THE COLONY, Texas - Nov. 12, 2014 // GLOBE NEWSWIRE // - Pizza Inn Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:PZZI) today reported financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2015 ended September 28, 2014.
Pizza Inn Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:PZZI) today announced results for its first quarter of fiscal 2015 ended September 28, 2014. The Company's net loss in the first quarter improved by $0.1 million over the comparable period in the prior fiscal year to a loss of $0.3 million from a loss of $0.4 million. The improvement in net loss was due primarily to increased franchise income and Company-owned store earnings related to Pie Five, as well as a reduction in pre-opening expenses attributable to growth of the Pie Five brand.
"We are steadily improving performance as we simultaneously make intelligent investments in people and infrastructure to ensure a sustainable, scalable enterprise," said Randy Gier, CEO. "We are particularly pleased with the strength of the underlying business metrics, which we believe clearly indicate we are on the right path," added Gier.
Total revenues for the first quarter of fiscal 2015 and the comparable prior year quarter were $11.3 million and $10.1 million, respectively, an increase of 12.3% year over year. Additional franchise development fees previously received from Pie Five franchisees have been deferred and will be recognized as future restaurants are opened.
Pizza Inn domestic franchisee sales for comparable stores increased 4.6% from the same period in the prior year. "This is the strongest comparable store growth that the Pizza Inn brand has seen in several years," said Gier. "We have worked for many months with our franchisees to address the fundamentals of the business. It is rewarding and encouraging to see these great results."
For Pie Five, system-wide retail sales, which includes franchise and Company-owned restaurants, increased 119% when compared to the same period in the prior year driven by a 69.2% increase in average units open and a 32.6% increase in the system-wide average weekly sales. Comparable store sales, which in the first fiscal quarter of 2015 represented only Company-owned restaurants, increased 17.0%. The increase in average weekly sales was due to both the strong sales increase in existing Company-owned restaurants and the higher than average sales levels of new franchised and Company-owned restaurants.
"The performance of new franchised and Company-owned restaurants reflects continuing enhancement of our concept and improvement of processes for real estate selection and new store opening support. The steady improvement of comps in existing restaurants is a testament to the strength of the concept with our customers and the operating systems that we have put in place," explained Gier.
Gier added, "Delivering both improving new restaurant unit volumes and year over year comparable store growth enhances the investment potential of new restaurant development for ourselves and our franchisees."
For the first quarter of fiscal 2015, revenue from the Franchising and Food and Supply Distribution segment increased $0.7 million, or 8.8%, while segment income from continuing operations before taxes increased $0.1 million, or 44.2%, compared to the same period of prior year. First quarter revenues from the Company-owned Restaurants segment increased $0.6 million, or 24.3%, compared to the prior year as a result of the opening of four new Company-owned Pie Five restaurants in fiscal 2014 (one of which was a relocation of an existing restaurant) and one new Company-owned Pie Five restaurant in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, partially offset by the closing of two Company-owned Pizza Inn restaurants. First quarter general and administrative expenses and franchise expenses increased $0.1 million over the prior year.
Six new Pie Five restaurants were opened by the Company and franchisees in the first quarter fiscal 2015 while two franchise restaurants closed as part of the conversion of a franchise market to a Company-owned market, to bring the fiscal quarter-end total to 24 restaurants. In the Pizza Inn system, franchisees opened 1 new restaurant for the quarter while closing 3 restaurants, ending the fiscal quarter at 251 total Pizza Inn Company-owned and franchised restaurants world-wide.
"We are on track with our development plans to aggressively, but intelligently, expand the Pie Five brand," said Gier. "Given the current leases executed for new Company-owned and franchised restaurants and the pipeline of new potential sites, we expect to end the 2015 fiscal year with 60 to 70 total restaurants open in the Pie Five system, which includes an estimated 22 to 25 total Company-owned restaurants."
"In the current quarter ending in December, we expect the opening of two company restaurants in Houston, TX, and five new franchise restaurants across our expanding franchisee base," said Gier. "As we expand, we continue to seek out quality sites. Although quality real estate is in high demand and short supply, we believe that holding out for quality locations is the best long term strategy."
During the first quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company signed two new franchise development agreements to develop up to 25 Pie Five restaurants. The Company currently has Pie Five franchise restaurant development commitments for a total of up to 244 restaurants.
Gier continued, "We are very pleased to have brought on high quality, experienced multi-unit operators as our franchise partners."
The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures in evaluating operating performance. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be viewed as an alternative or substitute for its financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock compensation expense and impairment on long lived assets and other lease charges. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income is included with the accompanying financial statements.
Certain statements in this press release, other than historical information, may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations that involve numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Assumptions relating to these forward-looking statements involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future economic, competitive and market conditions, regulatory framework and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond the control of Pizza Inn Holdings. Although the assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements are believed to be reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate and, therefore, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in these forward-looking statements, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation that the objectives and plans of Pizza Inn Holdings will be achieved.
Headquartered in the Dallas suburb of The Colony, TX, Pizza Inn Holdings, Inc., is an owner, franchisor and supplier of a system of restaurants operating domestically and internationally under the trademarks "Pizza Inn" and "Pie Five Pizza Co." Pizza Inn is an international pizza chain featuring traditional and specialty pizzas, as well as freshly made pastas, sandwiches, and desserts. Pie Five Pizza Co. is a fast-casual concept offering individual pizzas made to order and cooked in less than five minutes. Founded in 1958, Pizza Inn Holdings, Inc. owns and franchises approximately 275 restaurants. The Company's common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol "PZZI". For more information, please visit www.pizzainn.com.
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SOURCE Pizza Inn Holdings, Inc.
Pizza Inn Holdings, Inc.
469-384-5000
Pizza Inn Inc. is a hometown pizza restaurant franchise focused on serving made-from-scratch pizzas to generations of families who like their service and hospitality served with big smiles and even bigger hearts.