Economic News by the Numbers

October 7, 2:30 PMRestaurant ExaminerShelley Owens

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The October American Express Market Brief is out today and the news is surprising. Food service sales are up slightly over a year ago. Sales posted a small 0.4 percent gain, not an economic boon, to be sure, but a gain none-the-less.

Same-store sales for limited service (quick-service, fast-casual, cafeteria, etc.) also grew 0.4 percent, if you don’t count McDonald’s. Add the 31,000+-store mega-chain, which grew same-store sales by 3.4 percent, and same-store sales are up 1.5 percent. Denver-based Chipotle Mexican Grill had 7.1 percent same-store sales increases and Panera Bread gained 6.5 percent per store.

Full-service chains saw same-store sales fall by 0.7 percent. But some chains had above-average gains. Buffalo Wild Wings saw same-store sales increase by 8.3 percent and Olive Garden watched sales rise an average of 5.8 percent per unit.