Menu Development: Page 2

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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