Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM)’ investors seem a little worried about the company’s outlook after the fast food giant reported a steeper than anticipated decline in same store sales in China. This American restaurant chain has struggled in its main market for a long time. Yum! posted a 13% drop in comparable store sales in China for the month of July.
Concern over antibiotic levels in chicken and the impact of the bird flu outbreak have been stressing sales growth in the Chinese mainland. Let’s take a closer look at the situation and find out if investors really need to worry about their money.
What happened and why?
Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM)’s KFC restaurants in China have faced sales struggles since last December, when the Chinese food regulatory agency identified unacceptable levels of antibiotics in the chain’s chicken supply. China is Yum!’s biggest market and accounted for over 50% of its revenue in 2012. McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) faced similar accusations. Both fast food behemoths immediately cut ties with the suppliers concerned to ensure food quality and consumer safety. However, the Westerners weren’t spared so easily. Yum!’s KFC sales experienced a severe decline, and they still aren’t back to normal levels.
Fellow players went a step ahead
Several market watchers also felt that the July results wouldn’t have been as bad had the Louisville company focused on drinks and ice cream for the summer. This was an area where KFC did not really offer anything special to consumers, particularly as the mainland temperature in China hit record highs. KFC executives should have experimented with a new category of food for the summer. Hot and fiery chicken would not appeal as much as something cool in such sweltering conditions.
Fellow players McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) and Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) were a step ahead.
Shaun Rein, the Managing Director of China Market Research Group, told Reuters that “McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD), Starbucks Corp, and Häagen-Dazs have been grabbing more share of the late afternoon and evening dining” because they offered cold drinks and ice creams that were better suited for the scorching heat.
McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) website heavily promoted iced drinks and McFlurry ice cream to beat the heat. This helped the fast food giant lure customers away from Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) and gain market share. In contrast, KFC promoted hot food. Clearly the biggest Western fast food restaurant operator in China faces increased competition from its arch rival McDonald’s.
Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) also saw solid 30% sales growth in the Asia Pacific region, which mainly came from its outstanding performance in China. The Seattle-based coffee giant offered its main foods and beverages in China while adding local options, a strategy it also uses in Western markets. The American coffee giant has appealed to the Chinese population despite the fact that the region has a tea drinking culture. Solid sales were also driven by the company’s expansion program of opening 500 new stores last year in the mainland. Starbucks plans to continue its expansion in the country for further growth.
