Menu Development

  • A photograph of a chicken sandwich, criss-cut fries and a soda.
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    Permission granted by Smashburger
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    Smashburger grills up 2 new chicken sandwiches

    The fast casual burger chain has seen sales and revenue growth in recent quarters after focusing on improved operations and hospitality.

    By • Oct. 1, 2026
  • A hand holds a wrap and dips it into a cup of sauce.
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    How Sweetgreen’s Gen Z focus is paying off

    The chain pushed its wraps on social media to capture young consumers’ attention. Now, one out of five transactions include a wrap and repeat visits remain strong.

    By • Sept. 30, 2026
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    Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Loyalty & Rewards Strategy

    Capturing — and keeping — loyal customers is more crucial than ever as diner price sensitivity puts pressure on restaurants.

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • A photograph of an empty McDonald's restaurant within a warehouse
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    Permission granted by McDonald's
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    Inside McDonald’s ambitious plans to upgrade its menu, technology, and restaurants

    The fast food chain wants to be a first-choice restaurant, and will invest across its system to solidify that position over the next decade.

    By • Sept. 29, 2026
  • A woman in a car holds a chicken sandwich.
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    Courtesy of Popeyes
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    Is Popeyes’ new sandwich a breakfast test?

    The chain says the Honey Chicken Biscuit is designed for all dayparts. It seems built for a time outside the chain’s usual occasions.

    By • Sept. 28, 2026
  • A meal consisting of a cup of soda, chips, salsa and tacos sits on a napkin on a wooden table against a green background. Text on the cup says Big Gulp Large.
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    Courtesy of 7-Eleven
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    7-Eleven rolls out value menus across its restaurant brands

    The retailer has added meal deals and low-cost options across its Laredo Taco, Raise the Roost and Speedy Cafe restaurants.

    By Jessica Loder • Sept. 28, 2026
  • A close up photograph of a crispy chicken sandwich on a table within a McDonald's restaurant
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    Permission granted by McDonald's
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    McDonald’s is designing bigger burgers, chicken bowls and new beverages

    The fast food giant plans to increase its market share with chicken and beverages as it expands those platforms while doubling down on beef.

    By • Updated Sept. 24, 2026
  • An image of the exterior of KFC's experimental Open House unit
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    KFC tests breakfast and table service at new restaurant

    The chain wants to offer fast casual service for QSR prices at an experimental unit designed for maximum sales volume, rather than for efficiency.

    By • Sept. 24, 2026
  • A photograph of an empty McDonald's restaurant within a warehouse
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    Permission granted by McDonald's
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    McDonald’s to invest $8.5B as part of Next strategy

    The funding will be used to support restaurant modernization, tech deployments and operational improvements through 2036.

    By • Sept. 23, 2026
  • A photograph of two boxes on a table with various breakfast food items in aluminum pans.
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    Permission granted by Denny's
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    How Denny’s is loading the bases for Project Grand Slam turnaround

    After closing units and going private, Denny’s is prepping for a new era with more catering, an overhauled menu, fresh tech and renovations.

    By • Sept. 23, 2026
  • A table with a salad, cheeseburger quesadilla and a plate of rice
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    Permission granted by Applebee's
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    How a popular burger drove Applebee’s to double down on cheese

    The O-M-Cheese Burger hit on consumer preferences for cheese, affordability and a fun experience, leading to an expanded lineup. 

    By • Sept. 17, 2026
  • An image of a drive-thru digital menu board with a Taco Bell restaurant with white and purple paint in the background.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell’s traffic slump persists as outbreak ends

    Nearly two months after iceberg lettuce at the chain was linked to Cyclospora, the QSR giant’s foot traffic remains depressed, according to Placer.ai.

    By • Sept. 17, 2026
  • A restaurant sign on an Art Deco building. The restaurant is empty, the sky beside the sign is a cold, harsh blue.
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    Getty Images
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    TGI Fridays joins the casual dining value arms race

    Starting at $11.99, the casual chain’s 3 For All menu could help it capitalize on deal-seeking consumers in a volatile pricing environment.

    By • Sept. 14, 2026
  • An order of Stuffed French Toast topped with strawberries and oozing sweet cream.
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    Courtesy of IHOP
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    Why IHOP brought back Stuffed French Toast

    The pancake chain hopes to give fans more of what they want — vanilla sweet cream filling — while sticking close to its historic breakfast identity.

    By • Sept. 14, 2026
  • A close up shot of a burger with two patties.
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    Courtesy of Carl's Jr.
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    Carl’s Jr institutes cook-to-order standard

    The chain joins Burger King, McDonald’s and Wendy’s in moving to improve food quality in order to boost frequency and sales.

    By • Sept. 10, 2026
  • A sign that says "Since 1956 Jersey Miek's Subs"
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    4 key numbers shed light on Jersey Mike’s strategy

    The sandwich chain is investing in digital marketing and significant unit growth in its first months as a public company.

    By • Sept. 9, 2026
  • Heads of iceberg lettuce in a grocery store.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Can restaurants avoid the next Cyclospora outbreak?

    The parasite is hard to trace and harder to kill. With recent cuts to food safety regulators, restaurants will be hard pressed to keep their supply chains clean.

    By • Sept. 3, 2026
  • Three pumpkin themed coffee drinks from Starbucks. Two are iced, one is hot and has whipped cream.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks’ pumpkin spice launch breaks records, again

    The Pumpkin Spice Latte, combined with new drinks and an emphasis on food attachment, powered the coffee giant’s strongest-ever fall menu debut.

    By • Sept. 1, 2026
  • A photo collage shows content creators with food from Chipotle
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    Permission granted by Chipotle
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    Chipotle deploys 100 creators for latest ads spotlighting fresh food

    This is the first national advertising push from Chief Brand Officer Fernando Machado and Chipotle’s first major work with new agency partner Kids.

    By Peter Adams • Sept. 1, 2026
  • Domino's
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    Courtesy of Domino's
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    How Domino’s is taking on the Big Mac, Whopper and other fast-food icons

    CMO Kate Trumbull explains why the chain and AOR Work In Progress chose a hyperbolic, darkly comedic tone for its latest campaign.

    By Chris Kelly • Aug. 31, 2026
  • A cup of Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte is held up in front of overlay text that reads: "There's Only One Pumpkin Spice Latte"
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    Permission granted by Starbucks
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    Is Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte ‘basic’? Martha Stewart answers in new ads

    Stewart and “Off Campus” actor Belmont Cameli feature in tongue-in-cheek social content that heralds the return of the beloved menu item.

    By Peter Adams • Aug. 28, 2026
  • Four Cold Brews, three with flavored cold foam toppings.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    How Gen Z, millennials drive beverage-only restaurant visits

    Consumers want more coffee variety but seem bearish on dirty sodas, despite the fact that beverage-only occasions are concentrated in the afternoon, per a National Restaurant Association report.

    By • Aug. 27, 2026
  • Murphy USA
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    Brett Dworski/Restaurant Dive
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    Murphy USA to trial automated White Castle kiosks

    A partnership with Automated Retail Technologies will bring fresh items from the burger QSR’s menu to select large-format stores.

    By Jessica Loder • Aug. 27, 2026
  • A promotional collage for Burger King's new nuggets.
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King scraps ‘rubbery’ chicken nuggets for new recipe

    The RBI chain updated its breading, marinade, sauces and packaging in a comprehensive overhaul to make its nuggets juicier and crispier.

    By • Aug. 25, 2026
  • A rendering if a red and orange building with El Pollo Loco signage.
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    Courtesy of El Pollo Loco
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    El Pollo looks to speed up growth, menu innovation after turnaround

    CEO Elizabeth Williams said the chain is doubling its pace of development relative to last year and considering adding more fried chicken. 

    By • Aug. 24, 2026
  • A close up photograph of a partial Starbucks siren logo as seen from the top of an office building.
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    David Ryder via Getty Images
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    Starbucks Unicorn Frappucino drives biggest sales weekend ever

    The chain spent months building anticipation for the drink, which was available for just two days and drove 28.5% higher traffic than a typical Saturday.

    By • Aug. 24, 2026