Bruegger’s Enterprises, Inc. (BEI) announced Wednesday that the system showed positive sales growth during the first quarter ending April 20, 2010. The 430-unit restaurant operator recognized sales of $74.6 million, a 2.1 percent increase over the first quarter of 2009.
Bruegger’s namesake brand added 20 franchise, corporate, and co-branded bakeries during the past year. Same store comparable sales were down slightly, by 0.2 percent. Bruegger’s is anticipating unit growth in 2010 to continue at a rate of 10 percent.
Timothy’s World Coffee, which was purchased by BEI in November 2009, saw a 3.6 percent increase in comparable sales during the first quarter. Timothy’s has 94 locations operating in Canada and is expecting 10 percent unit growth in 2010.
“We continue to improve operations, introduce new products, and make significant capital investments in the future of the Bruegger’s portfolio of brands,” says Bruegger’s CEO Jim Greco. “Our first quarter results confirm that our strategic initiatives are working.”
Highlights
-In March 2010, Bruegger’s opened its first co-branded locations in Canada, combining with three existing mmmuffins locations in Toronto.
-In early April, the chain introduced its next generation bakery prototype, paving the way for an updated look that will become a staple for the bagel leader. The first prototypes were rolled out in Charlotte, North Carolina; Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Pittsburgh. The chain plans to complete 50 remodels in 2010, and to remodel all of its Bruegger’s locations in the next three years at an estimated total cost of $10 million.
-Bruegger’s expanded into new markets, including Kansas and Connecticut, and opened bakeries in a total of five cities, bringing system-wide bakeries open to 296.
