"Our focus on stronger operations, exciting newproducts and a targeted advertising message is growingsales," says Luby's president and CEO Chris Pappas.Sales in the third quarter were $77 million, anincrease of 6.5% compared to the same period lastyear. (The restaurateur characterizes all sales assame-store sales.) "This is the sixth consecutivequarter of same-store sales growth," Pappas pointsout.

Luby's profit increased to $3.7 million during thethird quarter fiscal 2005, or 15 cents per share fullydiluted, compared to $375,000, or two cents per sharefully diluted for same period fiscal 2004. Pappas saysthat Luby's has posted increased profitability forfour out of the five previous quarters.

Similarly, income from continuing operations increaseda whopping 128.6% to $6.1 million from $2.7 millionfor the third quarter of fiscal 2004.