Burger King restaurant in Beijing International Airport, China. Credit: Flibblesan (talk).

Visit our Covid-19 microsite for the latest coronavirus news, analysis and updates

Follow the latest updates of the outbreak on our timeline.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Burger King has temporarily closed nearly half of its restaurants in China due to growing concerns over the deadly coronavirus outbreak in the country.

The move was confirmed by the Restaurant Brands International, the parent company of the American fast-food restaurant chain.

Burger King has around 1,300 locations in China.

Restaurant Brands International CEO Jose Cil was quoted by Bloomberg as saying: “Most of the closures are being driven by local regulations. In some cases, malls are closing.”

The company is yet to determine the extent of the impact. However, it is anticipating a hit on its performance.

Cil added: “It’s too early to tell what impact, if any, it’s going to have on short-term performance or results.”

Burger King is not the first restaurant chain to shut its outlets in China due to the ongoing outbreak.

Yum China shut more than 30% of its stores temporarily as a step to prevent person-to-person transmission of the virus. Yum China is a licensee of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell brands in China.

Coffeehouse chain Starbucks has also closed around 2,000 restaurants and reduced operating hours in the Chinese market.

Both Yum China and Starbucks also warned of a significant impact on sales due to the outbreak.

Other US restaurant chains such as McDonald’s and KFC have also closed hundreds of their stores in China.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the new coronavirus reached 1,115 at the end of 11 February. The total number of infections exceeded 45,100.