This 'underappreciated' restaurant brand had an explosive year — and business is getting even better

Kate TaylorKate Taylor
The third-largest fast-food company in the world may be just one year old, but it is already on a roll.
Restaurant Brands International, the parent company of Burger King and Tim Hortons, reported results Tuesday for its first full year.
"I'm happy to report we finished the year up on a really strong note," CEO Daniel Schwartz said in the company's earnings call. "We've had one of the best years for both the brands in comparable sales growth and international expansion."
In 2015, Tim Hortons comparable-store sales increased 5.6%, while Burger King's sales grew 5.4%. Comparable-store sales are sales at restaurants open at least a year.
In January, a Morgan Stanley report called Restaurant Brands International an "underappreciated story" that most people had misunderstood.
Here are four reasons a successful 2015 is just the beginning for Restaurant Brands International.

1. Grilled hot dogs will take over

Kate Taylor
On February 23, Burger King will roll out what the company has called the Whopper of hot dogs. While the new dish has its flaws, analysts are predicting that it will be a major area for growth.
"On the surface this sounds like a bizarre move given that current menu change is usually geared around providing healthier options," Neil Saunders, CEO of the retail consulting firm Conlumino, said in a note to clients. "However, the simple truth is that while Americans like hot dogs, very few national fast-food chains sell them. This step helps BK to stand out and in our view is likely to be successful."

2. International expansion isn't slowing down

Tim Hortons nearly doubled its number of locations outside the US and Canada last year, with 55 new restaurants, bringing the company's total up to 113.
Reuters
Tim Hortons' growth is intended to imitate that of its sister brand, Burger King. Schwartz calls the chain's global expansion plan "similar to how we've scaled the Burger King brand in the last several years."
Meanwhile, Burger King is planning on opening hundreds of new locations in countries including France, India, the Ivory Coast, and Morocco.

3. Weak franchisees have been cut

Because both Burger King and Tim Hortons are about 100% franchised, quality of franchisees is of the utmost importance. That means trimming the fat when it comes to subpar franchise partners.
In 2015, the company closed underperforming Tim Hortons locations in Maine and New York to focus on new development agreements in Cincinnati and Columbus. Internationally, Burger King closed locations in Mexico and ended a franchise relationship in Costa Rica, with a new partnership deal already signed.

4. The company isn't afraid to get weird

Burger King
As demonstrated by the launch of the grilled hot dog, Restaurant Brands International is prepared to take risks when it comes to new menu items.
Tim Hortons' success in Canada and international markets was driven by Nutella pockets, while Burger King sales were driven by quirky limited-time offerings like Buffalo chicken fries and the black-bunned A.1. Halloween Whopper. The company tries to focus on "fewer and more impactful products" that customers can't get elsewhere, as opposed to sticking to a classic menu of burgers and fries.
This strange menu innovation won't slow down in 2016 — and neither, the company hopes, will sales.