Menu Development

  • IHOP pancakes
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    Courtesy of IHOP
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    IHOP promotes pancakes with low-tech aesthetics, experiential play

    In a tie-up with musician Mr. Fantasy, the chain is plastering high-traffic areas with old-school flyers reminiscent of the early internet. 

    By Sara Karlovitch • Feb. 26, 2026
  • A sign marks the location of an Outback Steakhouse restaurant on November 02, 2021 in Skokie, Illinois.
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    Scott Olson / Staff via Getty Images
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    Outback posts first traffic growth in 5 years

    New steaks improved guest satisfaction, and fresh investments in facilities, labor and marketing could help build the brand’s transaction momentum.

    By • Feb. 25, 2026
  • An image of a McDonald's sign
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    JillianCain via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s launches supersized Big Arch Burger in US

    The limited-time offer is part of the chain’s strategy to help drive sales and traffic by boosting food quality.

    By • Feb. 25, 2026
  • An image of various sandwiches, soups and salads from Panera.
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    Courtesy of Panera Bread
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    Panera debuts Mix & Match value menu

    Two years after introducing its Value Duets, the chain now offers 10 items for $4.99 as part of a strategy to improve its value proposition.

    By • Feb. 25, 2026
  • Couche-Tard
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    Retrieved from Couche-Tard.
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    Inside the 18-month reset reviving Couche-Tard’s US food business

    After a hot start in 2020, Circle K’s Fresh Food, Fast program slowed. Executives are now fine-tuning the offering through operational improvements and menu updates to spark new growth.

    By Brett Dworski • Feb. 23, 2026
  • A hand lifts a slice of stuffed crust pizza topped with pepperoni and peppers. The slice trails strings of melted mozzarella.
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    Courtesy of Domino's
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    Domino’s wants to double its market share

    CEO Russel Weiner thinks the chain can capture half of the QSR pizza market at the expense of Pizza Hut and Papa Johns.

    By • Feb. 23, 2026
  • A person holds their arms out to showcase various sandwiches, salads and burgers from Habit Burger
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    Courtesy of Habit Burger & Grill
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    Habit Burger launches core menu update

    The menu additions and upgrades could help the fast casual chain grow same-store sales, which were down 1% in 2025.

    By • Feb. 17, 2026
  • A promotional image for Wendy's 2-for-$3 breakfast bundles.
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Wendy’s pulls back on breakfast hours

    The chain is allowing franchisees to focus more on lunch and late-night hours as same-store sales logs its steepest decline in roughly six years.

    By • Feb. 13, 2026
  • Five fancy drinks at McDonald's against a dark blue background.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s is adding energy drinks, craft sodas to McCafe line

    The beverages, inspired by the chain’s defunct CosMc’s spinoff, were “highly successful” in a 500-store test and will be deployed nationwide this year. 

    By • Feb. 13, 2026
  • 7-Eleven
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    Brett Dworski/Restaurant Dive
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    C-store foodservice innovation is off to a hot start in 2026

    Casey’s, 7-Eleven, Rutter’s and other players have bolted out of the gate this year with new sandwiches, pizzas and more, increasing competition against QSRs. 

    By Brett Dworski • Feb. 11, 2026
  • Bambu drink counter inside Walmart's Batavia, Illinois store.
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    Courtesy of Bambu
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    Walmart links up with Vietnamese beverage restaurant

    The retailer continues to grow its roster of in-store quick-service restaurant offerings with the opening of a drink station inside an Illinois store. 

    By Peyton Bigora • Feb. 10, 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 adopts new growth plan as sales slide

    The chain will increase the cadence of LTOs, boost menu innovation, relaunch its rewards program and accelerate unit growth.

    By • Feb. 4, 2026
  • A Starbucks barista hands a customer a coffee
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    3 takeaways from Starbucks’ Investor Day

    From whitespace for 5,000 more stores to a chatbot that designs customized drinks, Starbucks has big plans now that it has returned to growth.

    By • Jan. 30, 2026
  • Two people working in the restaurant My 2 Cents.
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    Permission granted by Square
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    What’s the restaurant industry outlook for 2026?

    After a bruising year, restaurants face another spell of serious uncertainty. But there are bright spots in beverage innovation and casual dining, and diner spending may improve.

    By • Jan. 30, 2026
  • An aerial view of a building with white "Chili'"s sign alongside a red pepper.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    How Chili’s menu innovation is growing its same-store sales

    Brinker CEO Kevin Hochman said upgraded dishes like Skillet Quesos and nachos are driving higher sales than previous iterations.

    By • Jan. 29, 2026
  • A person in a white shirt hold up a stick of meat while a person at a table takes a portion of meat off the stick. Another person is taking a photograph with a smartphone
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    Courtesy of Fogo de Chao
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    Deep Dive

    Casual chains need to prioritize experience to win in 2026

    Restaurant brands that offer affordability alongside a positive guest experience will thrive this year, and customers will keep coming back, experts say.

    By • Jan. 29, 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 debuts Pan Pizza

    The new menu category took years of research and development to perfect and could help the pizza chain compete against segment leader Domino’s.

    By • Jan. 28, 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 bets Chicken al Pastor will bring consumers back

    The fast casual giant is increasing the frequency of its protein LTOs in a bid to drive trial, relevance and traffic. 

    By • Jan. 27, 2026
  • A person in a white sweater holds a drug injection pen.
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    Getty Images
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    GLP-1 users are still dining out

    Companies like Krispy Kreme, Darden and Fogo de Chao have seen little change in frequency from these guests, and Circana data shows just a 1% dip in orders per trip.

    By • Jan. 26, 2026
  • A person holding an order of Taco Bell chicken nuggets, nacho fries and a drink.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Nuggets are back

    After a big year for Crispy Chicken products, Taco Bell is continuing to leverage menu items, like nuggets, to drive same-store sales growth.

    By • Jan. 22, 2026
  • An image of various cold beverages from Taco Bell.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Deep Dive

    Drink up: Restaurants will spend more on beverage innovation in 2026

    Mocktails, energy drinks and premium caffeine options are set to sweep through restaurant menus this year. 

    By • Jan. 21, 2026
  • A photograph of a burger, fries and drink on a table with a neon sign of a cowboy in the background.
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    Courtesy of Five Guys
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    Five Guys opens Las Vegas restaurant with full bar

    The 10,000-square-foot location offers all-day breakfast and a beverage menu that includes beer, wine, frozen cocktails and specialty alcoholic drinks.

    By • Jan. 16, 2026
  • A photograph of various hamburgers and nuggets from Wendy’s.
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    Courtesy of Wendy’s
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    Wendy’s expands value menu with Biggie Deals

    The menu offers combos at a $4, $6 and $8 price points and builds off of its Biggie Bag by allowing for more customization.

    By • Jan. 14, 2026
  • 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
  • krispy krunchy chicken
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    Retrieved from Krispy Krunchy Chicken.
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    How innovation is fueling the fried chicken wars at c-stores

    There’s huge demand for fried chicken menu items in the U.S. But standing out requires c-stores and QSRs to diversify their menus and make it easier for employees to execute.

    By Danielle McLean • Jan. 13, 2026