McDonald’s Corporation (MCD), The Wendy’s Company (WEN), Yum! Brands, Inc. (YUM): Are Mighty Wings The Next Fast Food Hit?

The Doritos Locos taco was successful because it didn’t try to reinvent the wheel. Like the Pretzel Cheeseburger at The Wendy’s Company (NASDAQ:WEN), the tacos are both familiar and different. The combination of Taco Bell and Doritos created plenty of buzz, and new flavors should drive sales even higher.The original Nacho Cheese flavored taco drove a 13% same-store sales increase in the second quarter of 2012. Now Taco Bell has released a new flavor, Fiery, which was launched on Aug. 22.

Another innovation at Taco Bell is the new breakfast menu, set for a national roll-out next year. The menu features most notably a Waffle Taco and a breakfast Crunchwrap, and both items have been doing well in test markets.

This breakfast menu has a real chance at success because it sticks to what Taco Bell knows. Much like the Doritos Locos Tacos, the breakfast menu is a modification of current items. Although a Waffle Taco may seem radical it’s still a taco, just with a different type of shell.

Taco Bell has a winner with Doritos Locos, and it will likely have a winner with its breakfast menu next year.

The bottom line

McDonald’s appears to be trying to cater to everyone at the same time. With healthy options like the McWrap mixed with dollar cheeseburgers and chicken wings the menu is quickly becoming muddled. McDonald’s seems desperate to increase sales, but the new strategy may backfire. McDonald’s needs to take a cue from Wendy’s and Taco Bell and stick with what it knows–and wings are not it.

The article Are Mighty Wings The Next Fast Food Hit? originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Timothy Green.

Timothy Green has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends McDonald’s. The Motley Fool owns shares of McDonald’s.

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