Breakfast Sales Heat Up at Fast-Food Chains McDonald's, Taco Bell

Breakfast sandwiches and wraps have become some of the hottest-selling items on the menus of the nation's fast food giants. McDonald's may lag its competitors in terms of breakfast sandwich innovation, but it still manages to derive about 25% of its U.S. sales from the Egg McMuffin, sold since 1971, and its traditional breakfast items. Taco Bell made its entry into the breakfast arena last year with several options, one being the 650-calorie AM Steak Crunchwrap that comes complete with a fried hash brown, steak, cheese and scrambled eggs. Options like that have helped Taco Bell's breakfast sales total 6% of its business and produce 21% operating margins. Breakfast sandwiches are also helping to propel sales at chains like Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks.