Raking in R328.2-million for the six months to December, GPI headline earnings actually fell 5.5% compared to the same period last year as it forked over cash to set up the Burger King franchise.
The casino business is well entrenched, however.
Last year, GPI bought two gaming operator licences in Mpumalanga and Gauteng, rolled out the first locally assembled limited-payout gambling machines and bought 100% of Akhona Gaming Portfolio Investments.
GPI's anchor investment is casino business GrandWest. Its aftertax profit rose 4.9% to R248.7-million.
But it is the Burger King roll-out that has gripped public attention.
Burger King now operates five stores in the Western Cape, where GPI is based, and its turnover since it started exceeded budget by 65%.
Despite doing a roaring trade at its fledgling outlets - some of which were trading before the decor had been completed - GPI said margins were under pressure until the company could source as many products as possible locally.
It aims to find local sources by June.
In December, GPI broke ground at five new Burger King stores in Gauteng, three of which opened at the beginning of February.
Two more will open this month.
The company plans to expand its Sasol garage tie-up, open drivethrough outlets and one store in KwaZulu-Natal this year.
GPI executive chairman Hassen Adams said he was pleased with the diversity of the group's revenue, showing it could venture into new territory successfully..
Source: Business Times
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