McDonald’s Corp. officials reaffirmed their optimism for business in 2012, despite slow economic growth and commodity cost inflation projected in major markets like the United States and Europe.

Speaking to investors and analysts during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings conference call, chief executive Jim Skinner said McDonald’s realized record-high revenue of $27 billion in fiscal 2011 as well as a 4.8-percent increase in domestic same-store sales — the best since 2006.

But McDonald’s will contend with headwinds this year, he said, particularly in the United States and Europe. The chain’s domestic system, which has more than 14,000 McDonald’s locations, faces commodity cost inflation that the company projects to rise between 4.5 percent and 5.5 percent, with increases in the mid-teens for beef, said chief financial officer Pete Bensen. In Europe, food cost inflation likely would compound continued pressure from austerity measures in several countries.

To keep growing in this environment, McDonald’s will stick to its Plan to Win, Skinner said, built around menu innovation, broadening accessibility and reimaging restaurants.

“Our overall business model continues to serve us well in any environment, as long as we propel ourselves with the proper levers of our business,” Skinner said. “The most important thing around the world for the past eight or nine years has been everyday affordability.”

U.S. to focus on core strengths

Skinner said several new products would join McDonald’s menu in 2012, including the Cherry Berry Chiller frozen beverage, Blueberry Banana Nut Oatmeal and Chicken McBites, a popcorn chicken limited-time offer that began nationwide promotion Monday. But the chain intends to drive much of its sales this year through “core” items, like Big Macs and Chicken McNuggets, he added.

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