Menu Development

  • An image of two red boxes. The one on the right has wrapped burgers while the box on the left has various toppings like lettuce, pickes and tommatoes.
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    Permission granted by Five Guys
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    Five Guys expands catering through ezCater

    Employers can order packages from small group bundles to large build-your-own bars from the burger chain across 800 locations nationwide.

    By • Jan. 13, 2026
  • An image of various burritos and other items from Taco Bell.
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    Permission granted by Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell expands new value menu nationwide

    The brand’s Luxe lineup, which features 10 items priced at $3 or less, contains a mix of classics and new items aimed at budget-conscious consumers. 

    By Christopher Doering • Jan. 13, 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 burger, a soda and a basket of chips.
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    Courtesy of Chili's
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    Restaurant winners and losers in 2025

    Chili’s, coffee brands and Taco Bell did well, while fast casual chains struggled and Sweetgreen saw its worst year as a public firm.

    By • Jan. 12, 2026
  • An image of back-of-house workers preparing meals in a kitchen. Their faces are blurred
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    Hispanolistic via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    6 restaurant trends to watch in 2026

    Restaurants may face cost savings challenges and sales declines amid  continued supply chain disruptions, but can leverage consumer demand for cheaper menu items and experiential meals to stand out.

    By , , • Jan. 8, 2026
  • Three Dunkin' drinks with a brown drink in the foreground and a green drink and orange drink in the background.
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    Courtesy of Dunkin'
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    Dunkin’ adds protein milk to menu

    The protein-heavy version of dairy milk allows the brand to appeal to consumer health preferences without adding many SKUs.

    By • Jan. 8, 2026
  • A frosted soda and two floats from Chick-fil-A in old-school soda fountain glasses.
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    Courtesy of Chick-fil-A
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    Chick-fil-A adds floats, frosted sodas to permanent menu

    Mixing the brand’s soft serve with sodas gives Chick-fil-A an easy way to add new beverage platforms without increased complexity or equipment costs.

    By • Jan. 5, 2026
  • An image of a fork piercing a steak that sits on a white plate.
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    RapidEye via Getty Images
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    How restaurants are navigating tariff-related costs this holiday season

    Operators are getting creative when crafting menus, setting prices, scheduling staff, and finding new revenue amid surging expenses exacerbated by tariffs.

    By Danielle McLean • Dec. 22, 2025
  • A Sweetgreen salad and an order of air fried potatoes.
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    4 restaurant menu strategy fails in 2025

    From french fries that clogged up core operations to unprofitable doughnuts, national chains tried and abandoned a wide range of menu tactics to woo diners in 2025.

    By • Dec. 19, 2025
  • A cup of chicken from Chipotle
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle adds protein snack cups

    The fast casual giant framed the new items, which offer four-ounce portions of meat for about $4, as both a health and value play.

    By • Dec. 18, 2025
  • A photo of the exterior of a store in Japan. A sign above the storesays 7-Eleven.
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    Permission granted by Frank Beard
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    Column

    The Road Ahead: What if c-stores don’t need to become QSRs?

    The success of Japan’s convenience stores demonstrates the opportunity in selling food designed for everyday living, not just indulgent moments.

    By Frank Beard • Dec. 15, 2025
  • A lighted McDonald's sign at dusk reading 'Extra Value Meals are back.'
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s updates franchising standards over value

    The chain will begin assessing pricing decisions by its operators in January to ensure that the system continues to provide the ideal customer experience. 

    By • Dec. 9, 2025
  • An image of a sausage slider and pretzel bites from White Castle
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    Permission granted by White Castle
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    White Castle tests sausage sliders, pretzel bites

    Guests in three markets will help the chain determine if it will add the Cheddar Smoked Sausage Slider and Pretzel Nibblers to its nationwide menu.

    By • Dec. 9, 2025
  • Potbelly Sandwich Shop in National Harbor, Maryland, taken by Julie Littman of Restaurant Dive
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    Julie Littman/Restaurant Dive
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    The most impactful c-store foodservice moves of 2025

    While many retailers upped their food capabilities this year, a few investments stood out for their boldness and industry-wide influence.

    By Brett Dworski • Dec. 9, 2025
  • An image of various menu items with honey barbecue pork from McAlister's Deli.
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    Permission granted by McAlister's Deli/GoTo Foods
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    Inside McAlister’s biggest menu update in years

    The chain added several pork-based core menu items during late summer and is now testing salad and grain bowls, plus starters like dips.

    By • Dec. 8, 2025
  • A photograph of various cold brew coffee beverages at Sonic.
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    Permission granted by Sonic
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    Sonic tests cold coffee lineup

    The cold caffeine arms race is pushing Sonic to add everything from plain iced coffee to a soft-serve coffee milkshake to its menu.

    By • Dec. 5, 2025
  • A bright pink restaurant interior with big digital display signs.
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    KFC’s Saucy to open 3 more units

    The expansion signals Yum Brands sees the drinks- and tenders-focused concept as an important part of its KFC turnaround.

    By • Dec. 3, 2025
  • Exterior of a grocery store.
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    Getty Images
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    Wegmans adds Hot Bowls to foodservice lineup

    The grocer’s new program allows people to order signature bowls or create their own with fresh proteins and other ingredients.

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • Dec. 1, 2025
  • Exterior of a supermarket with a sign that says "Coborn's Market & Table."
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    Courtesy of Roers Companies
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    New Coborn’s store to focus on in-store dining

    The grocer is working with a pair of restaurateurs to develop a restaurant and a food court at a location set to open next year in suburban Minneapolis.

    By Sam Silverstein • Nov. 26, 2025
  • A photo of the interior of Sadie's diner.
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    Permission granted by Paragon Solutions
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    4 c-stores turning up the heat on breakfast

    From Kwik Trip’s in-house bakeries to Wawa’s LTOs, convenience stores nationwide are capitalizing on the buoyant breakfast market.

    By Michael Brady • Nov. 25, 2025
  • McDonald's Grinch meal
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s lets the Grinch take over with holiday campaign

    Along with a meal inspired by the Dr. Seuss icon, the seasonal effort features a TV spot, creator-led gaming program and Times Square ads. 

    By Chris Kelly • Nov. 21, 2025
  • A photo of crinkle fries in a box that says Sonic and two burgers next to each other in front of a blue backdrop.
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    Permission granted by Sonic Drive-In
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    NRA: Value, comfort will define 2026 menu trends

    Operators looking to take advantage of buzzy food items, like protein add-ons or smash burgers, will have to balance operational complexity with demand.

    By • Nov. 21, 2025
  • A photo of a breakfast combo meal including a cup, three breakfast sandwiches and a container of hash browns on a wrapping paper that says "Rutter's" on a white background.
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    Permission granted by Rutter's
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    How 3 retailers are upgrading meal bundles

    Love’s, EG America and Rutter’s have all developed complex strategies for tying their in-house food with other products. Here are a few of their tips.

    By Christine Blank • Nov. 20, 2025
  • Plates of breakfast food.
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    Courtesy of IHOP
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    Inside Dine’s push for value, dual-branded development

    Applebee’s and IHOP are making sales and traffic gains after the company emphasized both brands’ low-priced menu items this year.

    By • Nov. 13, 2025
  • Josh Allen wears a pizza sweater at a holiday party behind a table filled with pizza and Pepsi while holding a slice of pizza.
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    Courtesy of Pizza Hut
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    Pizza Hut dishes out holiday value in multichannel campaign

    The pizza chain supports its value-oriented holiday messaging with comedic ads, in-person events and digital games. 

    By Sara Karlovitch • Nov. 13, 2025
  • An image of various menu items from Dave & Buster's
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    Courtesy of Dave & Buster's
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    Dave & Buster’s rolls out revamped menu

    The menu, which includes 100 food and beverage items, yielded strong check growth during its pilot phase.

    By • Nov. 12, 2025