Menu Development
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Jollibee courts Gen Z with new premium drinks
The Signature Sips menu offers 16-ounce quenchers, freezes and iced tea starting at $3.99.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 6, 2024 -
Chipotle raises menu prices by 2%
This is the chain’s first nationwide price increase since 2023 and will help offset low single-digit food cost inflation.
By Julie Littman • Updated Dec. 5, 2024 -
Trendline
Menu development
Restaurants big and small are experimenting with their menus to align with the preferences of on-the-go diners and mitigate the impact of rising food costs, supply chain disruption and shrinking consumer discretionary funds.
By Restaurant Dive staff -
Keke’s Breakfast Cafe on path to reach 200 locations
Two years after Denny’s acquired the breakfast chain, it has signed commitments for over 140 units and is in the early stages of remodeling more than 50 locations.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 4, 2024 -
NRA predicts a big year for Korean, Vietnamese and Filipino flavors
The NRA also found that cold brew, sweet and spicy ingredients, and a focus on sustainability are trends to watch for 2025.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 2, 2024 -
Over a third of consumers plan to order takeout, delivery for Thanksgiving
Of the consumers planning to order out, a majority said it was easier and a third said it’s cheaper or equal to the cost of buying groceries and cooking, according to Popmenu.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 26, 2024 -
‘Not just the beef’: How Chipotle’s supply chain helped bring back smoked brisket
The return of the popular menu item required what CEO Scott Boatwright called “a huge cross-muscle effort.”
By Philip Neuffer • Nov. 26, 2024 -
McDonald’s to launch value platform in January
The platform will include the $5 Meal Deal, exclusive in-app offers, local food and drink deals and Buy One, Add One for $1.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 22, 2024 -
Maggiano’s is just getting started with menu updates, remodels
In his first months as the chain’s VP of innovation and growth, Anthony Amoroso helped create new menu items like Rigatoni al la Vodka and updated the Caesar salad, both of which are already driving sales.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 21, 2024 -
Deep Dive
How do coffee chains design, market and analyze their seasonal LTOs?
While flexibility is important, many brands plan coffee LTOs more than a year in advance, meaning next year’s holiday drinks are already in the works at places like Peet’s and Dutch Bros.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 19, 2024 -
Red Lobster brings back old favorites, new items in menu remake
The casual chain added seven new dishes and revived classics like hush puppies and popcorn shrimp.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 12, 2024 -
Deep Dive
What restaurants, suppliers can learn from McDonald’s E.coli outbreak
The fast food giant’s initial response to the outbreak was quick, but guest sentiment suffered from a lack of direct consumer messaging.
By Julie Littman , Sarah Zimmerman • Nov. 12, 2024 -
Krispy Kreme will serve doughnuts in 2K McDonald’s by year’s end
To support this rapid expansion, Krispy Kreme will boost production at its existing facilities and may work with third-party logistics firms.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 8, 2024 -
How QSR pizza chains are competing on value
Domino’s focus on promotions and discounts helped increase sales, while Papa Johns and Pizza Hut struggled with similar offerings.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 7, 2024 -
Here’s what restaurants need to consider when crafting a value menu
Companies have to stay competitive and drive traffic with value-priced items. But they have to be careful not to go too low, experts say.
By Danielle McLean • Nov. 7, 2024 -
Q&A
Cracker Barrel’s new CMO on reconnecting a heritage brand to culture
Sarah Moore discussed changing Cracker Barrel’s approach to partnerships and prioritizing apps like TikTok to keep a finger on the consumer pulse.
By Peter Adams • Nov. 7, 2024 -
Popeyes didn’t focus on value in Q3 and paid for it
The chain lacked enough compelling promotions to attract price-sensitive customers during the summer, contributing to negative comparable sales.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 6, 2024 -
Taco Bell is a winner and KFC a loser in Yum Brands’ Q3
KFC’s value meal did not turn its same-store sales declines around, but Taco Bell’s mix of menu innovation and value messaging drove growth for the company.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 5, 2024 -
Burger King’s LTOs met with stiff competition in Q3
The chain’s summer promotions, including its Fiery menu, had trouble cutting through QSR value messages, resulting in softer than expected sales in Q3.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 5, 2024 -
7-Eleven crashes the $5 value meal party
Customers can get two of the chain’s “new, bigger” pizza slices and a 20-ounce Coke or Sprite in the latest cost-conscious c-store deal.
By Jessica Loder • Nov. 1, 2024 -
Starbucks to eliminate non-dairy milk upcharge, hold prices steady
The coffee giant will move towards greater price transparency on customized drinks while cutting back on ineffective discounts, CEO Brian Niccol said.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 31, 2024 -
Subway adds $6.99 meal deal through year’s end
The monthslong discount signals a shift towards greater value emphasis for the chain, which has stayed largely aloof from 2024’s QSR price wars.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 29, 2024 -
Zaxbys raises 4 dishes from LTO to permanent status
As the chicken chain looks to accelerate national growth, new menu items could play a pivotal role in driving sales.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 28, 2024 -
7-Eleven plans 600 stores with new food-focused design by 2027
The retailer’s newest format features “a larger product assortment and expanded food and beverage offerings,” CEO Joseph DePinto told investors on Thursday.
By Brett Dworski • Oct. 28, 2024 -
McDonald’s grilled by senators on price increases
The chain said the lawmakers contorted facts and made inaccurate claims, and that their concerns reflect a lack of understanding of its franchising model.
By Julie Littman • Oct. 24, 2024 -
Starbucks’ US sales down as traffic nosedives
CEO Brian Niccol said the chain will address issues with its complex menu, pricing architecture and mobile order and payments system.
By Julie Littman • Oct. 23, 2024