McD adds breakfast items, confirms beverage rollouts

Nation's Restaurant News,  Nov 26, 2007  

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OAK BROOK, ILL. -- McDonald's Corp. is beefing up its breakfast and beverage business with confirmation of several scheduled chainwide rollouts, including one for espresso drinks, smoothies and sweetened iced tea.

The chain's McSkillet Burritos are being launched this month in the breakfast daypart, to be followed in 2008 by a Southern-style chicken biscuit item.

A rollout of espresso beverages, frappes, smoothies, the sweetened tea, bottled soft drinks and additional fountain drinks is slated to start next year and continue through 2009, McDonald's officials also confirmed this month.

The new cappuccinos, caffe lattes and mochas, which already are being sold in at least 800 outlets in several states, could boost the average McDonald's restaurant's sales by 5 percent annually, or $125,000, analysts estimated after attending a briefing at McDonald's headquarters here.

McDonald's USA said it would host a Nov. 27 webcast briefing and answer questions about its breakfast business, in a session led by chief operating officer Jan Fields.

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