Still loving McDonald's

The group, which was one of the official World Cup sponsors, said sales suffered a "low single digit" percentage impact on England match days, although this was limited by the team's early exit at the end of last month.

Its UK operation saw sales growth on the previous quarter and year-on-year, helping drive comparable European revenues up 5.2 per cent in the three months to the end of June. Earnings lifted by 9 per cent, or 14 per cent with currency effects stripped out.

On a global basis, McDonald's posted earnings up 10 per cent to 1.2bn and like-for-like sales ahead 4.8 per cent.

Jill McDonald, senior vice-president at McDonald's UK, said: "We are seeing growth right across the menu, in the 'saver' option but also across the premium end as people look to treat themselves."

She added that consumer confidence had fallen and remains "unsettled", but expects McDonald's to weather the storm. McDonald's – headquartered in Illinois, America – is in the middle of a major cafe-style refit for its UK stores, having spent 95m on its refurbishment programme last year.

The focus for the next six months will be on its drive-through outlets, having largely completed refurbishments for high street restaurants, according to McDonald's.

It is also on track with aims to take on another 5,000 employees in the UK this year.

Yesterday's figures showed half-year earnings of 2.29bn across the group, 14 per cent higher than a year earlier.

Net income rose 12 per cent to 1.41bn over the six months.