Joel Libava
Wingstop ended the most recent quarter with a 1.6 percent increase and
is up 3.8 percent for the year. The company predicts the positive trend
to continue into the fourth quarter, when sales are typically the
strongest due to the popularity of wings during the football and
holiday seasons.
“In this economy, guests are looking for greater value when dining
out,” said James A. Flynn, president and CEO of Wingstop. “As a fast
casual chain, Wingstop offers convenient carryout service, and family
packs and platters to serve a large crowd, but still engages guests in
strong customer service and quality. That translates into a solid
business and positive sales.”
According to the Restaurant Performance Index, 68 percent of operators
reported a same-store sales decline in August, but even in these
recessionary times, Wingstop continues to perform and experience
positive sales systemwide.
During a time in which many chains are struggling with declining sales,
Wingstop’s continued growth has not gone unnoticed by industry leaders.
“This news is strong evidence that limited-service chains continue to
deliver value during a difficult economic climate,” said Darren
Tristano, executive vice president of Technomic, Inc., an industry
research firm. “In addition, fast casual restaurant chains that provide
high levels of customer experience and products with high demand will
continue to exploit pockets of opportunity in a down market.”
