In nearly every one of Whataburger's 700 restaurants, an old black and white photo of a distinctly American slice of 1950s life is displayed, depicting a group of young boys in their Little League uniforms proudly sponsored by Whataburger. To help celebrate its 60th anniversary, Whataburger conducted a multi-state search to reunite original members of that team, and will honor them Wednesday, August 4, on a ball field in Corpus Christi, where the first Whataburger opened in August of 1950.

Players Frank Thomas (#7), Howard Henslee (#6), John Simpson (#5) and Cliff Johnson (#13), now in their 60s, will throw the first pitch at the Corpus Christi Hooks home game at Whataburger Field as friends and families cheer them on. Whataburger will present each player with a custom replica Whataburger jersey and commemorative plaque featuring the photo, and will also recognize player Ray Dulak, who died while serving in the Vietnam War.

"It's a special feeling to walk into a Whataburger, point at the picture and tell my friends and family - that's me when I was a little boy!" said Frank Thomas, former Whataburger Athletics player who was instrumental in helping Whataburger find the other players. "Being able to throw the first pitch and reunite with my former teammates has been a dream come true."

Whataburger founder Harmon Dobson didn't just put his then-fledgling company name on the team jerseys - he also fed the kids burgers and shakes after each game. The photo of the boys shows them in the restaurant lined up in their uniforms, eagerly awaiting their post-game meal at a Corpus Christi Whataburger.

"Whataburger has been committed to encouraging young athletes from the very beginning, and we're so proud to bring the guys from that great old photo back together," said Tom Dobson, Chairman and CEO of Whataburger Restaurants, and son of founder Harmon Dobson. "As the kids used to say, it's not whether you win or lose, it's where you eat after the game. We are proud to have been that place for thousands of young athletes through the years."

Dobson's support of that Little League team was the start of Whataburger's longstanding tradition of supporting the communities in which it does business through sports sponsorships. Today, Whataburger has grown its community partnerships through a variety of high school, collegiate and professional sports teams, including the Corpus Christi Hooks. Whataburger also sponsors one of the nation's most prestigious high school basketball tournaments, the Whataburger Classic.

About Whataburger:

Whataburger has focused on its fresh, made-to-order burgers and friendly customer service since 1950 when Harmon Dobson opened the first Whataburger as a small roadside burger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. Dobson gave his restaurant a name he hoped to hear customers say every time they took a bite of his made-to-order burgers: "What a burger!" Within the first week, people lined up around the block for his 25 cent, all-American beef burgers served on five-inch buns. Today, the company is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, with more than 700 locations in 10 states with sales of more than $1 billion annually. Visit www.whataburger.com for more information on the company.

Media Contacts:

Katelyn Collier or Kristen Kauffman

SPM Communications

(817) 329-3257

katelyn@spmcommunications.com

kristen@spmcommunications.com


Natalie Silva

Corporate Communications

Whataburger Restaurants, LP

(210) 476-6547

nsilva@wbhq.com



This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com.  For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

SOURCE Whataburger

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http://www.whataburger.com

Scott Fordham, president and chief executive officer, today announced that Champion Energy Services (www.championenergyservices.com) has secured a 24-month contract to provide electric energy for Edloe Street Delicatessen (edloedeli.com), a landmark cafe and deli in West University Place.

"The opportunity to save 30 percent on electricity made this a timely business decision," said George Boehme, president of Edloe Street Delicatessen. "And the opportunity to align with a Houston-based electricity provider is the icing on the cake."

"Edloe Deli is a hub of activity in West University and Southside Place, and Champion Energy is excited to align with this neighborhood icon," said Fordham. "George Boehme's involvement in the community as a resident, business owner and West University city councilman is exemplary, and we look forward to working with him on some unique promotions for area residents."  

Edloe Street Cafe and Deli opened in 1975, was purchased by Boehme in 2008 and has since expanded to a seven-day breakfast, lunch and dinner setting.

About Champion Energy Services

www.championenergyservices.com

Houston-based Champion Energy Services ranks among the top retail electric providers in the United States. Champion Energy currently serves residential, commercial and industrial customers in deregulated electric energy markets in Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Ohio and is slated to enter the New Jersey and California markets in 2010. The company serves 450,000 residential customer equivalents, with a peak load near 1,200 Megawatts. Champion Energy is backed by the financial strength of Texas-based Crane Capital. PUCT No. 10098, PA PUC license A-2009-2124113, Ohio PUC certificate 09-166E(1), Illinois (ICC) docket 10-0168.

SOURCE Champion Energy Services

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http://www.championenergyservices.com

Murphy PA announced today that a Baltimore City jury awarded a collective $34.333 million in damages to the twenty-three plaintiffs who were permanently injured by a carbon monoxide release at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse located at the Pier V hotel on February 2, 2008. The jury's verdict is one of the largest in recent memory in Baltimore City.

After a thirteen week trial and two days of deliberations the jury of 3 men and 3 women awarded damages for negligence, public nuisance and battery against both defendants, MJ Harbor Hotel, LLC, who operates the hotel, and owner of the hotel, TPOB Pier 5, LLC.  The restaurant was not a defendant.  

Nationally renowned trial lawyer William H. ("Billy") Murphy, Jr., speaking on behalf of Murphy PA and co-counsel, Mary McNamara-Koch, Richard V. Falcon and A. Donald C. Discepolo, said, "We are proud to have brought justice and compensation to our injured clients and their families with this verdict. This preventable tragedy will forever impact their lives but hopefully this award will help to ease the pain and lessen the burden on them as they try to rebuild their lives."  Koch, a rising star in the trial bar, added "The Plaintiffs thank the jury for their attention and dedication over the 13 weeks of testimony and for this fair and just result."

Baltimore City firefighters who responded to the scene testified that the carbon monoxide levels in the restaurant were the highest that they had seen in their careers. The carbon monoxide release caused the complete evacuation of the restaurant and hotel lobby at the Pier V complex on February 2, 2008.

About Murphy PA: www.murphypa.com Murphy PA, led by nationally known trial lawyer William H. Murphy Jr., specializes in complex civil litigation including commercial, environmental, personal injury, medical malpractice, employment, and class actions. Murphy PA is majority African-American owned and has an extraordinary track record of success in jury verdicts and settlements.  Murphy PA has had success recently (2009) in obtaining a $54.4 million class action settlement against Constellation Energy for groundwater contamination around a fly ash dumpsite in Gambrills, Maryland and a $276 million verdict against First Union National Bank in 2002.  

Contact: Howard Libit

Kearney O'Doherty Public Affairs

410-685-7080 (office)

443-604-3706 (cell)



SOURCE Murphy PA

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http://www.murphypa.com

Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE Amex: FRS) reported sales of $292,872,174 for the fiscal year ended June 1, 2010.  Revenues declined $4,988,777, or 1.7%.  Net earnings for the year declined 6.7% to $9,998,931 compared to $10,720,855 last year.  Diluted earnings per share decreased to $1.93 per share, from $2.08 per share last year.  

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, revenue declined 0.1% to $71,118,878 from $71,201,746 for the fourth quarter of last year.  Net earnings declined 10.3% to $2,618,339 compared to $2,920,254 in last year's fourth quarter.  Earnings per share were $.51 compared to $.56 last year.  

Craig F. Maier, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Same store sales at our Big Boy Restaurants declined 1.6%, marking the end of a twelve year consecutive run of same store sales increases.  For the fourth quarter, Big Boy same store sales declined 2.7%."  

Maier added, "Our Golden Corral restaurants posted a same store sales decrease of 2.9% during the year despite a sales improvement of 0.7% in the last quarter of the year."

During the first half of the fiscal year, low commodity prices provided unusually low food costs, and as a result, even with reduced sales, earnings were up versus the prior year.  As the Company entered calendar 2010, the combination of inclement weather and the return of more normal costs for food had a negative impact on results for the second half of the year.  The decreases in same store sales in both concepts, along with higher commodity pricing, are challenges as the new fiscal year begins.  

During the year, the Company opened four new Big Boy restaurants, one of which replaced an older facility.  As of June 1, 2010, Frisch's operated 35 Golden Corral restaurants and 91 company-owned Big Boy restaurants, and there were an additional 25 franchised Big Boy restaurants operated by licensees.  

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

(In thousands, except per share data)







(unaudited)




Year ended




Quarter ended




June 1,


June 2,


June 1,


June 2,



2010


2009


2010


2009










Sales

$   292,872


$   297,861


$    71,119


$   71,202

Cost of sales









Food and paper

99,651


105,860


24,481


24,383


Payroll and related

97,919


97,678


23,596


23,415


Other operating costs

64,988


66,083


15,400


15,657



262,558


269,621


63,477


63,455

Gross profit

30,314


28,240


7,642


7,747


Administrative and advertising

15,127


14,638


3,694


3,701


Franchise fees and other revenue

(1,266)


(1,282)


(296)


(312)


Gains on sale of assets

-


(1,163)


-


(47)


Litigation settlement

-


(890)


-


-

Operating profit (loss)

16,453


16,937


4,244


4,405


Interest expense

1,748


2,000


393


455

Earnings (loss) before income tax

14,705


14,937


3,851


3,950

Income taxes

4,706


4,216


1,233


1,030

NET EARNINGS (LOSS)

$       9,999


$     10,721


$      2,618


$     2,920










Earnings (loss) per share (EPS) of common stock:









Basic net earnings (loss) per share

$1.96


$2.10


$.51


$.57


Diluted net earnings (loss) per share

$         1.93


$2.08


$.51


$.56

Diluted average shares outstanding

5,192


5,164


5,163


5,177

Depreciation included above

$     14,085


$     13,691


$      3,373


$     3,216

Opening expense included above

$          768


$          585


$         349


$          10





















Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

(In thousands of dollars)




June 1,


June 2,





2010


2009









Assets






Current assets







Cash and equivalents

$        647


$        899




Receivables

1,534


1,549




Inventories

5,959


6,531




Other current assets

2,249


2,480





10,389


11,459



Property and equipment

168,699


157,638



Other assets







Goodwill & other intangible assets

1,459


1,548




Property held for sale and land investments

3,682


3,218




Deferred income taxes and other

5,024


3,113





10,165


7,879












$ 189,253


$ 176,976









Liabilities and shareholders' equity






Current liabilities







Accounts payable

$   10,558


$     8,038




Accrued expenses

9,641


11,555




Other

8,342


8,418





28,541


28,011










Long-term obligations







Long-term debt

23,795


21,962




Other long-term obligations

16,823


12,626





40,618


34,588










Shareholders' equity

120,094


114,377












$ 189,253


$ 176,976


















SOURCE Frisch's Restaurants, Inc.

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http://www.frischs.com

Whether a 'newbie' or a 'mayor,' Chili's® Grill & Bar is giving something to everyone checking in at its restaurants on Foursquare, a location-based social media platform for smartphones. At participating locations nationwide for a limited time only, Foursquare subscribers who check in at Chili's will receive a free order of chips and house-made salsa.

"With more than two million users and counting, Foursquare has given us a simple way to engage our tech-savvy brand fans," said Nicole Cochran, marketing director for Chili's Grill & Bar. "As social media trends continue to change the landscape of how we interact, Foursquare gives us an opportunity to connect with our guests while offering them this appetizer on the house."

Chili's is setting the trend as the first national casual dining chain to offer a free item with every check-in on Foursquare, regardless if someone is a first-time or experienced user of the social networking application. To unlock Chili's chips and salsa offer with a coupon for instant redemption, guests simply check-in on Foursquare at participating Chili's locations.  Participating locations will be demarcated on Foursquare with a "special offer" flag whenever a guest is within 200 yards of the restaurant.

About Chili's Grill & Bar

Chili's Grill & Bar is the flagship brand of Dallas-based Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT), a recognized leader in casual dining. Chili's offers a fun, energetic atmosphere and a distinct, fresh mix of grilled American favorites at 1,499 locations in 30 countries and two territories. Brinker's wholly-owned restaurant brands include Chili's® Grill & Bar, and Maggiano's Little Italy®. Brinker also holds a minority investment in Romano's Macaroni Grill®. Follow news about Chili's on Facebook at www.facebook.com/chilis, @Chilis on Twitter and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/chilis.  For additional information, please visit www.chilis.com.

SOURCE Chili's Grill & Bar

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http://www.chilis.com

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