GLOBAL – McDonald\’s sales boosted by coffee

MILAN – Sales at McDonald’s locations open at least a year grew by 4.8 percent worldwide in May.
The restaurant chain has had steady gains in month-over-month sales since February.
 
The company\’s overseas performance offset a smaller-than-expected gain in the US, where sales rose 3.4 percent vs. expectations for a 3.8 percent gain. Sales of the chain\’s growing McCafe line of coffee drinks were one of the stronger categories in US sales.
 
Despite strong European sales, management said the slumping euro would have a negative effect on its full-year sales.
Same-store sales rose 5.7 percent in McDonald’s European division and 3.8 percent in the Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa, or Apmea division.
 
France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom continue to drive strong sales in Europe, where McDonald’s has focused on daypart expansion with four-tier menus and new products like Germany’s McWrap, the company said. McDonald’s added that Australia and China helped boost sales in the Apmea region.
 
The 4.8-percent rise in global same-store sales beat financial analysts\’ expectations of an increase between 3.5 percent and 4 percent, though the U.S. result, while still among its strongest of 2010, fell below Wall Street’s prediction of 4 percent and slightly lagged McDonald’s 3.8-percent increase in April same-store sales.