031116 McDonald's Reports October Sales SurgeNovember 8, 2003The biggest single-month increase at its U.S. restaurants in more than five years lifted McDonald's Corp. to an impressive 8.4% gain in comparable sales last month. The hamburger giant said Friday that sales at its U.S. restaurants open for more than a year rose by 15.1% over the previous October. It attributed the increased business in part to benefits of the first full month of its exhaustive new advertising campaign, featuring the tag line “I'm lovin' it.” CEO Jim Cantalupo said sales also were boosted by the popularity of McDonald's Monopoly game promotion and Madame Alexander Happy Meal, along with a positive comparison because of a weak October last year. Also contributing to the strong October showing was a modest improvement of 2.1% in comparable sales in Europe, which has been reporting sluggish results for months. McDonald's three biggest European markets -- France, Germany and Britain -- all gained ground over the previous year. The company said it will take unspecified fourth-quarter charges for the next steps in its overhaul, including yet-to-be-made decisions related to its partner brands. The Japanese unit, 50% owned by Oak Brook-based McDonald's, announced it will cut 146 jobs, sell or close its 13 Pret a Manger sandwich restaurants in the country and close 182 unprofitable outlets by year's end.
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