SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Denny’s Corp. has updated the company’s animal welfare policy to include its commitment to serving chicken from birds raised without the use of medically important antibiotics.

In the update, the company said, “Denny’s supports the responsible application of antibiotics for the sole purpose of maintaining animal health managed through veterinary oversight. Additionally, Denny’s has committed to eliminate the use of medically important antibiotics in all chicken served at Denny’s US locations effective with purchases beginning March 1, 2019.”

Denny’s is one of the largest franchised full-service restaurants in the United States. The company had 1,709 franchised restaurants, including 131 locations abroad.

The policy update came after As You Sow, a nonprofit organization that promotes environmental and corporate social responsibility through shareholder advocacy, filed a shareholder resolution in December 2017 asking Denny’s to eliminate from its supply chain meat sourced from animals raised using medically important antibiotics. As You Sow applauded Denny’s policy change.

“We are pleased to see the company take leadership among its restaurant peers in helping to curb the overuse and abuse of antibiotics in the chicken supply chain,” said Christy Spees, environmental health program manager at As You Sow. “With this action, Denny’s is supporting chicken producers that are actively ending the use of medically important antibiotics in their operations, responding to customer concern, and helping to preserve the effectiveness of these life-saving drugs.”

For the full year of fiscal 2018 ended Dec. 26, Denny’s reported total operating revenue of $630.2 million, an increase of 19.1 percent. The company said the increase was primarily due to the benefit of revenue recognition changes.

Net income for the full year was $43.7 million, or $0.67 per diluted share.

Domestic system-wide same-store sales for the full year grew 0.8 percent, including increases of 1.8 percent at company restaurants and 0.6 percent at domestic franchised restaurants.

During the fourth quarter ended Dec. 26, 2018, domestic system-wide same-store sales grew 1.4 percent, including increases of 2.1 percent at company restaurants and 1.2 percent at domestic franchised restaurants.

Total operating revenue increased 17.7 percent to $159.5 million, primarily on the benefit of revenue recognition changes, according to Denny’s.

Net income in the fourth quarter was $11.5 million, or $0.18 per diluted share.