McDonald's posts strong second quarter

U.S. restaurant chain McDonald's said net income rose 19 percent in the second quarter compared to the same period of 2010, as beverage sales have soared. Drink sales at the McCafe section of the menu rose 29 percent compared to April through June of 2010, the Financial Times reported Saturday. McDonald's Chief Executive Officer Jim Skinner said McDonald's was doing well through the economic downturn due to a "relevant" menu. The chain opened the McCafe concept in 2009. Chief Financial Officer Peter Bensen said hard times were not the deciding factor for consumers choosing McDonald's, as evidenced by the dollar menus. "We aren't seeing any dramatic spike in the usage of our dollar menus," he said. Bensen also said McDonald's had some wiggle room in prices, because food prices at grocery stores were rising faster than prices at restaurants. In the second quarter, net income rose to $1.41 billion compared to $1.23 billion in the second quarter of 2010. Total revenue rose 16 percent to $6.9 billion. The sharper growth figures came from Europe and Asia, where revenue grew 21 percent and 25 percent, respectively. In the United States, revenue grew 4 percent compared to the same period a year earlier.