Restaurant Brands has announced a 5.8 per cent increase in total sales in the second quarter of 2014, compared with the same period last year. Total same store sales were up 5.3 per cent.
The fast food operator’s total sales were $108 million in the 16 weeks ending September 8 2014.
The key brands contributing to the increase in sales were KFC with a 6.7 per cent increase and Carl’s Jr. with a 19.6 per cent increase.
Total sales for KFC increased by 6.7 per cent to $80.2 million in the second quarter. Growth for the year prior was 2.4 per cent. There was an increase in same store sales of 7.4 per cent.
“The strong sales increase continued to be driven by the new menu, in particular around family meals launched late last year,” the company said. “Strong promotions in the quarter were the return of the Double Down including two new variants and the very popular Hot ‘n Spicy campaign.
One Taihape KFC store closed in the quarter, leaving stores numbers at 90.
Carl Jr. total sales were up 19.6 per cent in the second quarter, largely driven by new store openings. Same store openings were down by 37.9 per cent, due to strong openings last year.
The opening of a Gisborne Carl Jr. store in the quarter brought the number of stores to nine, with two more stores planned for this fiscal year.
Restaurant Brands is continuing its strategy of selling Pizza Hut regional and lower volume stores to independent franchisees. There are now 49 stores (compared with 52 a year ago), with 35 stores operated by independent franchisees.
There was an increase of 7.6 per cent in same store sales for the second quarter, with growth sustained by successful promotions.
Total quarterly sales for Starbucks Coffee were up 1.8 per cent, with same store sales up 4.7 per cent.
Growth has been driven by better value and improved customer experience initiatives over a two year period. There was the closure of one store in Central Auckland over the quarter.
