Flagstar Restaurant Chains Serve Up Different Results

IRVINE —  The three Irvine-based restaurant chains owned by South Carolina-based Flagstar Cos. Inc. reported mixed results in the third quarter.

Operating profits at El Pollo Loco rose 2.9% to $3.5 million, thanks to higher customer traffic. Sales at the 244-unit Mexican charbroiled chicken chain rose 1.2% to $33.1 million, and sales at stores open at least a year--a key measure of growth--rose 1.9%. Sales at the 97 company-owned stores rose an average of 3.5% to $309,200. For the nine months ended Oct. 1, El Pollo Loco’s operating profit fell 0.9%, to $10.6 million, as sales rose 1.5% to $98.5 million.

At the 486-unit Coco’s coffee-shop chain, operating profits were unchanged, at $3.7 million, while sales rose 2.9% to $69.3 million. Sales at established restaurants grew 2.7%. Sales at 186 company-owned stores rose an average of 2.7% to $366,500.

At the 156-unit Carrows dinner house chain, operating profits fell 6% to $3 million, as sales fell 4.2%, to $52.5 million. Sales at established eateries fell 0.3%, and sales at the 153 company-owned outlets fell an average of 0.4% to $339,500.

Nine-month figures for Coco’s and Carrows aren’t comparable because the chains weren’t owned by Flagstar for the entire period.