More stores for Restaurant Brands

Two more KFC stores are on the way. Picture / Martin Sykes

Fast-food operator Restaurant Brands confirmed yesterday that it would open seven new and refurbished stores across its three brands by the end of the quarter.

Restaurant Brands operates KFC, Starbucks and Pizza Hut here.

By February 27, the company plans to have opened three new or relocated Pizza Hut outlets, two new Starbucks stores and two KFC stores.

Opening new stores and revamping existing stores has proved successful in turning around the fortunes of the group's fried chicken chain, KFC.

During the first 10 months of the financial year, the company has opened eight KFCs, including six transformed stores and two new locations, as part of a "brand transformation".

Revamping its stores and its menus led KFC to a 2.6 per cent increase in same-store sales for the third quarter. Group-wide, Restaurant Brands' same-store sales for the period were up 0.1 per cent on the year earlier.

Restaurant Brands operates 87 KFCs, 105 Pizza Huts and 42 Starbucks outlets in New Zealand.

The group also owns 50 Pizza Hut outlets in Australia but is looking at refranchising some of them to individual owners.

Shares in Restaurant Brands were down 2c at $1.28 yesterday, having ranged between $1.20 and $1.68 over the past year.

- NZPA