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Restaurant Brands’ $350 Million China Reset — Can Burger King Reaccelerate Growth?

Restaurant Brands International (RBI) reported first-quarter 2026 results reflecting steady progress aligned with their strategic vision announced at Investor Day. The company achieved comparable sales growth of 3.2%, system-wide sales growth of 6.2%, and 10.7% organic adjusted operating income (AOI) growth, supported by a 14.6% increase in adjusted earnings per share (EPS). A notable element of the quarter was the resumption of share repurchases after over two years, signaling management’s confidence in the business momentum. At the brand level, Burger King U.S. continued its upward trajectory, posting nearly 6% comparable sales growth and outperforming the burger quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry by over five percentage points. Improvement efforts, including brand elevation campaigns and menu enhancements such as the upgraded Whopper, contributed to stronger guest engagement. Franchisees demonstrated strong alignment, reflected in a 97% vote to maintain increased advertising fund contributions. Tim Hortons delivered 1.