Investor Relations

The Cheesecake Factory Reports Record Financial Results for the Fiscal Quarter Ended October 1, 2002 and Announces Executive Appointments

October 17, 2002

CALABASAS HILLS, Calif., Oct 17, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (Nasdaq:CAKE) today reported record financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2002 that ended October 1, 2002. Highlights for the third quarter, compared to the same quarter last year, were as follows:

  • Total revenues up 18% to $162.0 million
  • Net income up 24% to $12.1 million
  • Diluted net income per share up 20% to $0.24
Financial results for the fiscal quarter ended October 1, 2002 include expenses amounting to approximately $0.02 per diluted share related to the Company's previously-announced voluntary withdrawal of bakery products that were produced in the Company's central bakery production facility during a four-day period in July 2002. These expenses are included in the "other operating expenses" line in the Company's Consolidated Statement of Operations and represent the estimated total financial impact of the withdrawal.

"Once again, our business achieved strong increases in revenues and earnings during the third quarter, which was particularly impressive when considering the difficult operating environment and the impact of the bakery product withdrawal," said David Overton, Chairman and CEO. "Our 1.1% increase in comparable restaurant sales during the quarter closely approximated the current price increase in our menu, which is all that we expect to achieve given our industry-leading sales productivity metrics. Our record of 41 consecutive quarters of positive same-store sales comparisons is particularly impressive when considering that we do not utilize media advertising or discounting to support our sales volumes."

The Company opened three restaurants during the quarter ended October 1, 2002, including a third Grand Lux Cafe location in Chicago, Illinois and Cheesecake Factory locations in Summerlin, Nevada and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Of the five Cheesecake Factory restaurants that are expected to open during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, a location in St. Louis, Missouri was opened on October 8, 2002, and a location in Orlando, Florida is scheduled to open on October 18, 2002. The remaining three locations planned to open by mid-December are San Jose, California; Austin, Texas; and Charlotte, North Carolina. The Company currently plans to open as many as 14 full-service Cheesecake Factory restaurants during fiscal 2003, of which all potential locations have been identified. Five signed leases are in hand for potential 2003 openings, and the Company expects to have signed substantially all of the leases for the remainder of the potential 2003 locations by the end of the current year.

The Company's bakery operations have requalified as an approved supplier to Darden Restaurants. "We are grateful to have the opportunity to continue our 16-year relationship with Darden, one of the world's most highly respected restaurant companies," commented Overton.

The Company also announced two executive appointments today. "We recognized that, in order to effectively manage our growing operations, moving to a business unit organizational structure would be of longer-term benefit to the Company," said Overton. "Earlier this summer, we were delighted to appoint Michael Berry as President and Chief Operating Officer of The Cheesecake Factory Restaurants, our flagship restaurant concept. Mike's impact on our Cheesecake Factory restaurant operations has been truly impressive during his first four months on the job." The two executive appointments announced today were as follows:

  • Gerald Deitchle has been appointed President of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated. Deitchle will retain the title of Chief Financial Officer and will remain the primary analyst contact for the Company. "Since joining our Company in 1995, Jerry has played a key role in the financial and operational development of our business," said Overton. "I have great confidence in his ability to lead our corporate team in providing quality support services to our restaurant and bakery operations." Michael Dixon, the Company's Vice President - Finance, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, will assume some of Deitchle's prior duties.
  • Peter D'Amelio has been appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company's Grand Lux Cafe Restaurants. D'Amelio joined the Company in 1990 and has steadily advanced through the Company's operations organization, with his most recent position as Senior Vice President - Operations. "I am excited for both Peter and Grand Lux Cafe," commented Overton. "During the past 12 years, Peter has been instrumental in managing the growth and success of The Cheesecake Factory. His outstanding operational and leadership skills will be of great value in our efforts to prepare Grand Lux Cafe for further growth." D'Amelio's former duties will be assumed by newly appointed Regional Vice Presidents Jack Belk and Wayne Jones.
Berry, D'Amelio and Deitchle will report directly to Overton, who remains Chairman and CEO. "I am looking forward to working closely with our capable business unit and corporate executives to successfully execute our aggressive growth plans," said Overton.

The Company's quarterly investor conference call will be available to the public live through the Internet at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, October 17, 2002. To access, select the "Audio Webcasts" option under the "Investor" section of the Company's website located at www.thecheesecakefactory.com at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register and download any necessary audio software. An archived webcast of the call will be available through November 4, 2002.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. In particular, forward-looking statements regarding the Company's sales and earnings trends are subject to risks and uncertainties due to national and regional economic and public safety conditions that impact consumer confidence and spending. Additionally, forward-looking statements regarding the number and timing of the Company's anticipated new restaurant openings are subject to factors outside of its control, including factors that are under the control of government agencies and the Company's landlords. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the dates on which they were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required to do so by the securities laws. Investors are referred to the full discussion of risks and uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated operates 55 upscale, casual dining restaurants under The Cheesecake Factory(R) name that offer an extensive menu of more than 200 items with an average check of approximately $15.70. The Company also operates a bakery production facility that produces over 50 varieties of quality cheesecakes and other baked products for the Company's restaurants and for other leading foodservice operators, retailers and distributors. Additionally, the Company operates three upscale casual dining restaurants under the Grand Lux Cafe(R) name in Los Angeles, California, Las Vegas, Nevada and Chicago, Illinois; one self-service, limited menu "express" foodservice operation under The Cheesecake Factory Express(R) mark inside the DisneyQuest(R) family entertainment center in Orlando, Florida; and licenses three bakery cafe outlets to another foodservice operator under The Cheesecake Factory Bakery Cafe(R) name.

         The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated and Subsidiaries
                   Consolidated Financial Statements
   (unaudited; in thousands, except per share and statistical data)
                Consolidated Statements of Operations
                                    13 Weeks Ended    13 Weeks Ended
                                   October 1, 2002   October 2, 2001
Revenues:                        Amounts   Percents  Amounts  Percents
  Restaurant sales              $152,916    94.4%   $128,552   93.4%
  Bakery sales to other
   foodservice operators,
   retailers and distributors      9,066     5.6%      9,068    6.6%
      Total revenues             161,982   100.0%    137,620  100.0%
Costs and expenses:
  Restaurant cost of sales (1)    35,763    22.1%     32,774   23.8%
  Bakery cost of sales (2)         3,937     2.4%      4,470    3.3%
  Labor expenses                  50,248    31.0%     42,163   30.6%
  Other operating expenses (3)    39,110    24.1%     30,559   22.2%
  General and administrative
   expenses                        7,580     4.7%      6,898    5.0%
  Depreciation and amortization
   expenses                        5,909     3.6%      4,551    3.3%
  Preopening costs                 2,192     1.4%      2,013    1.5%
      Total costs and expenses   144,739    89.3%    123,428   89.7%
Income from operations            17,243    10.7%     14,192   10.3%
Interest income, net               1,048     0.6%      1,012    0.7%
Other income, net                    499     0.3%         73    0.1%
Income before income taxes        18,790    11.6%     15,277   11.1%
Income tax provision               6,708     4.1%      5,500    4.0%
Net income                       $12,082     7.5%     $9,777    7.1%
Basic net income per share (4)     $0.24               $0.21
Basic weighted average shares
 outstanding (4)                  49,602              47,512
Diluted net income per share (4)   $0.24               $0.20
Diluted weighted average shares
 outstanding (4)                  51,137              49,986

                                    39 Weeks Ended    39 Weeks Ended
                                   October 1, 2002   October 2, 2001
Revenues:                        Amounts   Percents  Amounts  Percents
  Restaurant sales              $441,756    92.5%   $365,142   93.5%
  Bakery sales to other
   foodservice operators,
   retailers and distributors     35,820     7.5%    25,234     6.5%
      Total revenues             477,576   100.0%   390,376   100.0%
Costs and expenses:
  Restaurant cost of sales (1)   105,173    22.0%    93,249    23.9%
  Bakery cost of sales (2)        16,744     3.5%    12,383     3.2%
  Labor expenses                 147,127    30.8%   119,954    30.7%
  Other operating expenses (3)   109,818    23.0%    87,327    22.4%
  General and administrative
   expenses                       23,453     4.9%    20,206     5.2%
  Depreciation and amortization
   expenses                       16,620     3.5%    12,525     3.2%
  Preopening costs                 7,187     1.5%     4,861     1.2%
      Total costs and expenses   426,122    89.2%   350,505    89.8%
Income from operations            51,454    10.8%    39,871    10.2%
Interest income, net               3,038     0.6%     3,450     0.9%
Other income, net                  1,333     0.3%       998     0.3%
Income before income taxes        55,825    11.7%    44,319    11.4%
Income tax provision              19,929     4.2%    15,955     4.1%
Net income                       $35,896     7.5%   $28,364     7.3%
Basic net income per share (4)     $0.73              $0.60
Basic weighted average shares
 outstanding (4)                  49,082             47,388
Diluted net income per share (4)   $0.70              $0.57
Diluted weighted average shares
 outstanding (4)                  51,074             49,782

                    Selected Consolidated Balance
                           Sheet Information
                                    October 1, 2002   January 1, 2002
Cash and marketable securities             $110,400           $92,284
Total assets                                424,493           356,927
Total liabilities                            67,148            67,456
Total stockholders' equity                  357,345           289,471

                       Supplemental Information
                              13 Weeks   13 Weeks   39 Weeks  39 Weeks
                               Ended      Ended      Ended     Ended
                              Oct. 1,    Oct. 2,    Oct. 1,   Oct. 2,
                                2002       2001       2002      2001
Comparable restaurant
 sales % change                 1.1%       0.9%      1.6%       1.7%
Restaurant cost of sales
 % of restaurant sales         23.4%      25.5%     23.8%      25.5%
Bakery cost of sales
 % of bakery sales             43.4%      49.3%     46.7%      49.1%
Restaurants opened
 during period                    3          3         7          6
Restaurants open at
 period-end                      58         48        58         48
Restaurant operating
 weeks                          731        610     2,120      1,769
Operating income before
 preopening costs           $19,435    $16,205   $58,641    $44,732
Operating income margin
 before preopening costs       12.0%      11.8%     12.3%      11.4%
Notes:
(1) Consists of restaurant food, beverage and dessert costs.
(2) Consists of bakery ingredient, packaging and supply costs.
(3) For the 13-week period ended October 1, 2002, includes
    expenses of $2.1 million (approximately $0.02 per diluted share)
    related to the voluntary withdrawal of bakery products that were
    produced in the Company's bakery production facility during a
    four-day period in July 2002.
(4) Reflects a 3-for-2 stock split effective June 18, 2001.

CONTACT:
The Cheesecake Factory, Calabasas Hills
Jane Vallaire, 818/871-3000

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