Menu Development

  • People walking in front of a Sweetgreen on Aug.8, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Sweetgreen sales wilt in another punishing quarter

    The brand launched wraps to supplement its core bowl and salad business, following its worst quarterly same-store sales performance.

    By • May 8, 2026
  • A photograh of a beige stone building with four windows out front. It has a yello face and while McDonald's logo.
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    Neal McNeil via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s value, menu innovation drive positive Q1 comparable sales

    Traffic could build in the U.S. with the second-quarter launch of an Under $3 Menu and beverage expansion.

    By • May 7, 2026
  • A picture of a hand giving a iced coffee drink to another person.
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    Permission granted by Dutch Bros
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    How Dutch Bros doubled its brand awareness in 18 months

    Mobile ordering, loyalty upgrades, a new breakfast menu and increased density in key markets accelerated sales growth for the brand.

    By • May 7, 2026
  • An image of two pan pizzas in front of a green background. On the right is a green pizza box.
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    Permission granted by Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns suffers major 6.4% comp sales drop

    The chain hopes new menu items, operational improvements and local advertising cooperatives can fend off Domino’s value offensive.

    By • May 7, 2026
  • A marketing image for Burger King's reworked Whopper
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King’s sales jumped, Popeyes slumped in Q1

    Years of investment in the burger brand’s operations and menu have won consumers back, but a loss of focus on service and the core menu hurt the chicken chain.

    By • May 6, 2026
  • A daytime photogrpah of a white building that has an orange sign that says Popeyes Louisina Kitchen
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    Walter Cicchetti via Getty Images
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    Popeyes wraps join core menu

    This move strengthens the chain’s snacking offerings and could help it capture more occasions as it struggles to improve sluggish sales.

    By • May 5, 2026
  • A photograph of a window with two posters that say McCafe.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s updates McCafé branding ahead of beverage expansion

    The chain updated the font style and coloring on its McCafé cups to better showcase its forthcoming crafted sodas, refreshers and energy drinks.

    By • May 4, 2026
  • Several Chipotle items with the brand's version of chicken al pastor.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle traffic turns positive after menu innovation

    The chain saw transactions and sales growth during Q1 with customers attracted by Chicken Al Pastor, a Cilantro Lime sauce and high-protein items.

    By • April 30, 2026
  • A spread of KFC items including sandwiches, snackers, nuggets, fries and drinks.
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    Yum Brands wants AI and beverages to supercharge growth

    The company tested AI-arranged digital menu boards at Taco Bell and created a KFC Global Innovation Pantry to transfer successful LTOs between markets.

    By • Updated April 29, 2026
  • A photograph of 15 various sandwiches on a table with a Fresh Value Menu highlighted in the background from Subway
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway enters value wars with menu priced under $5

    The chain’s Fresh Value Menu offers 15 items and joins McDonald’s and Taco Bell in targeting specific pricing to drive traffic and improve affordability.

    By • April 28, 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 adds beverage specialists to make refreshers, dirty sodas

    High-performing crew members will be trained for the beverage station, with all crew members eventually rotating into the role.

    By • April 28, 2026
  • Two women sitting together eating french fries
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    Andrea D’Agosto, represented by Artist Representation LLC

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    Sponsored by Lamb Weston

    In a rapidly changing market, innovation is the strategy that drives profit

    Operators who innovate see 7.5% higher sales growth. Here’s what’s driving the shift.

    April 27, 2026
  • A rendering of a building prototype that is red and beige with Smoothie King sigange
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    Permission granted by Smoothie King
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    Smoothie King to add flatbreads, high-protein food items

    The rollout is part of a brand evolution plan that includes store redesigns and national advertising to support the chain’s aggressive growth strategy. 

    By • April 21, 2026
  • A photograph of salmon held in tongs over a bowl of various vegetables, rice and greens.
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    Courtesy of Cava
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    Cava adds glazed salmon to menu

    The first seafood offering at the fast casual chain could be one of several new proteins in test, including roasted garlic shrimp, coming to the menu.

    By • Updated April 15, 2026
  • Six versions of Chili's Big Crispy Chicken Sandwich
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    Courtesy of Chili's
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    Chili’s serves up new Big Crispy chicken sandwich platform

    The chain is balancing the 3 for Me value offering with more premium versions of its Big Crispy sandwich to preserve its margins and sales mix.

    By • April 15, 2026
  • Five fancy drinks at McDonald's against a dark blue background.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonalds to launch refreshers and crafted sodas in May

    The chain will expand its beverage menu nationwide after a highly successful test period at 500 restaurants last year.

    By • April 14, 2026
  • A hand holds a bread roll from Panera with a salad inside
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    Permission granted by Panera Bread
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    How Panera developed its Salad Stuffers

    Creating its Italian Stuffed Roll took 20 iterations to ensure that it had the right crunch, softness and could properly hold a salad.

    By • April 10, 2026
  • A hand holds a Burger King slider in front of boxes of similar miniature burgers.
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King tests sliders in Oregon and Ohio

    After updating the Whopper, the brand is innovating in a new burger category, with a national rollout possible depending on test market performance.

    By • Updated April 9, 2026
  • Five premium soft drinks developed by Pepsi for deployment at Saucy by KFC.
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    Courtesy of Pepsi
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    KFC’s Saucy adds premium Pepsi Drips products

    The chicken chain’s tender-focused spinoff is getting four new beverages that combine soda with premium ingredients like blue raspberry boba.

    By • April 8, 2026
  • An image of a hand holding up a bread roll stuffed with a salad
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    Permission granted by Panera Bread
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    Panera turns salads into handhelds

    The fast casual chain said the Salad Stuffer platform, which can transform any salad into a sandwich, performed well during testing.

    By • April 8, 2026
  • Three Starbucks mango strawberry refreshers on a table.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks launches highly-caffeinated refreshers

    With an extra 75 milligrams of caffeine compared to the regular versions of its refreshers, Starbucks’ new drinks widen the brand’s range of beverages.

    By • April 7, 2026
  • A photo of a person walking in front of a store holding a chicken sandwich.
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    Courtesy of 7-Eleven
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    Frozen drinks and fresh flavors emerge as c-store retailers prep for spring

    Pilot also added two new food programs, Stinker rolled out pizza rolls and Love’s debuted pesto-forward items as part of a rotating menu.

    By Jessica Loder • April 6, 2026
  • Foods with flavor bubbles toppings
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    Permission granted by The Culinary Institute of America
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    Sponsored by KIKKOMAN SALES USA, INC.

    The science of spherification: 3 key takeaways from the ‘Year of the Sphere’

    Discover how spherification is evolving into an essential tool for the modern kitchen.

    April 6, 2026
  • A collage of Coke pairings at QSR chains
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    Courtesy of Coca-Cola
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    Coca-Cola reasserts fast food dominance over Pepsi in new campaign

    For the first time, the soda giant is bringing together more than a dozen QSRs to demonstrate how diverse customers are united by their drink orders.

    By Chris Kelly • April 3, 2026
  • An image of a McDonald's with a playplace
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    M. Suhail via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s sets date for Under $3 Menu debut

    The value menu, which launches April 21, will include at least 10 items and builds on the chain’s strategy of boosting traffic with low-priced items.

    By • April 2, 2026