The Buzz | Burger King sales jump, boosted by a spicy Whopper

The home of the Whopper enjoyed its biggest sales jump in nearly a decade during the first quarter, boosted by a new flavor of its signature burger and a popular 2 for USD5 promotion.
Burger King’s sales rose 6.9 percent at established locations in the U.S. and Canada, parent company Restaurant Brands International said yesterday. The company, which also owns Tim Hortons doughnut chain, declined to say whether the increase at Burger King was driven by higher average spending or an uptick in customer traffic, which is a key indicator of health.
Restaurant Brands International CEO Daniel Schwartz said in an interview there was no single factor that drove the improved sales in the U.S. Instead, he cited a variety of factors including a spicy BLT Whopper, marketing during the NCAA championships and healthy sales at breakfast.
The showing comes as rival McDonald’s has been fighting to hold onto customers, with sales at established locations falling 2.6 percent during the first three months of the year. Taco Bell, which is benefiting from the launch of a national breakfast menu, saw sales rise 6 percent during the period, according to parent company Yum Brands Inc.
On a global basis, same-store sales rose 4.6 percent at Burger King and 5.3 percent at Tim Hortons.