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McDonald's revenue jumped 9 percent to $5.1 billion in the first quarter, surpassing 2019's first-quarter sales of $4.95 billion, long before the pandemic broadsided the country.
A bounce back for McDonald's from the first quarter of last year was expected as stores were then closed due to spiking COVID-19 infections, but it was still better than what most had expected.
Same-store sales in the US 13.6 percent in the January-March period.
Fewer diners visited and many dining rooms remain closed. But those who did visit ordered more, with many picking up food for the entire family rather than for one person.
McDonald’s US President Joe Erlinger noted that while the new round of federal stimulus checks helped first-quarter sales the positivity was way beyond that factor.
New products, including crispy chicken sandwiches and spicy nuggets, helped, and drive-thru window services in nearly all US stores was a competitive advantage.
Around 90 percent of McDonald’s US sales in the first quarter came through drive-thru windows, climbing from around 70 percent before the pandemic. The company has made drive-thru faster through many changes including offering a more simple menu.
Delivery orders, which tend to be larger than in-store orders, soared for McDonald's and are now available at 75 percent of its stores worldwide.
In Australia and Japan, even as dining rooms reopened, the elevated demand for drive-thru and delivery will remain, according to CEO Chris Kempczinksi.
