Ruby's Diner Expands into the Future <b></b>

Newport Beach, California--Ruby's Restaurant Group,franchisor of a mostly West Coast chain of '40s-style diners,envisions doubling in size in the next three years and tripling infive. The company is projecting sales of $75 million this year andhas seen comparable sales for units open at least a year jump byabout 5.6 percent.

With business humming, the biggest risk in an expansion is notblowing a good thing, growing too quickly, compromising quality orfailing to instill the service values in franchise locations. Tothat end, executives say they are vetting franchisees, so onlyreputable restaurant owners with several locations will get a shot.Others buying in are former managers. Ruby's plans to open 10new restaurants in 2003, three company-owned and seven franchised.-Reuters