Burger King dines on fat profits

Burger King has about 11,000 outlets, most being franchises

Sales of its Stacker sandwich and new restaurant openings helped the world's second largest burger chain, Burger King, to an 82% quarterly profits rise.

It said it made $40m (£21m) in the three months to 30 September, against a $22m profit a year before.

Same store sales rose by 2.4% worldwide and by 2.6% in the US.

The popular Stacker features two, three or four beef burgers as well as bacon and cheese. Sales of its value menu have also surged for the period.

The cheaper food option was introduced to compete against similar offerings from rivals McDonald's and Wendy's, as consumers tightened their belts in non-essential spending.

Expansion

Chief executive John Chidsey said the earnings were testimony to the "resurgence of the Burger King brand and its underlying reach to consumers".

Burger King, which was listed earlier this year in the US, opened 101 new restaurants in Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions, in the 12 months to the end of September, as well as 90 in Latin America.

The firm has more than 11,000 outlets around the world, with 90% of them being franchises.