But other companies say that because of the restrictions in child labor laws, they will not hire youths under 18 for company-owned stores.

He was instrumental in the company's recent move to refranchise 41 company-owned stores.

In 1987, nine of the ten remaining company-owned stores were sold to Hardee's.

Early in the decade, Tops began to build more company-owned stores.

He also remodeled 300 of the 800 company-owned stores and promises to get to the rest within a year.

The company is involved in retailing through company-owned stores and franchise operations.

Average net sales at company-owned stores rose 5.6 percent to $189,000, from $179,000, it said.

A hundred tapes and more than 800 workbooks were sent out to cover the 300-plus employees in company-owned stores.

By the beginning of 1997, fewer than 850 company-owned stores remained.

There are 680 company-owned stores in the chain, which had been doing all of its advertising in-house.