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Burger King Closes Half Its China Restaurants as Virus Spreads

Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks. and McDonald’s are other brands that have shuttered some of their establishments.

Burger King Closes Half Its China Restaurants as Virus Spreads
Signage is seen illuminated at night outside of a Burger King do Brasil restaurant on Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photographer: Victor Moriyama/Bloomberg)

(Bloomberg) -- Burger King has temporarily closed about half of its 1,300 locations in China amid the coronavirus epidemic that’s claimed more than 900 lives.

The Restaurant Brands International Inc.-owned chain is carefully watching the situation in China, which it has said provides a big growth opportunity for Burger King, along with its two other brands -- Popeyes and Tim Hortons. Tim Hortons has just 30 locations in China, and Popeyes hasn’t yet opened its doors there.

“Most of the closures are being driven by local regulations. In some cases, malls are closing,” Chief Executive Officer Jose Cil said in a phone interview Monday after the company posted fourth-quarter earnings. “It’s too early to tell what impact, if any, it’s going to have on short-term performance or results.”

Across China, especially in the Hubei province where the outbreak started, businesses are closing their doors. Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc., Starbucks Corp. and McDonald’s Corp. have shuttered some of their establishments.

To contact the reporter on this story: Leslie Patton in Chicago at lpatton5@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Sally Bakewell at sbakewell1@bloomberg.net, Lisa Wolfson

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