FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2004

Quantitative Analysis Adds Fatz Cafe and Rib Crib to Restaurant Roster

Houston (January 26, 2004) – Quantitative Analysis (QA) announced today that it recently added two more restaurants to its client roster, Taylors, SC-based Cafe Enterprises, parent company to Fatz Cafe, and Broken Arrow, OK-based Rib Crib. QA’s other restaurant clients include Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Souper Salad, Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe, The Buona Companies, and Figaro's Pizza.

Through statistical analysis of these companies’ current restaurant sales and trade area data, QA will identify and quantify the factors with the most impact on sales. QA will develop a customized model for each company to use as a guide to site selection and expansion planning.

Deborah Hayden, QA’s president and founder, commented on the addition of the casual dining category to her company’s client roster.  "Whether a restaurant is a fine dining, casual dining or quick service concept, real estate is one of the most important decisions made in opening a new unit, because of the size of the investment,” she said. “Site models add objectivity to the process and reduce the risk. That’s why more restaurateurs are seeking reliable sales forecasts before executing real estate deals.”

Cafe Enterprises operates 21 Fatz Cafe restaurants in the Carolinas and Tennessee, employing more than 1,500 associates. The privately owned company was ranked in 2003 as one of the nation’s top 400 restaurant concepts by Restaurants & Institutions magazine and one of the hottest growth chains by Restaurant Hospitality magazine. 

Cafe Enterprises President Bill Burton said the company increased its year-over-year same-store sales by 9.4 percent, and increased total revenues by 24.1 percent with the addition of several new restaurants. The company plans to continue its controlled growth into new communities in 2004.

“With our current expansion underway, we want to build on the momentum we established in 2003 by using new analytical tools for evaluating real estate. By providing reliable sales forecasts, the model will ensure we choose sites with the highest sales potential,” Burton said.

Rib Crib is a 26-unit casual dining chain opened in 1992 with locations in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Missouri, Kansas, California and Florida. Rib Crib expects to add 10 units in 2004 in Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, New Mexico, Texas and Montana.

“Eighty percent of every dollar invested in a Rib Crib is for land and building, so we feel compelled to find better ways to choose sites,” said Rib Crib Chief Financial Officer Marc Chastain. “We believe QA can help Rib Crib use powerful data to make informed decisions about real estate. We know how to drive a site and observe whether the important physical characteristics like activity, visibility, access and parking are present, but there is so much more information that can be applied to the decision-making process,” he said.  

Houston-based Quantitative Analysis (QA) is an advanced statistical modeling and analysis company formed to help companies use data to make more profitable business decisions. For more information about the company, visit the company’s website at www.quantitativeanalysis.com. 

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