Posted on 05/05/2023 4:46:04 AM PDT by Libloather
Burger King has estimated that the fast food giant will have to shutter up to 400 locations across the country this year.
The iconic burger chain said that underperforming stores will be the first to go.
Following the announcement of the company's first quarter results, CEO Joshua Kobza said the chain expects to shut between 300 and 400 locations in 2023.
This is a historic high - the company usually closes a couple of hundred stores annually, Kobza said.
According to its earnings release, Burger King axed 124 locations in the year up to March, leaving 6,964 restaurants.
Not all of the 300 to 400 locations closing their doors this year have been revealed, as boss Kobza admitted there is 'a fair degree of uncertainty' around the plans.
Sales performance can vary greatly between Burger King locations, and the company said it is seeking additional franchisees with stronger finances this year.
Chairman Patrick Doyle said: 'There will always be a minority [of franchisees] who aren't dedicated, enthusiastic operators. We'll work with them to leave the system and move on to do something else.
'There simply is no room for franchisees who are not willing or able to work hard to operate restaurants that are better than the system average over the long term.'
It comes after two Burger King franchisees declared bankruptcy earlier this year.
For decades, the home of the Whopper has had to live in the shadow of the Golden Arches of McDonald's as America's second-biggest burger chain. In 2020, it lost its second-place spot to Wendy's.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Because it’s not fast food anymore. You wait forever and you can get better food at a sub shop for less.
“In 2020, it lost its second-place spot to Wendy’s.”
We lost our main Burger King on Fast Food Row awhile ago. I then discovered that Wendy’s has better burgers. Once you get over them being SQUARE, (as Tony would say) they taste GREAT!
I think it's finding motivated people that is willing to do the work.
Back in the day High Schoolers and college students would work at fast food restaurants after school for extra money, and you would get some very bright individuals who were just working for extra money but didn't expect to make a career out of it.
These days it seems the only pool of workers that fast food restaurants pull from is the local probation office.
I know people who won’t eat there, viewing the chain as woke. Is this common? Are they woke?
Between illegal politician-mandated minimum wage increases, a shortage of viable employees, and a shortage of customers due to remote work, these franchises cannot compete in their current locations.
Small county in eastern North Carolina. We have a Wendy’s nearby that is the poorest Wendy’s I have ever had for drive thru. Twenty minutes away is a different Wendy’s and it is one of the best. It is all in supervision and willing employees with pride.
Now if I could just find some pizza within 60 miles that doesn’t suck.
Well one reason I am slightly sympathetic is they are the only franchise who has not diminished the size of their meat patties. They are close to 20 years ago. Wendy’s, by far, is the #1 disappointment in that department...
Id guess, but dont want to sound racist.. b
ie: I know of an arbys, black owned and run, that is always clean. The manager/ owner dont take NO SHT from his employees. Hes a very hardworking man who expects the same from his employees no matter the color.
When you got that many problems, management needs a mirror.
I was thinking more along the lines of going woke. You know--when they publicly said they don't want Christians to be their customers.
I can attest to that. Wendy’s junior cheeseburger has not only gone up in price, the patty has shrunk so much that there is way more bun than meat.
Quit BK when they screwed around with their fries and went batter covered.
I would buy a bag of chips and then eat in the restaurant.
Their fries and any other fried items taste like battery acid was used.
I used to enjoy BK burgers, but that was 40 years ago. Now, I rarely do fast food. I’m working from home, and if I want a burger I’ll just take a frozen patty out of the freezer and fry my own. At least I’ll know that nobody has touched it with dirty hands.
My policy these days is if I walk into a place and dislike what I see of the staff, I’ll walk out again. McD and BK seem to hire the worst, Chik-Fil-A usually does a good job getting decent staff.
Our Wendy’s is just about as bad. Our “eating out” bill is practically nil because of a lack of options.
Fast food, as we’ve known it, is a dinosaur.
I was working at the office late, decided to get something for dinner, so I pulled up Google maps, looked at what was close by. There was a Coney Island joint 1/4 mile away, click. Oh, I can order online...click, click. I check out, payment made with browser stored info, just have to enter the CC security code, click. I get to my car, drive to the place, and once inside it took 1 MINUTE before I was walking out....with a wonderful (real!) chicken breast sandwich, with cheese and bacon - for $8.
Ok, so it didn’t come with a sugary drink I shouldn’t have, or fries I don’t need - which weren’t needed anyway, the sandwich was big! Water is a better option too. But a complete meal at BK is over $8 as well.
...along with all the other online options; Thai, Mexican, pizza, etc.. Why oh why would I go to BK, sit in a drive thru line for 15 minutes, only to get an unhealthy burger ‘meal’ that is almost $10? The burgers also seem to be smaller too. It’s as though you’re paying for nothing. They look nothing like the pictures....and that with hoping they get the order correct!!
The time from the last ‘click’ to being back at my desk with food was about 15min. Calling BK ‘fast food’ is only the case if I’m already on the road driving and realize I have to squeeze in lunch, seeing a place in view. Otherwise, what is my motivation?
Burger King was once upon a time really good, especially the croissant, sausage, egg and cheese for breakfast. The whopper was also good, flame broiled not fried.
Something happened, seems they had trouble hiring good employees including management. Then the ghetto commercials came on and that stupid looking King character running all over the place.
Wendy’s is starting to follow the same path with poor employees and management that really doesn’t cut it.
KFC hires employees that can’t even count the correct number of pieces of chicken that go into a box.
The franchise owners either don’t care or they haven’t figured out that once their store screws up a drive through order some people never come back.
Or put trannies to work behind the counter. Maybe offer floor shows...
Btt!!
our BK is filthy and looks like everybody that works there learned their trade in prison.
‘There simply is no room for franchisees who are not willing or able to work hard to operate restaurants that are better than the system average over the long term.’
Let me translate that. Half the stores are below average. We are eliminating them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.