McDonald's avoids China chicken supply chain crisis
McDonald's Corporation released its February comparable sales today, which reflected a negative calendar shift due to the extra Leap Year day in 2012.
Global comp sales decreased 1.5 percent for 2013. However, excluding the negative calendar shift of 3.2 percentage points, global comp sales were up 1.7 percent.
A notable highlight in February's results was China, which experienced positive results and was boosted by the shift in timing of the Chinese New Year. This means McDonald's has likely avoided any negative fallout from the chicken supply crisis that has affected
Yum! Brands.
Broken down by segment, results include:
U.S. decreased 3.3 percent, but were flat excluding leap year comps;
Europe decreased 0.5 percent; but increased 2.7 percent excluding leap year comps; and
Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) decreased 1.6 percent; but were up 1.5 percent excluding the segment's calendar shift.
"McDonald's continues to deliver what customers want – quality menu choices at everyday affordable prices," said Don Thompson, McDonald's president and CEO. "While February's results reflect difficult prior year comparisons, we remain confident in the fundamental strength of McDonald's business. We have the operating experience to manage through the current challenging environment and the right strategies in place to grow the business for the long term."
In the U.S., the recent addition of the Grilled Onion Cheddar burger and the Hot 'n Spicy McChicken to McDonald's value line-up, as well as the Filet-O-Fish and the limited-time Fish McBites, offered support for the month's results.
In Europe, sales were led by strong performances in the UK and Russia. Europe's priority remains building guest traffic by focusing on premium menu offerings, value and the expansion of breakfast and restaurant operating hours.
In APMEA, McDonald's experienced ongoing weakness in Japan, but it was more than offset by positive results in China and Australia. The segment's February results also benefited from the shift in timing of Chinese New Year.
Systemwide sales for the month decreased 0.9 percent and increased 1.1 percent in constant currencies.
Yum! Brands: 'We underestimated China chicken supply investigation'
For the past several years, Yum! Brands has experienced staggering profits and growth in China. So important is that market to the Louisville, Ky.-based company, its KFC and Pizza Hut China systems make up more than half of Yum!'s total sales.
Accordingly, the "crisis" that broke in December, implicating KFC for having excessive levels of antiobiotics in its poultry supply (a practice that expedites chicken's growth cycle), has had a huge impact on the company and isn't expected to dissipate any time soon.
To underscore its effect, January same-store sales declined 41 percent at KFC in January.
"Our customers feel that we have let them down. We don't know how long it will take us to recover. We underestimated the impact of this and we've concluded that the consumers need time," said CEO David Novak during the company's Q4 and full-year 2012 earnings call Tuesday. "History has told us we need time. We expect to weather this storm and to come out stronger."
Details of KFC China's crisis
The KFC issue emerged when the Chinese Central Television (CCTV) broadcasted an investigative report about some poultry farmers ignoring regulations by using excessive levels of antibiotics in chicken. Some of the product was purchased by two of KFC China's suppliers. The story led to an investigation by the Shanghai FDA and snowballed into a negative media and social media firestorm.
"This onslaught of negative media coverage has been longer lasting and more impactful then we ever imagined, lasting over six weeks," he said. "It is important to note that the Shanghai FDA did not bring a case against Yum! China and no fines were assessed."
In response, Yum! China has taken supervisory recommendations from the Shanghai FDA and will strengthen its supply chain quality assurance protocol, including voluntary self-testing, improved reporting and enhanced supplier management.
Yum! Brands will also launch an aggressive marketing campaign outlining its improved practices in an effort to win back consumer trust.
"Every dollar we spend behind reinforcing what we're doing to enhance our quality is a dollar well spent," Novak said.
A 'banner year' for U.S. business
It wasn't all bad news for the company. Domestically, same-store sales grew 5 percent, margins improved by over 4 percent and operating profit grew 13 percent. All three brands — Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC — grew their same-store sales.
Taco Bell was the big story from 2012, buoyed by its Doritos Locos Taco launch in March. The company sold 325 million Doritos Locos Tacos, making it one of the most successful product launches in QSR history, according to Richard Carucci, president.
Cantina Bell's 2012 launch also helped broaden Taco Bell's brand beyond its core users.
"What's important is that our 2012 Taco Bell successes should pay dividends again in 2013. Cool Ranch Doritos, Locos Tacos will be introduced in March and Cantina Bell innovation is also coming," Carruci added.
Taco Bell is also taking a page from Pizza Hut in developing more rural new units.
"The combination of a new smaller building asset design and a franchisee rural incentive should provide Taco Bell with more new units by 2014," Carruci said.
Yum! International continues to target emerging markets
Yum! Brands also fared well in international markets to finish out the year. Carucci said Yum! Brands International developed a record 949 units during 2012, with more than 65 percent of them located in emerging markets. The emerging market strategy grew system sales 12 percent last year. This pace is expected to continue in 2013.
"In 2013, we are targeting similar growth building an even stronger foundation," Carucci said, citing Russia and Africa as examples. Last year, Russia system sales jumped 46 percent and added nearly 40 new restaurants.
During 2012, Yum! opened almost 50 restaurants in Africa and ended the year with restaurants in 14 countries.
"We intend to further expand across Africa in 2013 by building restaurants in Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe," Carucci said. "Our breakfast expansion is doing great as we now have more than 270 restaurants offering breakfast and plan to add another 100 restaurants this year. Africa is one of the world's fastest growing regions, and KFC plans to be the clear restaurant leader on the continent."
Yum! also announced that it has agreed to the terms to acquire its franchise partner in Turkey. There are currently 60 KFCs and 40 Pizza Huts in Turkey.
"At YRI, we will invest behind high growth markets and accelerate new unit development of both KFC and Pizza Hut, particularly in the rapidly growing Pizza delivery space," Carucci said.
http://www.qsrweb.com/article/207827/Yum-Brands-We-underestimated-China-chicken-supply-investigation
