CPKI - Business is up at most California Pizza Kitchen Restaurants and the Barbecue Chicken Pizza Sells Best

California Pizza Kitchen is opening new locations this quarter and yet analysts have downgraded their stock from a buy to hold. Our researchers consulted 27 locations across the country and asked how business compared with a month ago, which items sold best, was lunch busier over dinner, was their location new, close to competing restaurants and what lures their customers back? Our survey reflects a more buoyant business than analysts suggest. Fifteen respondents or 56% reported business was up from last month. Only six respondents, 22%, said business had slumped but the same numbers said business was the same. The Barbecue Chicken Pizza was the most popular menu item apparently, with 16 respondents or 59%, followed by the Sauteed Salmon (2 respondents or 7%) and various other items (including Thai chicken, the Works Pizza and Pasta Cream Penne) were each cited once or by 4% of those polled. Dinner was predominantly busier over lunch (15 respondents or 56%) and lunch was cited as busiest by 12 respondents or 44%. Only two respondents said their location was new (7%) and 25 or 93% said theirs was old. Fifteen respondents or 56% felt that it was particular menu items that brought in their customers. 9 or 33% cited the atmosphere and 3 or 11% cited the prices. The average bill for a party of two however is steeper than most. Most respondents (12 or 44%) put it at $26-$35. Eight or 30% said it was $40-$55 and only 7 or 26% said couples wind up paying less than $25. Fourteen respondents or 52% reported nearby competing restaurants and 13 or 48% reported none.

CPKI - Business is up at most California Pizza Kitchen Restaurants and the Barbecue Chicken Pizza Sells Best

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