McDonald’s to add McGriddles, other sandwiches to all-day breakfast

McDonald's Corp. is going bigger with all-day breakfast.

In a bid to maintain the hype - and the sales gains - the chain is planning to add McGriddles and more breakfast sandwiches to its all-hours menu. The change will take place across the United States in September, almost a year after all-day breakfast was first introduced, the Oak Brook, Ill.-based company said in a statement Wednesday.

All-day breakfast has been a key piece of Chief Executive Officer Steve Easterbrook's effort to revive the struggling fast-food giant. The strategy helped McDonald's global same-store sales rise 6.2 percent in the first quarter, the biggest gain in four years. The chain also has boosted sales with value meals, and its bottom line has gotten a lift from lower commodity costs.

Right now, the full-day breakfast menu is limited, with some locations selling only English muffin-based sandwiches and others only selling biscuit ones. With the expansion, biscuit and McMuffin options will be available at all U.S. locations, along with three varieties of McGriddles - a sandwich that uses maple-flavored pancakes as buns.

McDonald's, which is scheduled to report third-quarter results on July 26, is facing a fiercely competitive domestic industry. Wendy's Co. has been advertising a four-items-for-$4 deal, while Burger King is introducing new fare, including fried Mac ‘n Cheetos sticks and hot dogs.