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McDonald's UK growth strong despite horsemeat scandal and hot summer | McDonald's UK growth strong despite horsemeat scandal and hot summer |
(about 2 hours later) | |
McDonald's shrugged off last year's horsemeat scandal as it reported a strong performance from its UK business for 2013. | |
But the world's biggest burger chain admitted it was a challenging year for the wider business after it posted falling global sales and said fewer customers were visiting its restaurants. | |
The company reported a 0.2% rise in comparable worldwide sales after a 0.1% fall in the final three months. | |
A robust performance from the UK, Russia and France helped sales in Europe rise 1% in the fourth quarter, although earnings across the region remained flat when foreign exchange movements are stripped out. | A robust performance from the UK, Russia and France helped sales in Europe rise 1% in the fourth quarter, although earnings across the region remained flat when foreign exchange movements are stripped out. |
Jill McDonald, chief executive of McDonald's UK, said the British chain had had another strong year of growth despite an "economic environment has remained challenging for customers, the horsemeat scandal [which] cast a cloud over the food industry and an uncharacteristically hot summer". | |
The group, which celebrates 40 years in the UK in November, said its supply chain remained unaffected by the horsemeat crisis, which hit a raft of food retailers and restaurant chains across the UK. | The group, which celebrates 40 years in the UK in November, said its supply chain remained unaffected by the horsemeat crisis, which hit a raft of food retailers and restaurant chains across the UK. |
Europe was McDonald's best performing region at the end of 2013. Sales dropped 1.4% across the US and were down 2.4% across Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa. | Europe was McDonald's best performing region at the end of 2013. Sales dropped 1.4% across the US and were down 2.4% across Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa. |
McDonald's has come under pressure amid a healthy eating push, while it has also faced heightened competition from rivals such as Burger King. | McDonald's has come under pressure amid a healthy eating push, while it has also faced heightened competition from rivals such as Burger King. |
The company plans to open up to 1,600 new restaurants in 2014 and revamp 1,000 existing locations. It currently has more than 34,000 locations worldwide. | |
It opened 24 new restaurants in the UK in 2013. | It opened 24 new restaurants in the UK in 2013. |
Jill McDonald said: "We are mindful that whilst the emerging shoots of economic recovery are encouraging, it's still tough out there for our customers." | Jill McDonald said: "We are mindful that whilst the emerging shoots of economic recovery are encouraging, it's still tough out there for our customers." |
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