Why Did Sapphire Foods, Operator of KFC and Pizza Hut, Experience a 25% Net Profit Decline in Q4?

Synopsis
Sapphire Foods India, the franchisee of KFC and Pizza Hut, reports a significant 25% drop in net profit for Q4 despite a revenue increase. Explore the reasons behind this decline and the company's ongoing expansion efforts.
Key Takeaways
- 25% decline in consolidated net profit for Q4, totaling Rs 17.91 crore.
- Revenue growth of 13% year-on-year, reaching Rs 711 crore.
- Opened 6 new KFC outlets, totaling 963 restaurants.
- Pizza Hut business faced challenges, with margin dropping to 2.4%.
- Strong performance in Sri Lanka, with 16% same-store sales growth.
New Delhi, May 7 (NationPress) Sapphire Foods India, which operates KFC and Pizza Hut franchises across India and Sri Lanka, disclosed a 25% decrease in its consolidated net profit for the March quarter (Q4), dropping to Rs 17.91 crore from Rs 23.9 crore in the same quarter last fiscal year (Q4 FY24).
Despite this downturn, the company saw a 13% year-on-year (YoY) increase in revenue, which climbed to Rs 711 crore in Q4.
The revenue growth was primarily fueled by robust performances from KFC India and Pizza Hut operations in Sri Lanka.
In the mentioned quarter, Sapphire Foods opened six new KFC outlets, resulting in a total of 963 restaurants as of March 31.
While revenue exhibited strong growth, profitability measures faced challenges.
The consolidated restaurant EBITDA saw a 1% YoY decline, with the margin resting at 12%.
Adjusted EBITDA fell 7% to Rs 50.8 crore, reflecting an adjusted margin of 7.2%.
On a positive note, consolidated EBITDA experienced a modest 3% increase to Rs 113.3 crore, although the EBITDA margin decreased by 150 basis points to 16%.
Sapphire’s consolidated profit after tax (PAT) for the quarter was merely Rs 2 crore, with an adjusted PAT of Rs 3.3 crore, resulting in a margin of just 0.5%.
In FY25, the company faced hurdles within its Pizza Hut segment in India, as the restaurant's EBITDA margin dropped by 250 basis points YoY to 2.4%.
Nonetheless, Sapphire continued to expand, adding 15 new Pizza Hut locations throughout the year, bringing the total to 334 outlets.
A silver lining emerged from Sapphire Foods’ operations in Sri Lanka, where the business displayed impressive growth. Same-store sales surged by 16%, accompanied by a boost in transactions.
The Sri Lanka restaurant EBITDA margin enhanced by 250 basis points to 14.8%.
Sales in Sri Lanka experienced a 19% rise in local currency and a remarkable 31% growth when converted to Indian rupees.
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