Menu Development

  • Heads of iceberg lettuce in a grocery store.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Feces in the food supply: What’s next after summer of Cyclospora

    The parasite is hard to trace and harder to kill, and with 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
  • An image of several people eating hamburgers and french fries from a generic fast food restaurant. Explore the Trendline➔
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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 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
  • A triptych collage of images show teen creator Salish Matter enjoying Chipotle
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    Permission granted by Chipotle
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    Chipotle broadens Gen Alpha marketing with Salish Matter collab

    A partnership with the 16-year-old YouTube and TikTok star marks the first time the brand has brought a custom creator order to its Kid’s Meal.

    By Peter Adams • Aug. 19, 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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    Denny’s launches catering

    Catering is the first initiative to go live under turnaround plan Project Grand Slam, which is meant to improve restaurant performance and the guest experience.

    By • Aug. 18, 2026
  • An iamge of a stoneworked building with a white logo that says Olive Garden. A woman wearing a white shirt and red bandana is at the door about to enter the restaurant.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Loyalty lessons learned from Olive Garden’s pasta pass

    Exclusive promotions and loyalty rewards can keep diners engaged. But Olive Garden must execute on experience to win brand loyalty, experts say.

    By Bryan Wassel • Aug. 17, 2026
  • Three flatbreads
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    Courtesy of Smoothie King
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    Smoothie King sales soar after flatbread launch

    Chicken Flatbreads helped increase July same-store sales by 9%, marking the brand’s best month this year to date.

    By • Aug. 14, 2026
  • A close up photograph of a plastic cup with a green-blue liquid under pink liquid. The cup sits between two aluminum cans with Red Bull branding.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s rolls out Red Bull energy drinks

    The addition could help boost traffic, particularly during the afternoon daypart. 

    By • Aug. 11, 2026
  • Three rectangular pizzas with Domino's brand packaging.
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    Courtesy of Domino's Pizza
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    Domino’s adds rectangular personal pizza

    The Detroit-style pizza, dubbed the Domino, will help the brand capture meal occasions ranging from afternoon snacks to midnight meals. 

    By • Aug. 11, 2026
  • Prepared KBBQ Foods
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    Kikkoman Sales USA / Canva

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    Sponsored by Kikkoman Sales USA, Inc.

    Grilling trends: How restaurants are mastering direct heat and bold glazes

    Bold KBBQ flavor meets fast-fire heat. Free Kikkoman® samples coming Sept 2026!

    Aug. 10, 2026
  • Wendy's
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    Thai Phi Le/Restaurant Dive
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    Some Wendy’s franchisees cut breakfast, and it’s hurting traffic

    The brand is trying to improve the daypart, which now represents roughly 5% of sales compared to 8% in Q2 2020, as part of a broader menu review.

    By • Updated Aug. 10, 2026
  • QDOBA Burrito
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    Courtesy of QDOBA
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    Jalapeños served at Qdoba, Chipotle tied to Salmonella outbreak

    Both chains stopped serving potentially contaminated peppers after hundreds of consumers across 27 states fell ill.

    By • Updated Aug. 10, 2026
  • A close-up photograph of coure wraps on a yellow table in front of an orange titled background.
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen says turnaround is working, despite soft sales

    Improvements in value perception, transactions and throughput were derailed by worries about Cyclospora, though the brand doesn’t serve iceberg lettuce.

    By • Aug. 7, 2026
  • A black and purple restaurant exterior.
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    Duane Prokop via Getty Images
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    Taco Bell, Taylor Farms Cyclospora case count hits 6K

    The vast majority of the individuals sickened in the outbreak fell ill before Taco Bell and Taylor Farms removed potentially contaminated lettuce.

    By • Aug. 6, 2026
  • A picture of Burger King signs.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Burger King sales surge, but Popeyes faces uphill battle

    While Burger King’s revival has gained momentum in recent months, Popeyes has continued to struggle despite its turnaround efforts — but RBI has hope for the chicken chain’s sluggish sales.

    By • Aug. 6, 2026
  • A sign on a Chipotle restaurant.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Chipotle pulls some jalapeños over Salmonella concerns

    The brand, which has a long history of food safety scares, said its ingredient tracking system identified a batch of peppers that may have been affected.  

    By • Aug. 5, 2026
  • Six drinks, all colorful, comprising the vanguard of McDonald's post-CosMc's premium drinks lineup.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s CEO blames US traffic drop on execution problems

    The Golden Arches is acting with urgency to correct value issues and operational inefficiencies in the U.S. after a sales miss, executives said.

    By • Aug. 4, 2026
  • BJ's Restaurants' new chicken sandwiches
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    Courtesy of BJ's Restaurants
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    BJ’s posts strongest traffic gains in 4 years

    The chain’s turnaround — aided by value plays, menu innovation and marketing spend — is nearing an inflection point as it prepares to expand.

    By • Aug. 3, 2026