The scoop on the egg McMuffin: Herb Peterson.

Restaurants & Institutions, June, 1993 by Weiss, Steve

Although McDonald's Corp. does not divulge sales on a daypart basis, most reasonable estimates place breakfast at 20% to 25% of its total menu revenue, or about $4 to $5 billion per year. The individual who receives much of the credit for starting this morning McMania is Herb Peterson, a Santa Barbara, Calif.-based advertising executive and McDonald's franchisee who, in 1971, invented and introduced to the world the Egg McMuffin. Breakfast has never looked back.

What inspired the Egg McMuffin?

Frankly, the sandwich itself was a secondary consideration. With more women working and more people on the go, not being open for breakfast was ridiculous.

Why the Egg McMuffin specifically?

I knew Ray Kroc well personally, and I knew that he...