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STAR BUFFET, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES Index to Annual Report on Form 10-K For the Fiscal Year Ended January 26, 2004



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K



ý

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended January 26, 2004

OR

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number: 0-6054

STAR BUFFET, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
  84-1430786
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

420 Lawndale Drive
Salt Lake City, Utah

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

84115
(Zip Code)

Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (801) 463-5500


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

(Title of Each Class):
Common Stock
$.001 par value

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes ý No o

        Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o.

        Indicate by check mark whether registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).    Yes o No ý

        The aggregate market value of the registrant's common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of August 11, 2003, was $4,658,000.

        The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's common stock was 2,950,000 shares as of April 15, 2004.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

        Portions of the registrant's Proxy Statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after January 26, 2004, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

        The Exhibit Index is contained in Part IV herein on Page E-1.





STAR BUFFET, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

Index to Annual Report on Form 10-K

For the Fiscal Year Ended January 26, 2004

 
   
PART I

ITEM 1.

 

BUSINESS

ITEM 2.

 

PROPERTIES

ITEM 3.

 

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

ITEM 4.

 

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

PART II

ITEM 5.

 

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

ITEM 6.

 

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

ITEM 7.

 

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

ITEM 7A.

 

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

ITEM 8.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

ITEM 9.

 

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

ITEM 9A.

 

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

PART III

ITEM 10.

 

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

ITEM 11.

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

ITEM 12.

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

ITEM 13.

 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

ITEM 14.

 

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

PART IV

ITEM 15.

 

EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

        This annual report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Securities Act of 1933, which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements are identified by words such as "believe, "anticipate, "expect," "intend," "plan," "will," "may" and similar expressions. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this annual report on Form 10-K. All these forward-looking statements are based on information available to the Company at this time, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any of these statements. Actual results could differ from those projected in these forward-looking statements as a result of may factors, including those identified in the section titled "Risks" under Item 1, Business and elsewhere. You should review and consider the various disclosures made by the Company in this report, and those detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, that attempt to advise you of the risks and factors that may affect the Company's future results.


PART I

Item 1. Business

Overview

        Star Buffet, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Star" and collectively with its subsidiaries, the "Company"), is engaged in the restaurant industry. As of January 26, 2004, the Company owned and operated 16 franchised HomeTown Buffet restaurants, nine JB's Restaurants, nine BuddyFreddys restaurants, five JJ North's Country Buffet restaurants, two Holiday House restaurants, two Mexican-themed restaurants operated under the Casa Bonita name and one North's Star Buffet restaurant. As of January 26, 2004, one of the nine JB's restaurants was closed for remodeling and repositioning. Additionally, four of the nine BuddyFreddys restaurants were closed and three of those closed restaurants have been leased to third-party operators and the net assets of the other closed restaurant is reported as property held for sale. The Company's restaurants are located in nine western states, Oklahoma and Florida and are focused upon providing customers with a wide variety of fresh, high quality food at moderate prices.

Recent Developments

        On March 21, 2002, Alliant Foodservice, Inc. ("Alliant") filed a breach of contract complaint against the Company in the Superior Court for the State of Arizona in and for the County of Maricopa, Case No. CVZ002-005195, alleging breach of the Master Distribution Agreement ("MDA") executed between the Company and Alliant on or about December 1, 1999. Alliant sought $2,479,000 for alleged amounts owed by the Company plus attorneys' fees and costs. The Company included approximately $2,000,000 for this alleged amount owed in relation to this litigation in accounts payable-trade at January 27, 2003 net of any amounts receivable from Alliant. The Company denied the allegations and vigorously defended the alleged breach of contract. On April 29, 2002, the Company filed an answer and counterclaim in Superior Court for the State of Arizona in and for the County of Maricopa citing among other things, breach of the MDA. The Company sought over $7,250,000 in damages. On February 27, 2003, the Company and Alliant entered into a Settlement Agreement that dismissed charges against both parties and required the Company to pay Alliant $1,600,000 which resulted in a gain of $400,000 in the first quarter of fiscal 2004.

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        On February 20, 2004, the Board of Directors approved the Company's first annual dividend of $0.25 per common share and a special dividend of $0.25 per common share. Both are payable on June 1, 2004 to shareholders of record on May 7, 2004.

        On March 2, 2004, the Company filed an action against North's Restaurants, Inc. ("North's") in the United States District Court, District of Utah, Central Division, Case No. 2:04CV00211, demanding judgment against North's for failure to repay obligations under a Settlement Agreement dated January 26, 2001 ("Star Buffet Promissory Note") in a total amount not less than $2,934,453 plus interest at the default rate as set forth in the Star Buffet Promissory Note.

Business

        The Company's objective is to become a leading operator of regional buffet restaurant brands through the acquisition of established regional concepts and subsequent development of additional restaurants within existing or new markets. The Company believes that certain uniformly applied business practices can be used successfully to improve the financial performance of its past and future acquisitions. Key elements of the Company's business practices are as follows:

        Customer Focus.    The Company believes that its ability to deliver high quality food to customers with superior service in clean and friendly environments has been central to its success at improving customer perceptions and sales at its buffet restaurants. Management's focus includes the following key elements:

        Management Practices.    The Company's management team utilizes a series of uniform management practices to operate the acquired restaurants. The key elements of these management practices are:

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        Brand Management.    The Company's strategy is to separately manage each of its restaurant brands to create a unique presence in the marketplace. Although each subsidiary and its brands are positioned somewhat differently in the market, the Company utilizes many of the same marketing techniques such as local store marketing, radio advertising and promotional mailers to increase customer awareness and loyalty.

Segment And Related Reporting

        The Company has five reporting segments: HomeTown Buffet, Casa Bonita, North's Star, Florida Buffets Division and JB's Restaurants. The Company's reportable segments are based on brand similarities. The HomeTown Buffet segment includes the Company's 16 franchised HomeTown Buffet restaurants. The Casa Bonita segment includes two Casa Bonita restaurants. The North's Star segment includes five JJ North's Country Buffet restaurants and one North's Star Buffet Restaurants. The Florida Buffets Division includes two BuddyFreddys restaurants, three BuddyFreddys Country Buffet restaurants and two Holiday House restaurants. The Florida Buffet Division also includes four non-operating units. The JB's Restaurants segment includes the Company's eight JB's Restaurants. This segment also includes one non-operating JB's Restaurant. In addition, segment reporting results include 19 and 2 weeks for two BuddyFreddys Country Buffet restaurants closed during the fiscal year 2004. Results for 2004 also include 12 weeks of operations for one JJ North's Country Buffet restaurant and 5 weeks of operations for one JB's Restaurant. (See Item 15, Financial Statements, Note 7.)

Growth Strategy

        The Company's objective is to become a leading operator of regional buffet restaurant brands through (1) acquisitions of existing buffet restaurant chains which management believes can benefit from the Company's management practices, (2) the acquisitions of exiting restaurant properties that can be converted to buffet brands operated or under development by the Company and (3) minority investments in or strategic alliances with other restaurant chains. The Company's growth strategy is designed to capitalize on the opportunities management perceives in the fragmented buffet segment of the restaurant industry.

        Acquisition Strategy.    The Company believes that it will be able to capitalize on the successful attributes of acquired buffet chains while increasing their focus on operations, customer service and quality. The Company believes that a number of acquisition opportunities exist due to the fragmentation of the buffet, cafeteria and grill-buffet segments of the restaurant industry, which are comprised of a substantial number of regional chains. The Company believes that many of these regional chains are privately owned and may be available for acquisition because they lack the financial and operational structure to compete with larger regional and national chains.

        Restaurant Conversions.    In recent years, a number of chains in the family dining and budget steakhouse segments of the restaurant industry have experienced operational difficulties and declining performance. The Company believes that these difficulties are the result of increasing competition from casual dining chains and casual steakhouses which offer superior product quality and service at only moderately higher prices. Many of these family dining restaurants and budget steakhouses occupy desirable locations and provide opportunities to acquire desirable restaurant locations at attractive prices. The Company believes that these locations can be acquired and converted at lower prices or leased at rates lower than those available when compared to the cost of new construction.

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        Minority Investments and Strategic Alliances.    The Company intends to seek minority investments in, or strategic alliances with, other restaurant chains. The Company believes that minority investments can provide an attractive investment opportunity for the Company and may lower the acquisition cost of such chains should the Company ultimately seek to acquire those chains. The Company believes that strategic alliances can be an excellent corporate arrangement to facilitate (1) more productive use of under-performing restaurant properties at lower cost and less risk than outright acquisition and (2) reduce corporate overhead or improve purchasing economies.

Restaurant Concepts

        General.    The Company, through its subsidiary HTB Restaurants, Inc. ("HTB"), has a franchise agreement with HomeTown Buffet, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Buffets, Inc., under which HTB operates 16 HomeTown Buffet restaurants in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

        HTB entered into a franchise agreement for each location which requires among other items, the payment of a continuing royalty fee paid to HomeTown Buffet, Inc. The royalty fee is based on the aggregate gross sales of all the Company's HomeTown Buffet restaurants. Each of the franchise agreements has a 20-year term (with two five-year renewal options). HTB provides weekly sales reports to the HomeTown franchisor as well as periodic and annual financial statements. HTB is obligated to operate its Hometown Buffet restaurants in compliance with the franchisor's requirements.

        The HomeTown franchisor may terminate a franchise agreement for a number of reasons, including HTB's failure to pay royalty fees when due, failure to comply with applicable laws or repeated failure to comply with one or more requirements of the franchise agreement. Many state franchise laws limit the ability of a franchisor to terminate or refuse to renew a franchise. Generally, a franchisor may terminate a franchise agreement only if the franchisee violates a material and substantial provision of the agreement and fails to remedy the violation within a specified period.

        Concept and Menu.    HomeTown Buffet restaurants are located both in shopping "strip centers" and as freestanding restaurants. HTB's typical restaurant format is approximately 10,200 square feet with seating for approximately 375 customers. The restaurant design is based upon standardized construction plans, with modifications made for each particular site. The restaurants offer fixed price lunch, dinner and breakfast menus that entitle each customer to unlimited servings of all menu items and beverages. The average check price is approximately $6.20 per person. The restaurants offer reduced prices to children under age 12 and to senior citizens.

        Operations.    The HomeTown Buffet restaurants are supervised directly by a vice president of operations, who reports to the Company's President. Each HomeTown Buffet restaurant has a general manager and at least three co-managers or assistant managers. Managers are required to attend formal training sessions in management and operations of the restaurant. In addition, each restaurant manager is required to comply with specific franchisor-provided guidelines to assure uniformity of operations and consistent high quality of products. The Company has a performance-based incentive program covering its general and assistant managers in addition to a competitive base salary.

        Individual restaurants typically employ between 40 and 80 non-management hourly employees, made up of a mix of part-time and full-time workers, depending on restaurant size and traffic.

        Concept and Menu.    The Company's two Casa Bonita restaurants are located in Denver, Colorado and Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Denver restaurant is approximately 52,000 square feet, and the Tulsa restaurant is approximately 26,000 square feet. The restaurants are designed to recreate the atmosphere of a Mexican village at night. The restaurants also feature entertainment daily, including strolling

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mariachis, authentic Mexican dancers, magicians, games and cliff divers. The restaurants' entertainment, combined with high quality, authentic Mexican food, is designed to attract a diverse customer base, including tourists and local customers. In addition to typical Mexican menu offerings, these restaurants feature all-you-can-eat dinners which offer customers unlimited servings of selected menu items.

        The Company focuses on three primary target audiences in its advertising and promotional programs for its Casa Bonita restaurants: (1) local customers, (2) tourists and (3) groups and parties. The Company markets over a broad regional territory to attract tourists by placing advertisements in tourist and special event guides and by otherwise promoting each Casa Bonita restaurant as a major destination attraction. With its large dining areas and private rooms, the Company also promotes Casa Bonita as an ideal setting for banquets, private parties and other group events. The average check for the Casa Bonita restaurant in Denver, Colorado is approximately $11.10 per person. The average check for the Casa Bonita restaurant in Tulsa, Oklahoma is approximately $9.60 per person.

        Operations.    The two Casa Bonita restaurants are supervised by a vice president of operations who reports directly to the Company's President. Each Casa Bonita restaurant has a general manager and at least three assistant managers. Each restaurant employs between 150 and 270 hourly employees, made up of a mix of part-time and full-time workers, depending on restaurant size and traffic.

        General.    The North's Star Division consists of five JJ North's Country Buffet restaurants and one North's Star Buffet restaurant. The Company's five JJ North's Country Buffet restaurants are located in Idaho (2), Washington (2) and Oregon (1). The restaurants are approximately 6,500 to 9,000 square feet and seat approximately 210 to 320 customers. The Company's North's Star Buffet restaurant is located in Arizona.

        Concept and Menu.    The JJ North's Country Buffet restaurants and the North's Star Buffet restaurant offer fixed price lunch, dinner and weekend breakfast menus that entitle each customer to unlimited servings of all menu items and beverages. Prices are approximately $5.59 for lunch and approximately $7.99 for dinner, and may vary depending on restaurant location. The average check for JJ North's Country Buffet is approximately $6.50 per person. The average check in North's Star Buffet is approximately $6.00 per person. The restaurants offer reduced prices to children under age 12 and to senior citizens.

        Both JJ North's Country Buffet and North's Star Buffet restaurants seek to differentiate themselves from other buffet and cafeteria restaurants by the quality and variety of their food offerings. The restaurants feature a "scatter bar" buffet system with separate food islands in an "all-you-can-eat" format. Menus emphasize traditional American "home cooking" and include soups, salads, entrees, vegetables, non-alcoholic beverages and desserts. Customers can choose from multiple entree choices, including fried and baked chicken and fish, roast beef, turkey and ham. Additional entrees, such as lasagna, barbecued ribs and other regional or seasonal dishes, are featured on particular days of the week. In addition to entrees, each meal period includes freshly-prepared soups, assorted vegetable and potato dishes, hot bread and an extensive salad bar. Dessert selections include pudding, assorted cobblers, cakes, cookies and soft-serve frozen dairy desserts with various sundae toppings.

        Operations.    The five JJ North's Country Buffet restaurants and one North's Star Buffet are supervised by the President of the Company. Each JJ North's restaurant has a general manager and at least two assistant managers. Each restaurant employs between 25 and 50 hourly employees, made up of a mix of part-time and full-time workers, depending on restaurant size and traffic.

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        General.    The Company, through several transactions, has acquired 11 properties in Florida which currently operate under the brand names BuddyFreddys Country Buffet (7), BuddyFreddys (2) and Holiday House (2). Four of the seven BuddyFreddys Country Buffet restaurants have been closed for repositioning. Three closed restaurants have been leased to third-party operators and the net assets of the other closed restaurant is property held for sale. BuddyFreddys restaurants average approximately 10,000 square feet with seating for approximately 350 guests. Holiday House restaurants average approximately 5,500 square feet with seating for approximately 170 guests.

        Concept and Menu.    The BuddyFreddys Country Buffet restaurants offer a buffet menu specializing in local dishes and southern-style cooking. Each location also offers a small gift shop selling a variety of BuddyFreddys apparel, snacks and specialty merchandise. The two BuddyFreddys differ from BuddyFreddys Country Buffets in that they offer a full a la carte menu in addition to the "all-you-can-eat" buffet. The two Holiday House restaurants also operate in a buffet format and specialize in offering the customer a wide variety of meat entrees including ham, roast beef, turkey and its signature leg of lamb. The average check price for BuddyFreddys and Holiday House is approximately $6.60 per person.

        Operations.    The Florida restaurants are supervised by a vice president of operations who reports directly to the Company's President. Each Florida restaurant has a general manager and at least two assistant managers. Each restaurant employs between 25 and 60 hourly employees, made up of a mix of part-time and full-time workers, depending on restaurant size and traffic.

        General.    The Company, through its subsidiary Summit Family Restaurants, Inc. ("Summit"), operates nine JB's Restaurants in Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. One of the nine JB's Restaurants was closed for repositioning at January 26, 2004. The restaurants are approximately 4,300 to 5,600 square feet and seat approximately 110 to 180 customers.

        In connection with the acquisition of certain JB's Restaurants in 1998 from JB's Family Restaurants, Inc., a subsidiary of CKE Restaurants, Inc., the Company entered into a one-year franchise agreement for each location requiring among other items, the payment of royalty fees. After the acquisition of certain JB's Restaurants, the Company negotiated a ten-year option for annual renewable franchise agreements for each of the JB's Restaurants the Company operates. In February 2000, the annual renewable franchise agreement expired and the Company elected not to renew these franchise agreements. The Company entered into a License Agreement with the JB's Licensor for each JB's Restaurant in November 2002. The license agreement is being amortized as an intangible asset and allows the Company to use the JB's trademarks through August 31, 2012 with an option for an additional ten years.

        Concept and Menu.    JB's Restaurants offer a variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner selections at moderate prices. The breakfast menu features an "all-you-can-eat" breakfast buffet along with other traditional breakfast fare. The lunch and dinner menus have a variety of sandwiches as well as steak, chicken, pasta and seafood entrees. All JB's Restaurants offer an "all-you-can-eat" soup and salad bar during lunch and dinner. With the exception of the breakfast buffet and the "all-you-can-eat" soup and salad bar, all entrees are cooked to order and are served by a wait staff. The average check is approximately $6.20 per person.

        Operations.    The JB's Restaurants are supervised by a vice president of operations who reports to the Company's President. Each restaurant has a general manager and at least two assistant managers. Each restaurant employs between 25 and 50 hourly employees, made up of a mix of part-time and full-time workers depending on restaurant size and traffic.

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Licenses, Trademarks and Service Marks

        The Company owns the trademarks and service marks for Casa Bonita, BuddyFreddys and Holiday House and has a license agreement with CKE Restaurants, Inc. for use of the "Star" name and design. The Company has an agreement with North's Restaurants, Inc. for a royalty-free, transferable license to use the intangible property of JJ North's. The Company utilizes the HomeTown Buffet mark pursuant to various franchise agreements. The Company has a transferable license agreement to use the JB's trademark through August 31, 2012 with an option for an additional ten years.

Competition

        The Company competes on the basis of the quality and value of food products offered, price, service, location, ambiance and overall dining experience. The Company's competitors include a large and diverse group of restaurant chains and individually owned restaurants, including chains and individually owned restaurants that use a buffet format. The number of buffet restaurants with operations generally similar to the Company's has grown considerably in the last several years and the Company believes competition among buffet-style restaurants is increasing. As the Company and its principal competitors expand operations in various geographic areas, competition, including competition among buffet-style restaurants, can be expected to intensify. Such intensified competition could increase the Company's operating costs or adversely affect its revenues or operating margins. A number of competitors have been in existence longer than the Company and have substantially greater financial, marketing and other resources and wider geographical diversity than does the Company. In addition, the restaurant industry has few noneconomic barriers to entry and is affected by changes in consumer tastes, national, regional and local economic conditions and market trends. The Company's significant investment in, and long term commitment to, each of its restaurant sites limits its ability to respond quickly or effectively to changes in local competitive conditions or other changes that could affect the Company's operations.

Seasonality

        The Company's business is moderately seasonal in nature based on locations in the northern and southern states. For the majority of the Company's restaurants, the highest volume periods are in the first and second fiscal quarters and lowest volume periods typically occur during the third and fourth fiscal quarters.

Employees

        As of April 15, 2004, the Company employed approximately 2,085 persons, of whom approximately 1,970 were restaurant employees, and approximately 115 were restaurant management, supervisory and corporate personnel. Restaurant employees include both full-time and part-time workers paid on an hourly basis. No Company employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. The Company believes that its relations with its employees are generally good.

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Directors and Executive Officers

        The following table sets forth certain information regarding the Company's directors and executive officers:

Name

  Age
  Position
Robert E. Wheaton   52   Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman
Ronald E. Dowdy   47   Group Controller, Treasurer and Secretary
Thomas G. Schadt   62   Director
Jack M. Lloyd   54   Director
Phillip "Buddy" Johnson   51   Director
Craig B. Wheaton   46   Director
B. Thomas M. Smith, Jr.   69   Director

        Robert E. Wheaton has served as the Chief Executive Officer and President and as a director of the Company since its formation in July 1997. Mr. Wheaton has been Chairman of the Board since September 1998. Mr. Wheaton served as Executive Vice President of CKE Restaurants, Inc. from January 1996 through January 1999. From April 1995 to January 1996, he served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Denny's Inc., a subsidiary of Flagstar Corporation. From 1991 to 1995, Mr. Wheaton served as President and Chief Executive Officer, and from 1989 to 1991 as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Bekins Company. Mr. Wheaton is the brother of Craig B. Wheaton, a director of the Company.

        Ronald E. Dowdy has served as the Group Controller since June 1998 and as Treasurer and Secretary since February 1999. Mr. Dowdy served as Controller to Holiday House Corporation for 19 years prior to joining the Company.

        Thomas G. Schadt has served as a director of the Company since the completion of the Company's initial public offering in September 1997. Mr. Schadt has been the Chief Executive Officer of a privately-held beverage distribution company, Bear Creek, L.L.C., since 1995. From 1976 to 1994, he held several positions with PepsiCo, Inc., most recently, Vice President of Food Service.

        Jack M. Lloyd has served as a director of the Company since the completion of the Company's initial public offering in September 1997. Mr. Lloyd served as Chairman of the Board of DenAmerica Corporation from July 1996 until September 2000, and as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of DenAmerica Corporation from March 1996 until September 2000. DenAmerica Corporation changed its name to Phoenix Restaurant Group in June 1999. Mr. Lloyd served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Denwest Restaurant Corp. ("DRC") from 1987 until the March 1996 merger of DRC and DenAmerica and as President of DRC from 1987 until November 1994. Mr. Lloyd engaged in commercial and residential real estate development and property management as President of First Federated Investment Corporation during the early and mid-1980's.

        Phillip "Buddy" Johnson has served as a director of the Company since February 1999. Mr. Johnson has served as the Supervisor of Elections of Hillsborough County since March 2003. From March 2001 until March 2003, he served as the Director of the Division of Real Estate in the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations. Mr. Johnson served as President of the BuddyFreddys Division from April 1998 until March 2001. From 1980 until 1998, he was the founding Chairman and CEO of BuddyFreddys Enterprises. From 1991 to 1996, Mr. Johnson served as Republican floor leader in the Florida House of Representatives. Mr. Johnson also served on the executive committee of The Foundation for Florida's Future, a non-profit corporation established in 1995 by now governor, Jeb Bush.

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        Craig B. Wheaton has served as a director of the Company since February 1999. Mr. Wheaton is a partner in the law firm Kilpatrick Stockton LLP. His main areas of practice include employee benefits, executive compensation and general corporate law. Mr. Wheaton received his B.A. degree, with honors, from the University of Virginia and his J.D. degree from Wake Forest University. From 1993 to 1998, Mr. Wheaton was a member of the Tax Council of the North Carolina Bar Association Section on Taxation and chair of its Employee Benefits Committee from 1995 to 1997. He is a member and former president of the Triangle Benefits Forum. He is a member of the Southern Employee Benefits Conference, the Employee Benefits Committee of the American Bar Association's Section of Taxation, the National Pension Assistance Project's National Lawyers Network, and the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals. Mr. Wheaton is the brother of Robert E. Wheaton, the Company's Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President.

        B. Thomas M. Smith, Jr. has served as a director of the Company since June 2002. Mr. Smith was a consultant with ITT Corp. from January 1996 to December 1996 and is now retired. From 1988 until 1995, he was Vice President and Director of Corporate Purchasing for ITT Corp. Mr. Smith has served as director of Republic Bancorp since June 1999.

        The audit committee is comprised of Jack M. Lloyd, Thomas G. Schadt and B. Thomas M. Smith, Jr., of which Jack M. Lloyd is the audit committee financial expert. All three members of the audit committee are "independent" as contemplated by Item 401(h)(iii) to Regulation S-K.

Risks

        Growth Strategy Depends Upon Ability to Acquire and Successfully Integrate Additional Restaurants Through Acquisitions. The Company intends to pursue a strategy of moderate growth, primarily through acquisitions. The success of this strategy will depend in part on the ability of the Company to acquire additional buffet restaurants or to convert acquired sites into buffet restaurants, within both existing and new markets. The success of the Company's growth strategy is dependent upon numerous factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, including the availability of suitable acquisition opportunities, the availability of appropriate financing and general economic conditions. The Company must compete with other restaurant operators for acquisition opportunities and with other restaurant operators, retail stores, companies and developers for desirable site locations. Many of these entities have substantially greater financial and other resources than the Company. Many of its acquired restaurants may be located in geographic markets in which the Company has limited or no operating experience. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to identify, negotiate and consummate acquisitions of additional buffet restaurants or that acquired restaurants or converted restaurants can be operated profitably and successfully integrated into the Company's operations.

        Acquisitions involve a number of special risks that could adversely affect the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition, including the diversion of management's attention, the assimilation of the operations and personnel of the acquired restaurants and the potential loss of key employees. In particular, the failure to maintain adequate operating and financial control systems or unexpected difficulties encountered during expansion could materially and adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. There can be no assurance that any acquisition will not materially and adversely affect the Company or that any such acquisition will enhance the Company's business. Furthermore, the Company is unable to predict the likelihood of any additional acquisitions being proposed or completed in the near future.

        A strategy of growth through acquisitions requires access to significant capital resources. If the Company determines to make a sizeable acquisition, the Company may be required to sell additional equity or debt securities or obtain additional credit facilities. The sale of additional equity or convertible debt securities could result in additional dilution to the Company's stockholders. At present, the Company has only limited availability under its credit facility which expires on October 31, 2004. There can be no assurance that this credit facility will be replaced or a new credit facility will be established to the Company for any such acquisition.

9


        From February 1998 to January 2001, the Company acquired 27 restaurants in seven states, including 15 restaurants in Florida. The Company has only acquired one new restaurant from January 2001 to January 2004. As a result of these acquisitions, the Company is complex and diverse, and the integration of the acquisitions has presented difficult challenges for the Company requiring increased management time and resources. In order to improve profitability, the Company needs to continue successfully integrating and streamlining restaurant functions. The difficulties of such integration have been increased by the necessity of coordinating geographically separate organizations. The integration of certain operations following the acquisitions required the dedication of management resources resulting in a temporary distraction from the day-to-day business of the Company. The Company continues to reduce costs and integrate functions. The failure to continue effectively integrating the operations of the Company or improving the results of operations of the acquired restaurants could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

        Dependence Upon and Restrictions Resulting from Franchisors.    The Company operates its 16 HomeTown Buffet Restaurants through its wholly-owned subsidiary, HTB Restaurants, Inc., which is a party to a Franchise Agreement with the HomeTown Franchisor for each such restaurant.

        The performance of the Company's HomeTown Buffet restaurant operations is directly related to the success of the HomeTown Buffet restaurant system, including the management and financial condition of HomeTown as well as restaurants operated by HomeTown and their other franchisees. The inability of such restaurants to compete effectively could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operations. The success of the Company's HomeTown Buffet restaurants depends in part on the effectiveness of the HomeTown franchisor's marketing efforts, new product development programs, quality assurance and other operational systems over which the Company has little or no control. For example, adverse publicity involving HomeTown restaurants operated by the franchisor or their other franchisees could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

        The Company's operations with respect to its HomeTown restaurants are subject to certain restrictions imposed by policies and procedures of HomeTown currently in effect and which, from time to time, change. These restrictions limit the Company's ability to modify the menu items and decor of its restaurants and may have the effect of limiting the Company's ability to pursue its business plan. Furthermore, the franchise agreement with the HomeTown franchisor imposes substantial restrictions on the Company's ability to operate certain restaurant formats and to open additional restaurants in certain geographical areas.

        Dependence Upon and Restrictions Resulting from Licensors.    The Company, through its subsidiary Summit, operates eight JB's Restaurants in Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. In connection with the acquisition of certain JB's Restaurants in 1998 from JB's Family Restaurants, Inc., a subsidiary of CKE Restaurants, Inc., the Company entered into a one-year franchise agreement for each location which required among other items, the payment of royalty fees. After the acquisition of certain JB's Restaurants, the Company negotiated a ten-year option for annual renewable franchise agreements for each of the JB's Restaurants the Company operates. In February 2000, the annual renewable franchise agreement expired and the Company elected not to renew these franchise agreements. The Company entered into a License Agreement with the JB's Licensor for each such restaurant in November 2002. The license agreement allows the Company to use the JB's trademarks through August 31, 2012 with an option for an additional ten years.

        The performance of the Company's JB's Restaurant operations is directly related to the success of the JB's Restaurant system, including the management and financial condition of the JB's Licensor as well as the number of restaurants operated by the JB's Licensor and their other licensees or franchisees. The inability of such restaurants to compete effectively could have a material adverse effect

10



on the Company's operations as well as the number of restaurants. The success of the Company's JB's Restaurants depends in part on the effectiveness of the JB's Licensor's marketing efforts, new product development programs, quality assurance and other operational systems over which the Company has little or no control. For example, adverse publicity involving JB's Restaurants operated by the licensor or their other licensees or franchisees could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

        The Company's operations with respect to its JB's Restaurants are subject to certain restrictions imposed by policies and procedures of JB's currently in effect and which, from time to time, change. The licensor, JB's Family Restaurants, Inc. filed for bankruptcy on March 20, 2002. The licensor's bankruptcy has had no significant impact on the Company's restaurant operations.

        The Company's Quarterly Results are Likely to Fluctuate.    The Company has in the past experienced, and expects to continue to experience, significant fluctuations in restaurant revenues and results of operations from quarter to quarter. In particular, the Company's quarterly results can vary as a result of acquisitions, costs incurred to integrate newly acquired entities and seasonal patterns. A large number of the Company's restaurants are located in areas which are susceptible to severe winter weather conditions or tropical storm patterns which may have a negative impact on customer traffic and restaurant revenues. Accordingly, the Company believes that period-to-period comparisons of its operating results are not necessarily meaningful and that such comparisons cannot be relied upon as indicators of future performance. There can be no assurance that future seasonal and quarterly fluctuations will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operation and financial condition.

        The Restaurant Industry is Highly Competitive.    The Company competes on the basis of the quality and value of food products offered, price, service, location, ambiance and overall dining experience. The Company's competitors include a large and diverse group of restaurant chains and individually owned restaurants, including chains and individually owned restaurants that use a buffet format. The number of buffet restaurants with operations generally similar to the Company's has grown considerably in the last several years and the Company believes competition among buffet-style restaurants is increasing. As the Company and its principal competitors expand operations in various geographic areas, competition, including competition among buffet-style restaurants, can be expected to intensify. Such intensified competition could increase the Company's operating costs or adversely affect its revenues or operating margins. A number of competitors have been in existence longer than the Company and have substantially greater financial, marketing and other resources and wider geographical diversity than does the Company. In addition, the restaurant industry has few noneconomic barriers to entry and is affected by changes in consumer tastes, national, regional and local economic conditions and market trends. The Company's significant investment in, and long term commitment to, each of its restaurant sites limits its ability to respond quickly or effectively to changes in local competitive conditions or other changes that could affect the Company's operations.

        The Restaurant Industry is Complex and Volatile.    Food service businesses are often affected by changes in consumer tastes, national, regional and local economic conditions and demographic trends. The performance of individual restaurants may be adversely affected by factors such as traffic patterns, demographic considerations and the type, number and location of competing restaurants. Multi-unit food service businesses such as the Company's can also be materially and adversely affected by publicity resulting from poor food quality, illness, injury or other health concerns or operating issues stemming from one restaurant or a limited number of restaurants. Dependence on frequent deliveries of fresh produce and groceries subjects food service businesses such as the Company's to the risk that shortages or interruptions in supply, caused by adverse weather or other conditions, could adversely affect the availability, quality and cost of ingredients. The Company's profitability is highly sensitive to increases in food, labor and other operating costs that cannot always be passed on to its guests in the form of

11



higher prices or otherwise compensated for. In addition, unfavorable trends or developments concerning factors such as inflation, increased food, labor, employee benefits, including increases in hourly wage and unemployment tax rates and utility costs, increases in the number and locations of competing buffet-style restaurants, regional weather conditions and the availability of experienced management and hourly employees may also adversely affect the food service industry in general and the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations in particular. Changes in economic conditions affecting the Company's guests could reduce traffic in some or all of the Company's restaurants or impose practical limits on pricing, either of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. The success of the Company will depend in part on the ability of the Company's management to anticipate, identify and respond to changing conditions. There can be no assurance that management will be successful in this regard. The impact and uncertainty created by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack and the consequences of any future terrorist attacks, as well as other events affecting the national and world economies, may affect the Company's business.

        The Company is Dependent on Its Key Personnel.    The Company believes that its success will depend in part on the services of its key executives, including Robert E. Wheaton, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President. The Company does not maintain key man life insurance. The loss of the services of Mr. Wheaton could have a material adverse effect upon the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations, as there can be no assurances that a qualified replacement would be available in a timely manner if at all. The Company's continued growth will also depend in part on its ability to attract and retain additional skilled management personnel.

        The Restaurant Industry is Subject to Substantial Government Regulation.    The restaurant industry is subject to federal, state and local government regulations, including those relating to the preparation and sale of food as well as building and zoning requirements. In addition, the Company is subject to laws governing its relationship with employees, including minimum wage requirements, overtime, working and safety conditions and citizenship requirements. The failure to obtain or retain food licenses or an increase in the minimum wage rate, employee benefit costs or other costs associated with employees, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Many of the Company's employees are paid hourly rates based upon the federal and state minimum wage laws. Recent legislation increasing the minimum wage has resulted in higher labor costs to the Company.

        Effect of Certain Charter and Bylaw Provisions.    Certain provisions of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws may have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from attempting to acquire, control of the Company. Such provisions could limit the price that certain investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of the Company's Common Stock. The Company's Certificate of Incorporation allows the Company to issue up to 1,500,000 shares of currently undesignated Preferred Stock, to determine the powers, preferences, rights, qualifications and limitations or restrictions granted to or imposed on any unissued series of that Preferred Stock, and to fix the number of shares constituting any such series and the designation of such series, without any vote or future action by the stockholders. The Preferred Stock could be issued with voting, liquidation, dividend and other rights superior to the rights of the Common Stock. The Certificate of Incorporation also eliminates the ability of stockholders to call special meetings. The Company's Bylaws require advance notice to nominate a director or take certain other actions. Such provisions may make it more difficult for stockholders to take certain corporate actions and could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company. In addition, the Company has not elected to be excluded from the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which imposes certain limitations on transactions between a corporation and "interested" stockholders, as defined in such provisions.

12



        Possible Volatility of Stock Price.    The stock market has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of the Company's Common Stock. Factors such as fluctuations in the Company's operating results, failure of such operating results to meet the expectations of stock market analysts and investors, changes in stock market analyst recommendations regarding the Company, its competitors and other companies in the restaurant industry as well as changes in general economic or market conditions and changes in the restaurant industry may have a significant adverse effect on the market price of the Common Stock.

        Sale of a Substantial Number of Shares of Our Common Stock Could Cause the Market Price to Decline. Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could substantially reduce the prevailing market price of our common stock. As of April 15, 2004, 2,950,000 shares of common stock were outstanding and 731,000 shares were issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at exercise prices ranging from $5.00 to $12.00. The Company cannot predict the effect, if any, that sales of shares of the Company's common stock or the availability of such shares for sale will have on prevailing market prices. However, substantial amounts of the Company's common stock could be sold in the public market, which may adversely affect prevailing market prices for the common stock.

        Control by One Principal Stockholder.    Robert E. Wheaton, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President, currently beneficially owns approximately 49% of our total equity securities, assuming exercise of vested employee stock options, and possesses approximately 49% of the total voting power. Thus Mr. Wheaton has the ability to control or significantly influence all matters requiring the approval of our stockholders, including the election of our directors. Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock by Mr. Wheaton in the public market could substantially reduce the prevailing market price of our common stock.


Item 2. Properties

        The Company's corporate headquarters are located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and other executive offices are located in Scottsdale, Arizona.

        The Company's restaurants are primarily freestanding locations. As of January 26, 2004 most of the Company's restaurant facilities were leased. The leases expire on dates ranging from 2004 to 2013 with the majority of the leases providing for renewal options. All leases provide for specified periodic rental payments including periodic rent escalation terms in certain instances, and most call for additional rent based upon revenue volume. Most leases require the Company to maintain the property and pay taxes and other related expenses.

        The following is a summary of the Company's restaurant properties as of January 26, 2004:

 
  HomeTown
Buffet

  Casa
Bonita

  North's
Star

  Florida
Buffets

  JB's
  Total
Owned   2     1   5   3   11
Leased   14   2   5   6   6   33

13


        As of January 26, 2004, the Company's restaurants are located in the following states:

 
  Number of Restaurants
State

  HomeTown
Buffet

  Casa
Bonita

  North's
Star

  Florida
Buffets

  JB's
  Total
Arizona   8     1     1   10
Colorado   2   1         3
Florida         11     11
Idaho       2       2
Montana           2   2
New Mexico   2         1   3
Oklahoma     1         1
Oregon       1       1
Utah   3         4   7
Washington       2       2
Wyoming   1         1   2
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Total   16   2   6   11   9   44
   
 
 
 
 
 

        As of January 26, 2004, the Company's non-operating restaurants are located in the following states:

 
  Number of Non-Operating Restaurants
State

  HomeTown
Buffet

  Casa
Bonita

  North's
Star

  Florida
Buffets

  JB's
  Total
Florida         4     4
Utah           1   1
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Total         4   1   5
   
 
 
 
 
 

        Three of the non-operating restaurants have been leased to third-party operators and the net assets of one closed restaurant is property held for sale.


Item 3. Legal Proceedings

        On November 12, 1998, North's Restaurants, Inc. ("North's") filed a Demand for Arbitration against the Company with the American Arbitration Association, Irvine, California (District No. 949-251-9840), alleging breach of contract in connection with the Company's failure to perform under a Business Services Agreement between North's and the Company dated July 24, 1997. On June 22, 1999, the parties agreed to dismiss the Arbitration Proceeding without prejudice since the issues related to the Business Service Agreement were being litigated in the Utah action described below.

        On November 25, 1998, the Company filed an action against North's in the United States District Court, District of Utah, Case No. 2-98-CV-893, seeking damages for breach of a promissory note and an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (collectively, the "Credit Agreements") in the amount of $3,570,935. On December 31, 1998, North's filed an answer to the Company's Complaint, denying generally the allegations, and filed counterclaims against the Company alleging (1) the Company fraudulently induced North's to enter into various agreements with the Company relating to the Company's acquisition of seven JJ North's Grand Buffet Restaurants and an option to acquire nine additional restaurants operated by North's and (2) the Company had breached the Business Services Agreement. On January 26, 2001, the parties entered into a Settlement Agreement (the "Settlement Agreement"). The Settlement Agreement provides, among other things, that the Credit Agreement and Revolving Note terminate concurrently with the execution of the Settlement Agreement, that the Term

14



Note be amended and restated, that the terms of the Term Note have no further force or effect and that the security interest transferred to the Company pursuant to the Assignment Agreement dated September 30, 1997 between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association be amended and restated pursuant to an Amended and Restated Star Buffet Security Agreement (the "Security Agreement"). The Company and North's have agreed that the Star Buffet Debt be reduced to a total amount of $3,500,000 and that such reduced obligation be payable by North's pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Promissory Note ("Star Buffet Promissory Note"). The Company recorded no gain or loss on the settlement as the recorded balance of the note was approximately $3.5 million at the time of the settlement. The Company and North's have agreed that the Company's existing liens encumbering certain property of North's remain in place and continue to secure North's obligations to the Company, and the Company and North's reserve all rights, claims and defenses with respect to the extent and validity of such existing liens.

        On March 2, 2004, the Company filed an action against North's in the United States District Court, District of Utah, Central Division, Case No. 2:04CV00211, demanding judgment against North's for failure to repay obligations under a Settlement Agreement dated January 26, 2001 ("Star Buffet Promissory Note") in a total amount not less than $2,934,453 plus interest at the default rate as set forth in the Star Buffet Promissory Note.

        On March 21, 2002, Alliant Foodservice, Inc. ("Alliant") filed a breach of contract complaint against the Company in the Superior Court for the State of Arizona in and for the County of Maricopa (No. CVZ002-005195), alleging breach of the Master Distribution Agreement ("MDA") executed between the Company and Alliant on or about December 1, 1999. Alliant sought $2,479,000 for alleged amounts owed by the Company plus attorneys' fees and costs. The Company included approximately $2,000,000 for this alleged amount owed in relation to this litigation in accounts payable-trade at January 27, 2003 net of any amounts receivable from Alliant. The Company denied the allegations and vigorously defended the alleged breach of contract. On April 29, 2002, the Company filed an answer and counterclaim in Superior Court for the State of Arizona in and for the County of Maricopa citing among other things, breach of the MDA. The Company sought over $7,250,000 in damages. On February 27, 2003, the Company and Alliant entered into a Settlement Agreement that dismissed charges against both parties and required the Company to pay Alliant $1,600,000 which resulted in a gain of $400,000 in the first quarter of fiscal 2004.

        The Company is from time to time the subject of complaints or litigation from customers alleging injury on properties operated by the Company, illness or other food quality, health or operational concerns. Adverse publicity resulting from such allegations may materially adversely affect the Company and its restaurants, regardless of whether such allegations are valid or whether the Company is liable. The Company also is the subject of complaints or allegations from employees from time to time. The Company believes that the lawsuits, claims and other legal matters to which it has become subject in the course of its business are not material to the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations, but an existing or future lawsuit or claim could result in an adverse decision against the Company that could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.


Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

        None.

15



PART II

Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

        Market Information and Holders.    The Company's Common Stock is listed on the NASDAQ smallcap market under the symbol "STRZ". As of April 15, 2004, there were approximately 550 record holders of the Company's Common Stock. The following table sets forth the high and low bid quotations for the Common Stock, as reported by NASDAQ.

 
  2004
  2003
Fiscal Year

  High
  Low
  High
  Low
First Quarter   $ 2.45   $ 1.71   $ 3.10   $ 2.40
Second Quarter     3.10     1.72     2.97     2.47
Third Quarter     4.40     2.49     2.97     2.12
Fourth Quarter     5.95     3.58     2.43     1.87

        Dividends.    On February 20, 2004, the Board of Directors approved the Company's first annual dividend of $0.25 per common share and a special dividend of $0.25 per common share. Both are payable on June 1, 2004 to stockholders of record on May 7, 2004.

        The following table gives information about our shares of Common Stock that may be issued under our equity compensation plans.

 
  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

 
  Number of securities
to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options

  Weighted-average exercise price of
outstanding options

  Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders   731,000   $ 9.75   19,000
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders        
   
 
 
  Total   731,000   $ 9.75   19,000

        The exercise price of the options granted and exercisable at January 26, 2004 is $5.00 for 235,000 options and $12.00 for 496,000 options.


Item 6. Selected Financial Data

        The following paragraphs sets forth selected consolidated financial data for our Company for the periods indicated. The selected consolidated financial data for each of the five fiscal years ended January 26, 2004, has been derived from our consolidated financial statements, which have been audited by (1) KPMG LLP, our former independent accountants, for each of the two fiscal years in the period ended January 29, 2001 (not included herein) (2) Grant Thornton LLP, our former independent accountants, for each of the two fiscal years in the period ended January 27, 2003 (included herein), and (3) Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C., our independent accountants, for the fiscal year ended January 26, 2004 (included herein).

        The selected financial information and other data presented below should be read in conjunction with the "Consolidated Financial Statements", and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

        The operating results for the 52-week period ended January 26, 2004 included 52 weeks of operations for the Company's 16 franchised HomeTown Buffet restaurants, eight JB's restaurants, five BuddyFreddys restaurants (three of the five BuddyFreddys restaurants are BuddyFreddys Country Buffet restaurants), five JJ North's Country Buffet restaurants, two Casa Bonita restaurants, two

16



Holiday House restaurants and one North's Star Buffet restaurant. In addition, operating results include 19 and 2 weeks for two BuddyFreddys Country Buffet restaurants closed during the fiscal year 2004. Results also include 12 weeks of operations for one JJ North's Country Buffet restaurant and 5 weeks of operations for one JB's Restaurant. Five restaurants were closed at the end of the 2004 fiscal year for repositioning. Three of the five closed restaurants have been leased to third-property operators and one closed restaurant is property held for sale. Additionally, another property was sold during fiscal 2004.

        The operating results for the 52-week period ended January 27, 2003 included 52 weeks of operations for the Company's 16 franchised HomeTown Buffet restaurants, nine JB's restaurants, seven BuddyFreddys restaurants (five of the seven BuddyFreddys restaurants are BuddyFreddys Country Buffet restaurants), six JJ North's Country Buffet restaurants, two Casa Bonita restaurants, two Holiday House restaurants and one North's Star Buffet restaurant. In addition, operating results include 23 and 9 weeks for two BuddyFreddys Country Buffet restaurants closed during the fiscal year 2003. Results also include 19 weeks of operations for one JJ North's Country Buffet restaurant and 30 weeks of operations for one JJ North's Family Restaurant opened July 2002. Seven restaurants were closed at the end of the 2003 fiscal year for repositioning. Two of the seven closed restaurants have been leased and the property of another one is under contract to be sold and is reported as property held for sale. During the first quarter of fiscal 2004, three restaurants were closed that resulted in an impairment of leasehold improvements of $188,000 included in the fourth quarter of 2003.

        The operating results for the 52-week period ended January 28, 2002 included 52 weeks of operations for the Company's 16 franchised HomeTown Buffet restaurants, ten JB's restaurants, nine BuddyFreddys restaurants, seven of which are BuddyFreddys Country Buffet restaurants, six JJ North's Country Buffet restaurants, two Casa Bonita restaurants, two Holiday House restaurants and one North's Star Buffet restaurant. In addition, the results include 36, 35, 24, 19 and 3 weeks respectively for five BuddyFreddys Country Buffet restaurants. Results also include 30 weeks of operations for one JJ North's Country Buffet restaurant which reopened in July 2001. Four restaurants were closed at the end of the 2002 fiscal year for remodeling and repositioning. The fiscal year 2002 included impairment charges for a restaurant closed in the first quarter of 2003.

        The operating results for the 52-week period ended January 29, 2001 included 52 weeks of operations for the Company's 16 franchised HomeTown Buffet restaurants, ten JB's restaurants, ten BuddyFreddys Country Buffet restaurants, six JJ North's Country Buffet restaurants, two BuddyFreddys restaurants, two Casa Bonita restaurants, two Holiday House restaurants and one North's Star Buffet restaurant. The results also include 14 weeks for one North's Star Buffet restaurant which was closed for remodeling and 15 weeks for one JB's restaurant which closed when the lease terminated. In addition, results include 49, 31, 18, 12 and 12 weeks respectively for five BuddyFreddys Country Buffet restaurants. Two restaurants were closed at the end of the 2001 fiscal year for remodeling and repositioning. The fiscal year 2001 included impairment charges for a restaurant closed in the first quarter of 2002.

        The operating results for the 53-week period ended January 31, 2000 included 53 weeks of operations for the Company's 16 franchised HomeTown Buffet restaurants, nine franchised JB's restaurants, six JJ North's Country Buffet restaurants, five BuddyFreddys Country Buffet restaurants, two BuddyFreddys restaurants, two North's Star Buffet restaurants, two Casa Bonita restaurants and two Holiday House restaurants. The results also included 3 weeks of operations for 2 North's Star Buffet restaurants that were converted back to JB's Restaurants operating for 28 and 13 weeks respectively in fiscal 2000; 17 weeks of operations for one Holiday House that was converted to a BuddyFreddys Country Buffet restaurant operating for 34 weeks; and 46, 45, 40, 32, 25, 21 and 14 weeks respectively for seven BuddyFreddys Country Buffet restaurants. In addition, two restaurants were closed at the end of the 2000 fiscal year—one due to impassable road construction, the other was awaiting conversion to a BuddyFreddys Country Buffet restaurant.

17



SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
(In thousands except per share amounts and restaurant unit data)

 
  Fifty-Two
Weeks
Ended
Jan. 26, 2004

  Fifty-Two
Weeks
Ended
Jan. 27, 2003

  Fifty-Two
Weeks
Ended
Jan. 28, 2002

  Fifty-Two
Weeks
Ended
Jan. 29, 2001

  Fifty-Three
Weeks
Ended
Jan. 31, 2000

 
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:                                
Total revenues   $ 68,090   $ 74,798   $ 83,218   $ 94,039   $ 99,066  
Costs and expenses:                                
  Food costs     23,275     25,867     27,020     30,899     32,644