Weekly Restaurant Stock Update

Here is the link to the stock update:

Houston’s refuses to submit to NYC law; challenging in court

California-based restaurant chain Houston’s doesn’t like New York City’s calorie labeling law, and it has refused to submit to it, setting the stage for a battle with city health officials.
With more than 30 restaurants across the country, including two in Manhattan, the upscale chain falls under the city’s definition of a company required to include caloric information on its menus here. But diners won’t find calories listed anywhere at either of the restaurants, on East 53rd Street and Third Avenue and East 27th Street and Park Avenue South.

Read more:
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20090816/FREE/908159995

Lack of finance could stifle restaurant industry recovery

A survey of members of the British Hospitality Association's National Restaurants Group, and conducted by the accountancy firm BDO Stoy Hayward, reveals that over one-third of businesses believe there will be slight growth in both 2009 and 2010 while a similar number believes there will be strong growth in 2010.

The survey warns, however, that growth in the future will be curtailed if finance is not made more readily available. This is widely considered to be one of the most inhibiting factors to restaurant expansion.
Read more:
http://www.costsectorcatering.co.uk/online_article/lack-of-finance-could-stifle-restaurant-industry-recovery/8369

Chain Restaurants Q2 Earnings: What's Going on?

Most of the chain restaurant earnings for the quarter are now in, but it will be interesting to watch Burger King (BKC) on August 25. This quarter, virtually all companies beat analysts estimates based on commodity and other cost structure reductions, all of which essentially fall 100% through to the bottom line.
So beating projections on cost decreases is good but should be no surprise in this sector right now.

Read more:
http://seekingalpha.com/article/156468-chain-restaurants-q2-earnings-what-s-going-on?source=yahoo