Irvine Restaurant Chains Post Mixed Fourth Quarter

Three Irvine-based restaurant chains owned by South Carolina-based Advantica Restaurant Group Inc. report mixed fourth-quarter results.

El Pollo Loco, which owns 100 Mexican-charbroiled chicken eateries and franchises and licenses another 165, said fourth-quarter operating income before depreciation and other charges fell 20%, to $4.5 million, as revenue rose 5% to $31.8 million. Sales at stores open at least a year--a key measure of growth--rose 2.5%.

For the year, El Pollo Loco’s operating income before depreciation and other charges rose 5% to $21.1 million, as revenue rose 2% to $127.1 million.

Coco’s, which owns 150 of the bakery-oriented coffee shops, and franchises or licenses another 331, said fourth-quarter operating income before depreciation and other charges fell 5%, to $8.7 million, as revenue dipped 9% to $64.1 million. Same-store sales fell 0.3%.

For the year, Coco’s operating income before depreciation and other charges fell 1% to $34.7 million, as revenues slid 7% to $260.3 million.

Carrows, which owns 123 dinner houses and franchises 26 others, said fourth-quarter operating income before depreciation and other charges dipped 1% to $7.7 million, as revenue fell 11% to $31.8 million. Same-store sales fell 3%.

For the year, Carrows operating income before depreciation and other charges fell 12% to $23.4 million as revenue dropped 12% to $187.5 million.