weeks ended Sept. 23, Sept. 18, 2008 2007 Sales $89,882 $89,526 Cost of sales Food and paper 33,273 31,598 Payroll and related 29,597 29,779 Other operating costs 20,439 20,360 83,309 81,737 Gross profit 6,573 7,789 Administrative and advertising 4,438 4,346 Franchise fees and other revenue (401) (378) (Gains) losses on sale of assets (1,116) (524) Operating profit 3,652 4,345 Interest expense 589 742 Earnings before income tax 3,063 3,603 Income taxes 888 1,153 NET EARNINGS $2,175 $2,450 Earnings per share (EPS) of common stock: Basic net earnings per share $.43 $.48 Diluted net earnings per share $.42 $.47 Diluted average shares outstanding 5,181 5,253 Depreciation included above $4,085 $4,228 Opening expense included above $329 $585 Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (In thousands of dollars) September 23, June 3, 2008 2008 (unaudited) Assets Current assets Cash and equivalents $1,496 $801 Receivables 1,516 1,448 Inventories 5,745 5,648 Other current assets 3,209 2,797 11,966 10,694 Property and equipment 157,933 153,839 Other assets Goodwill & other intangible assets 1,607 1,633 Property held for sale and land investments 2,743 3,870 Other 1,895 2,024 6,245 7,527 $176,144 $172,060 Liabilities and shareholders' equity Current liabilities Accounts payable $10,893 $10,281 Accrued expenses 10,448 10,675 Other 9,951 9,880 31,292 30,836 Long-term obligations Long-term debt 26,844 24,217 Other long-term obligations 6,282 6,292 33,126 30,509 Shareholders' equity 111,726 110,715 $176,144 $172,060 DATASOURCE: Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. CONTACT: Donald H. Walker, Vice President-Finance and CFO, Frisch's Restaurants, Inc., +1-513-559-5202 Web site: http://www.frischs.com/

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