Income Nearly Triples for Prandium

Prandium Inc., the Irvine operator of El Torito and Koo Koo Roo, said second-quarter operating income nearly tripled, to $3.2 million, from $1.3 million a year earlier. Sales for the period ended June 27 rose 16.8%, to $140.3 million. When interest costs were factored in, Prandium posted a net loss of $4.5 million, or 2 cents a share, down slightly from $4.8 million, or 4 cents a share, a year earlier. The company, which changed its name from Koo Koo Roo Enterprises earlier this year, said sales at its El Torito and Chi-Chis eateries open at least a year--a key measure of industry growth--increased by 1.1%. The Koo Koo Roo division, acquired in October, had sales of $22.7 million. Same-store sales for Koo Koo Roo were unavailable because the chain was not part of Prandium.