Wingstop posts 7.9% comps for 2015

Wingstop’s U.S. comparable-store sales rose 7.9 percent during its first fiscal year as a public company, while continued franchising expanded the chain by 133 locations, to a worldwide tally of 874 restaurants worldwide, the company announced this morning.

Systemwide sales jumped 21 percent, to $821 million, but revenues were flat, according to the franchisor’s preliminary financial report for 2015.

The fast-casual chain said it has development commitments finalized for 530 additional units in the United States, where all but 59 of its stores are currently located. Only 19 units are company-operated.

Same-store sales for franchised restaurants decelerated in the fourth quarter to 5.9 percent, the company indicated.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Operations

Hitting resistance elsewhere, ghost kitchens and virtual concepts find a happy home in family dining

Reality Check: Old-guard chains are finding the alternative operations to be persistently effective side hustles.

Financing

The Tijuana Flats bankruptcy highlights the dangers of menu miscues

The Bottom Line: The fast-casual chain’s problems following new menu debuts in 2021 and 2022 show that adding new items isn’t always the right idea.

Financing

For Papa Johns, the CEO departure came at the wrong time

The Bottom Line: The pizza chain worked to convince franchisees to buy into a massive marketing shift. And then the brand’s CEO left.

Trending

More from our partners