Menu Development

  • A marketing image for Burger King's reworked Whopper
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Popeyes wing cuts and value miss drag sales, Burger King stays hot

    Popeyes’ focus on the core menu has improved satisfaction, food quality and value scores — but not sales. Burger King’s success sped up its refranchising.

    By • Oct. 29, 2026
  • P.F. Chang's
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    Courtesy of P.F. Chang's
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    Q&A

    P.F. Chang’s CMO is cooking up a plan to recapture chain’s old magic

    The casual Asian dining chain is a year into a turnaround and has moved from 22nd place to third in same-store sales growth among its competitive set.

    By Chris Kelly • Oct. 28, 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 of a rectangular pizza in a box against a red background. The pizza is cut into pieces and a hand is pulling one of the pieces out of the box.
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    Courtesy of Casey's General Stores
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    Casey’s launches pan pizza

    The retailer is adding the offering to all of its stores as it found many markets lacked easy access to the crust type.

    By Jessica Loder • Oct. 26, 2026
  • M&M blondies
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    Permission granted by Mars Food
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    Sponsored by Mars Food Services

    Making dessert work harder: The business case for seasonal LTOs

    Seasonal desserts can do more than add a sweet finish — they can help drive check growth and give guests a reason to return. Discover how to create craveable holiday LTOs.

    By Michelle Rivera • Oct. 26, 2026
  • A sign that indicates food allergy warnings.
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    chameleonseye via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Restaurants are about to inherit the food industry’s hardest labeling problem

    Multistate operators need to create a single plan to satisfy allergen notification rules across state lines, writes Steritech’s Chris Boyles.

    By Chris Boyles • Oct. 23, 2026
  • A green pie.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell, Pepsi renew vows after KFC divorce

    Remaining with the sodamaker signals strategic menu continuity for Taco Bell and the Mountain Dew Baja Blast, while sister-brand KFC pursues an overhaul.

    By • Oct. 22, 2026
  • An image of a digital menu board that says "Extra Value Meals are back" on the other panel there is a photo of an egg sandwich and a $5.
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    Permission granted by McDonald's
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    Analysis

    Why Q3 marked the end of fast food value wars

    A two-year QSR value war produced only losers, analysts say, and brands are now looking to quality, rather than price, as a frequency driver.

    By • Oct. 22, 2026
  • A close-up photograph of four drinks from Sweetgreen.
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen expands craft drink lineup

    Restaurants offering the four new housemade drinks saw the share of beverage transactions jump nearly 25%.

    By • Oct. 21, 2026
  • Domino's Minecraft collaboration
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    Courtesy of Domino's Pizza
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    Domino’s links with Minecraft to push personal pizza via gaming

    The collaboration with the popular video game includes creator content, in-game items, packaging and giveaways in support of the new Domino offering.

    By Chris Kelly • Oct. 21, 2026
  • Wendy's new $7.99 Dave's Single Combo LTO
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Wendy’s bets $7.99 meal deal will boost traffic

    The chain’s combo meal LTO could help restore its value proposition following six quarters of sliding sales.

    By • Oct. 20, 2026
  • An exterior view of a whataburger restaurant including its drive-thru
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    hapabapa via Getty Images
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    How Whataburger’s supply chain chief curbed inflation — and fought fires along the way

    The burger chain’s CSCO has worked to diversify its partner network, as well as tackle the rising cost of beef and diesel fuel.

    By Shefali Kapadia • Oct. 20, 2026
  • A bucket of fried chicken from KFC surrounded by Coca-Cola glasses
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    Permission granted by KFC U.S.
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    KFC ditches Pepsi for Coke in latest turnaround move

    The fried chicken chain — once owned by Pepsi — will shift beverage providers as part of a broader overhaul of its menu and operations.

    By • Oct. 16, 2026
  • Four horchata based beverages Taco Bell will serve at its Live Mas Cafes.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell tests 4 horchata beverages

    Live Más Cafés will pilot the drinks ahead of a December nationwide launch as the chain pushes toward $5 billion in annual drink sales.

    By • Oct. 15, 2026
  • Noodles & Company's new Ramen bowls
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    Courtesy of Noodles & Company
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    Noodles & Company adds ramen to core menu

    The chain’s Chili Garlic Ramen LTO was one of its most successful launches ever, prompting it to build out a new menu platform.

    By • Oct. 14, 2026
  • A car drives to a drive-thru window at a Kentucky Fried Chicken storefront.
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    Courtesy of Yum! Brands
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    Why Yum Brands is deepening supplier relationships

    The restaurant company has built a network of suppliers that are “ready to flex with us” if disruption strikes, Chief Supply Chain Officer Eric Craft said.

    By Shefali Kapadia • Oct. 14, 2026
  • An Outback Steakhouse restaurant on Jan. 31, 2025 in Daly City, California.
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    Getty Images
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    Outback beefs up steak quality

    The steakhouse chain also hired a chief steak officer to serve as its authority on selection, marbling and prep.

    By • Oct. 12, 2026
  • Overhead view of three cheeseburgers in paper trays, surrounded by golden French fries with ketchup and dipping sauce on a gray stone surface.
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    Permission granted by Simplot Global Food
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    Sponsored by Simplot Global Food

    The rise of mini meals: How apps and small plates are taking over the table

    Value once meant bigger portions. Today, consumers want meals that fit their appetite.

    Oct. 12, 2026
  • A photograph of the inside of a car where two people are sitting. In the center there is small cups of chicken and fries.
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    KFC expands into snacking with Go Buckets

    The low-cost menu item includes six varieties and is aimed at helping the chain expand its afternoon daypart.

    By • Oct. 7, 2026
  • A photograph of a digital menu board at McDonald's with various meal options.
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    Julie Littman/Restaurant Dive
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    McDonald’s disputes reports that it uses AI to set prices

    The chain provides franchisees with tools, resources and recommendations for pricing, but operators ultimately make menu price decisions. 

    By • Oct. 5, 2026
  • An image of a gray building with Charleys signage
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    Retrieved from Charleys on October 02, 2026
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    Charleys Cheesesteaks & Wings updates menu, rewards program

    The 850-unit chain added seven items and launched a campaign to persuade consumers to choose hot sandwiches over cold grab-and-go.

    By • Oct. 2, 2026
  • Twp people stand in front of a lit case full of prepared foods, while a third person stands behind the case in an apron. There is a menu board on the wall, too small to read, and a sign showing a red lion licking its lips.
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    Permission granted by Leo's Market and Eatery
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    How 4 c-stores upgraded their foodservice by hiring restaurant professionals

    Chefs from the restaurant world can increase food quality and perception, but there’s a learning curve, say food leaders from Rutter’s, Weigel’s, Leo’s and Sprint Mart.

    By Amanda Baltazar • Oct. 2, 2026
  • 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
  • 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