Buffets, Inc. Ends Fiscal Year With Back-To-Back Positive Quarters, Delivering Strongest Sales Results In Eight Years

GREER, S.C., Aug. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Buffets, Inc., parent company of Old Country Buffet^®, Hometown^® Buffet, Country Buffet^®, Ryan's^®, and Fire Mountain^® restaurants, which are popular for their family dining experience, reported positive same store sales growth for a second quarter* in a row, beating the industry's performance** and producing Buffets' best annual same store comp sales performance in eight years.

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"Our results indicate we have stabilized our business and are poised to grow our business for the first time in years," said Anthony Wedo, CEO of Buffets, Inc. "The organization has been highly focused on innovations and investments that directly impact the guest experience. At the end of the day, what we deliver in our restaurants day in and day out is what really matters."

"In the last year, we laid a strong 'guest first' foundation by rolling out our Great Steak Pledge, our Four Star Operating platform, and our highly successful Family Night initiative," said Jason Abelkop, CMO of Buffets, Inc. "Families, especially young families, are our core target. Everything we're doing is to improve the value equation for them."

Abelkop stated that the new menu roll out in March dubbed "Real Favorites" had a positive impact on sales.

About Buffets, Inc.
Buffets, Inc., one of the nation's largest steak-buffet restaurant companies, currently operates 344 restaurants in 35 states, comprised of 334 steak-buffet restaurants and 10 Tahoe Joe's Famous Steakhouse restaurants.  The restaurants are principally operated under the Old Country Buffet^®, HomeTown^® Buffet and Ryan's^® brands. Buffets employs approximately 18,000 team members and serves approximately 100 million customers annually.  For more information, visit www.Buffet.com.

* This was the 4^th quarter of FY 2013 for Buffets, Inc.

**Based on Knapp Family Sales Trend Report

SOURCE Buffets, Inc.