The world's most famous hamburger and chip shop chain McDonald's presented excellent figures for the third quarter on Monday 9 November. In the United States in particular, it seems that an undiminished amount of burgers and fries have been consumed. The situation is different in many European countries. Sales there fell by 10%.
A big difference between the home market and Europe is that 95% of American restaurants have a McDrive. This way, visitors can continue to eat their beloved fast food, even with restrictions or during a lockdown. In addition, the company has an extremely successful ordering option in the US. We don't have that in the Netherlands, for example.
US recovers
The turnover figures largely exceeded stock market analysts' expectations for the US. Total revenue of $5,42 billion in the third quarter is just 2% below last year's. The net result is even 10% higher. In the previous quarter, turnover fell by more than 30%.
Mainly thanks to the McDrives and the ordering option, sales in the US grew by almost 5%. In other countries – mainly Europe – there has been a 10% decline. In their news item, the company itself mentions Germany, France and the United Kingdom as countries where new corona measures almost literally threw a spanner in the works. Given the current situation, this will also continue in the fourth quarter.
Access to restaurants limited
In addition to the US, turnover also increased in Australia, among others. Almost all restaurants worldwide were able to open their doors again in the third quarter, although there was another lockdown in September, with branches forced to close their doors or shorten opening hours. The capacity of dining establishments is almost always lower. This is especially the case in Europe. The company expects the measures to remain in force in the coming months.
McDonald's figures support what is happening chip market is visible. The American market continues to perform relatively well. The demand for potato products is high and Europeans benefit from this. The country itself has considerably less product. In Europe, French fries stocks are increasing again because sales are stagnating.