KFC Owner Says China Scandal hurting Sales

0
181

In what appears to be a first across all KFC franchises globally, KFC India has unveiled a segregated vegetarian menu along with a strong message about its newfound bias for vegetarian offerings.

BEIJING – The owner of the KFC and Pizza Hut restaurant chains says a scandal over food safety in China has hurt sales and might be severe enough to cut into the company’s global profit.

Yum Brands Inc, in a filing with the US securities regulator, said Thursday the scandal over accusations Shanghai Husi Food Inc sold expired beef and chicken has caused a “significant, negative impact” on sales.

It gave no financial details and said it was too early to know when sales might rebound. But it said that if the “significant sales impact” continues, it might hurt this year’s profit.

Chinese authorities have detained five Husi employees but have yet to confirm a TV report the company sold expired meat to KFC and McDonald’s Corp restaurants in China.