Improvements to the “in-store experience” helped US-based dining and entertainment chain Chuck E. Cheese’s deliver another strong performance in the fourth quarter of 2015.
Parent company CEC Entertainment reported that during the three months to January 3, 2016, EBITDA jumped 43.7 per cent to $45.7m on the back of a 17 per cent increase in revenues to $223.1m.
These increases were attributed to the favourable impact of an additional week in 2015 (the corresponding quarter ended on December 28, 2014), an increase in store sales at Chuck E. Cheese’s and additional revenues at Peter Piper Pizza.
The company reported a net loss of $14.2m for the period, compared to a net loss of $22.2m for the fourth quarter of 2014.
“We are pleased to report our third consecutive quarter of positive same store sales growth at our Chuck E. Cheese’s stores,” said CEO Tom Leverton. “We believe the investments we are making to improve the in-store experience and communicating to our guests are generating positive momentum and driving traffic and sales at a reinvigorated Chuck E. Cheese’s.
“In addition, we are also pleased to report that Peter Piper Pizza continues its positive momentum, recordings its 22nd consecutive quarter of same store sales growth.”
At the close of the fourth quarter, the Chuck E. Cheese’s chain comprised 524 company-operated stores, 29 domestic franchised locations and a further 39 international franchised venues.
From the total of 140 Peter Piper Pizza stores, 62 were domestic franchises and 46 were international franchises.
