global – Iced Coffee boosts McDonald’s sales in the US

Milan – McDonald’s Corp. said August sales rose 8.1 percent as customers bought chicken snack wraps and iced coffee in the US and McFlurry desserts in Europe.

Sales in U.S. restaurants open at least 13 months rose 7.4 percent while Europe’s comparable sales increased 6.1 percent, Oak Brook, Illinois-based McDonald’s said today in a statement. The gain exceeded some analysts’ projections.

McDonald’s, which started selling a stronger coffee blend in 2006, has added iced coffee and lattes in two-thirds of its U.S. stores to win sales from Starbucks Corp. The new beverages and a chipotle-flavored snack wrap drove sales as U.S. locations were open longer, while chicken sandwiches and desserts helped in Europe.