Menu Development: Page 3

  • A promotional image for Taco Bell's new vegetarian combo deal.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell expands value menu

    In a bid to boost value and increase digital engagement, Taco Bell is adding six value items and a veggie combo.

    By • Jan. 8, 2024
  • Kits that allow consumers to make Taco Bell items in their own home kitchen.
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    Courtesy of Kraft Heinz
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    Kraft Heinz partners with Taco Bell on kits bringing restaurant chain’s offerings to the home

    The offerings — the first of several Taco Bell at Home innovations planned for this year by the long-time collaborators — will be sold at Walmart.

    By Christopher Doering • Jan. 4, 2024
  • A photo of the new chicken sandwich from GPM Investments.
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    Permission granted by Arko Corp.
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    Arko collaborates with Tyson on discounted chicken sandwich

    As part of the company’s efforts to reach price sensitive customers, the new sandwich costs $2.99 for fas Rewards members and is available at more than 300 locations.

    By Jessica Loder • Dec. 21, 2023
  • An image of Pinstripes
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    Courtesy of Pinstripes
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    Q&A

    Pinstripes could reach 150 units as a public company

    Going public was in the plan for about five years and will raise fresh capital to support the 14-unit brand’s growth, CEO and founder Dale Schwartz said. 

    By • Dec. 21, 2023
  • 7-Eleven
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    Retrieved from 7-Eleven.
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    How c-stores are using food, merch and more to boost holiday traffic

    Whether it’s festive coffees, ugly sweaters or even a seasonally themed pic from Wally’s photo booth, c-stores are taking a variety of approaches to engaging customers.

    By Christine Blank • Dec. 19, 2023
  • Chuck E Cheese pizza, wings and spicy meatballs from its Grown-Up Menu
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    Courtesy of Chuck E. Cheese
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    Chuck E. Cheese extends menu with items for adults

    The Grown-Up Menu includes four pizza flavors, wings and spicy meatballs and is part of the company’s strategy to improve its offerings for parents.

    By • Dec. 18, 2023
  • An image of CosMc's Berry Hibiscus Sour-Ade beverage
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    Permission granted by McDonald's
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    CosMc’s service model, pricing unlikely to hurt Starbucks, analysts say

    The concept’s drinks and snacks are similar to Starbucks and Dutch Bros’ offerings, but CosMc’s comparative discount may not make up for a “lack of human interaction,” per a William Blair report.

    By • Dec. 12, 2023
  • A sign for McDonald's new CosMc restaurant concept is in the foreground, with blue sky in the background
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    Permission granted by McDonald's
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    McDonald’s CosMc’s chain is coming for Starbucks customers

    The beverage-forward concept is targeting the “3 p.m. slump” — a daypart Starbucks is also working to improve — with highly customizable caffeinated beverages and select food items, CEO Chris Kempczinski told investors Wednesday. 

    By • Dec. 7, 2023
  • Red Robin menu items, including shrimp, fries and rigs atop white plates.
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    Permission granted by Red Robin
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    How 6 casual chains revamped their menus in 2023

    IHOP, Denny’s, Red Robin and TGI Fridays emphasized menu updates this year in a bid to boost traffic and sales.

    By • Dec. 6, 2023
  • A photo of Wawa pizza in a box.
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    Jessica Loder/C-Store Dive/Restaurant Dive
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    Column

    Fueling Up: People hate Wawa’s pizza. Here’s what the company can do about it.

    Critics and consumers have harshly judged the retailer’s pies since they debuted this summer. If sales are also poor, it may need to pull pizza from its menus, one expert says.

    By Brett Dworski • Dec. 5, 2023
  • A promotional image of Subway's footlong chocolate chip cookies.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway will bring footlong cookie to permanent menu

    When the sandwich chain debuted the oblong dessert at a Miami “Cookieway” pop-up last year, supply ran out in less than two hours.

    By • Nov. 29, 2023
  • An image of a waitress serving three people at a table.
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    Hispanolistic via Getty Images
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    3 ways restaurants can drive traffic in 2024

    Operators are reaching a price hike ceiling as diners worry about their spending, but deep discounts can hurt margins, making it tricky to offer meaningful value, Deutsche Bank analyst Lauren Silberman said at RFDC.

    By • Nov. 28, 2023
  • A photo of meatloaf from Travel Center's of America's dinner menu.
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    Permission granted by TravelCenters of America
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    Can c-stores become dinner destinations?

    While the industry is better known for beverages and snacks, a growing emphasis on meals can open big opportunities for retailers with the right offers.

    By Jessica Loder • Nov. 28, 2023
  • Four Starbucks cold coffees topped with holiday themed cold foams.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks adds 4 holiday cold foam flavors

    Starbucks’ new holiday cold foam could help drive year-round consumption of cold coffee, even as customization strains store-level labor.

    By • Updated Nov. 29, 2023
  • An image of Popeyes' five wings flavors on an orange background
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    Courtesy of Popeyes
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    Popeyes adds wings lineup to core menu

    The menu expansion follows the chain's successful Ghost Pepper Wings LTO, which contributed to a 5.6% increase in same-store sales during Q3.

    By • Nov. 22, 2023
  • A Pizza Hut pie made with Beyond Meat pepperoni in the U.S.
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    Courtesy of Pizza Hut
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    Beyond Meat makes another push into restaurants with Pizza Hut pepperoni in the UK

    The LTO topping will be available starting in January. The plant-based pioneer has struggled to gain traction with similar partnerships in the U.S. 

    By Christopher Doering • Nov. 21, 2023
  • A photograph of IHOP's Eggs Benedicts
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    Courtesy of IHOP
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    IHOP, Applebee’s lean into menu development to drive sales

    IHOP rolled out its biggest menu update in its history this year, which led to an uptick in sales, and Applebee’s is testing 200 items as part of its own update.

    By • Nov. 16, 2023
  • Unrecognizable black father carrying Thanksgiving turkey while serving it for his family in dining room.
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    skynesher via Getty Images
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    Report: 64% of diners to order holiday items from restaurants

    Thirty-seven percent of consumers say they would rather order their entire holiday meal from a restaurant, according to a HungerRush survey. 

    By • Nov. 14, 2023
  • An image of Strawberry French Toast on a plate.
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    Courtesy of Denny's
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    Denny’s adds 9 items to permanent menu

    The chain also simplified its menu layout with fewer customizations and build-your-own categories in favor of highlighting breakfast items and value. 

    By • Updated Nov. 10, 2023
  • An in-store pizza shop at a grocery store.
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    Permission granted by Giant Food
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    Order up! How grocers are replicating the restaurant experience in retail

    As the gap widens between grocery and restaurant prices, food retailers see an opportunity to turn up the heat on their made-to-order meals to lure cost-conscious consumers.

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • Nov. 9, 2023
  • A tech-driven salad bar in a grocery store.
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    Permission granted by Schnuck Markets
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    Deep Dive

    Foodservice ‘renaissance’: How grocers are spicing up their deli and premade meals

    As supermarkets increasingly replace restaurant meals, they’re looking to offer better prices alongside flavor innovation, deals and new shopping experiences.

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • Nov. 7, 2023
  • Starbucks all-day breakfast items, like sous vide egg bites, drive nearly half the chain's food sales in North America.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks to expand snacks, baked goods as food sales near $6B

    About half of those sales are driven by the company’s all-day breakfast items, including sous vide egg bites, breakfast sandwiches and breakfast wraps.

    By • Nov. 3, 2023
  • Melissa Jernigan, Founder and CEO of Piece of Cake with Scott Deviney, President and CEO of Chicken Salad Chick
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    Courtesy of Chicken Salad Chick
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    Chicken Salad Chick buys Piece of Cake to expand dessert menu

    The acquisition of the Georgia-based cake chain will likely help Chicken Salad Chick compete with the broader menus of fast casual rivals.

    By • Nov. 2, 2023
  • 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 breakfast discounts, late-night traffic buoy sales

    The chain has maintained strong profitability on morning daypart promotions, said CFO Gunther Plosch, and late-night sales have increased by double digits year over year. 

    By • Nov. 2, 2023
  • Twice Daily
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    Permission granted by Tri Star Energy
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    Twice Daily brings made-to-order foodservice to all locations

    After testing the concept at select locations earlier this summer and seeing positive results, the convenience retailer broadened the program.

    By Brett Dworski • Oct. 25, 2023