Tue 25th Apr 2023 - McDonald’s reports global like-for-likes up 12.6% in first quarter with strong UK growth McDonald’s reports global like-for-likes up 12.6% in first quarter with strong UK growth: McDonald’s has reported global like-for-likes were up 12.6% in its first quarter ending 31 March 2023 – with the UK seeing “strong” growth. Chief executive Chris Kempczinski said: “Our strong first quarter results demonstrate that our Accelerating the Arches strategy is working, as comparable sales grew 12.6% through a healthy balance of strategic menu price increases and positive visitor growth. Running great restaurants is fundamental to our business momentum. We have refocused on operational excellence through our global Performance and Customer Excellence initiative, and we've seen significant customer satisfaction improvement around the world. Amidst a challenging operating environment, customer demand for the McDonald's brand remains strong.” Digital systemwide sales were almost $7.5bn in the company's top six markets, representing almost 40% of their total systemwide sales. First-quarter like-for-likes were up 12.6% in the US, with the results benefiting from strategic menu price increases and positive comparable customer growth, McDonald’s said. “Successful operational execution in McDonald's restaurants, effective marketing campaigns featuring the core menu and continued digital and delivery growth contributed to strong comparable sales results”, it added. Like-for-like sales in the quarter for the “international operated” segment, which includes the UK, were also up 12.6%. McDonald’s said segment performance was led by strong comparable sales across the “big five” international markets – Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the UK – and the majority of other markets. In the “international developmental” licensed segment, first quarter like-for-like sales were up 12.6%. The company said the quarter reflected strong comparable sales across the segment, led by Japan, along with all geographic regions. Revenue in the quarter increased to $5,897.8m from $5,665.6m the year before. The 2023 results include pre-tax restructuring charges of $180m, or $0.18 per share, related to “accelerating the organisation”. Earlier this month, the business began making redundancies as part of a company restructure.