McDonald’s Corp. credited menu items aimed across multiple dayparts for a 6-percent rise in global same-store sales for April, which the company said reflected its best monthly results this year in the United States and the Asia/Pacific, Middle East, and Africa divisions.
McDonald’s, which has more than 32,000 restaurants worldwide, said Monday that April same-store sales increased 4 percent in the United States, 6.5 percent in APMEA and 6.5 percent in Europe.
The company said increased domestic same-store sales resulted from the popularity of the McCafe beverage line, including recently introduced milk shakes, as well as its breakfast menu and core products like the Big Mac and Quarter Pounder with Cheese. McDonald’s also has been rolling out its newest beverage, the Frozen Strawberry Lemonade, for which national advertising began Monday.
“Our sales momentum continues as we focus on optimizing the menu with the right food and beverage offerings, modernizing the restaurant experience by upgrading our customer service and restaurant designs, and broadening our accessibility through convenience and everyday value,” chief executive Jim Skinner said in a statement. “The demand for McDonald’s continues to grow, reflecting the success of our efforts to provide an enjoyable experience for customers around the world.”
Further product introductions will be steady over the next few months, the company has reported, including an Asian Salad expected to roll out at the end of May and a Mango-Pineapple Real Fruit Smoothie slated to debut in July. In addition, two varieties of the McChicken sandwich reportedly were being tested in April.
In Europe, strong performance in the United Kingdom, France and Russia drove the 6.5-percent same-store sales lift for April, McDonald’s said. Ongoing restaurant remodeling efforts and promotions for premium chicken and beef options contributed heavily to results, the company added.
APMEA also had a 6.5-percent same-store sales increase, led by performances in Japan, China and Australia. McDonald’s Holdings Co. in Japan reported that same-store sales grew 3.6 percent in April compared with a year earlier. In March, when much of the country was reacting to the March 11 earthquake and tsunami and fallout from the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear-power plant explosion, McDonald’s said same-store sales fell 7.3 percent in Japan.
Oak Brook, Ill.-based McDonald’s has restaurants in 117 countries, including more than 14,000 in the United States.
Contact Mark Brandau at [email protected].
