Burger King’s UK arm almost tripled earnings last year as the number of online orders spiked.
Sales for the year to December 2021 were £211.7mln, up 68% from 2020, and significantly above pre-Covid levels.
The fast-food chain said online orders now make up a quarter of its business in the UK.
Private equity firm Bridgepoint Group PLC (LSE:BPT) owns Burger King UK, which manages the British franchise on behalf of North American giant Restaurant Brands International (TSX:QSR).
After a successful IPO in July, Bridgepoint is hoping for greater success in the market and is said to preparing to list Burger King UK on the London Stock Exchange as early as this spring. A valuation of £600mln is expected.
Burger King's user base increased to 1.3mln users in 2021 due to increased sales through its app.
Sales were also boosted by meat-free options like the Vegan Royale and the plant-based Whopper burger.
Pre-tax earnings for 2021 were £49.6mln, up from £17.2mln in 2020.
A total of 48 new restaurants were added to the company's portfolio last year, with plans to open 200 more by 2026.
"Both delivery and drive-through sales were strong throughout 2021 and will remain key areas of focus as we execute on our growth strategy," said Alasdair Murdoch, chief executive of Burger King UK.
"We have a strong development pipeline to further grow our UK footprint, and we are very well positioned to take advantage of the clear market opportunities ahead of us."
After investors became anxious over the conflict in Ukraine, plans to float the company on the stock exchange stalled, though Investec, Peel Hunt, and Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) have now reportedly been appointed to advise on a potential IPO.