Fast-food restaurants got a break recently when Dr. Bonnie Henry didn’t make wearing masks mandatory for customers at these establishments (despite people dining on them).
COVID-19 has been devastating to many restaurants, but fast-food outlets seem to have done better because their food is made to be transported so many folks who don’t want to cook simply default to McDonald’s or Wendy’s.
Or A&W in Burnaby, which is part of some positive numbers for the company, which has blitzed TV airwaves with new ads talking about their beef patties.
A&W Revenue Royalties Income Fund says its same-store sales grew nearly 17 per cent in its latest quarter as COVID-19 public health restrictions eased, allowing the fast-food chain to reopen more restaurants and serve more customers.
The Vancouver-based company's gross sales in the royalty pool totalled $409.5 million for the three months ended Sept. 12, up from $340.6 million in the same quarter of 2020.
The company reported net income excluding non-cash items of $9.2 million for the third quarter, up from $7.7 million in the same period the previous year.
Susan Senecal, president and CEO of A&W Food Services, said the company is pleased that the strong performance of the restaurants in the royalty pool supported another increase in the fund's distribution rate.
"Although we continue to face challenges related to COVID-19, we are pleased to report strong sales growth for the quarter and are delighted to have almost all of our restaurants back open," she said in a statement.
Still, the company warned of ongoing uncertainty. It said the number of restaurants temporarily closed could increase again as the situation evolves in the next year or other restrictions are introduced.
- With reporting by The Canadian Press
