Restaurant Operator Prandium Reports Loss

Prandium Inc., Irvine-based operator of several restaurant chains, posted a third-quarter loss of $9.5 million, or 5 cents a share, up from a loss of $8.9 million, or 7 cents a share, a year ago on fewer shares outstanding. Sales rose 16.5% to $134.3 million. Sales of El Torito and Chi-Chi’s restaurants open at least a year, a key industry indicator, were off 1%, the company said. The restaurants account for 84% of the company’s total sales. The Koo Koo Roo division, acquired a year ago, contributed sales of $21.7 million in the recent quarter.