Menu Development: Page 4

  • An image of a white coffee cup on a table. The coffee cup hasa green logo for Starbucks.
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    Getty Images
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    Starbucks standardizes pricing for flavor customizations

    The changes, which include a flat 80-cent fee for any added sauces or syrups, are part of the chain’s work to improve customer experience. 

    By • June 26, 2025
  • An image of three Krispy Kreme doughnuts and six in a box.
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    Permission granted by McDonald's/Krispy Kreme
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    Krispy Kreme, McDonald’s end partnership

    Effective July 2, the two chains will stop selling doughnuts in McDonald’s restaurants, with Krispy Kreme citing profitability issues.

    By • June 24, 2025
  • 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 table with different chicken items from Taco Bell
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    Permission granted by Taco Bell
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    It’s the summer of chicken for QSRs

    Chains including Culver’s, McDonald’s and Taco Bell hope to attract customers with new poultry lineups this season.

    By • June 24, 2025
  • A grab-and-go section in a store.
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    Sam Silverstein/Restaurant Dive
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    Walmart is leveling up in foodservice. How can grocers compete?

    As the retailer adds hot bars, grab-and-go items and in-store QSRs, supermarkets can tap their workers and deep knowledge of their customer base as valuable differentiators, sources said.

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • June 18, 2025
  • An image of a breakfast sandwich, coffee and hashbrowns on a table
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    Permission granted by Portillo's
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    Portillo’s expands breakfast test

    The chain, which began testing the morning daypart in April, added five more restaurants and a new menu item to the Chicagoland pilot.

    By • June 17, 2025
  • A photograph of four salads on a checkered table.
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    Courtesy of Califorinia Pizza Kitchen
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    California Pizza Kitchen adds 3 salads to permanent menu

    The offerings come months after it partnered with Man Vs Fries to add a virtual menu.

    By • June 10, 2025
  • A photograph of three chicken sandwiches
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    Courtesy of Culver's
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    Culver’s revamps chicken sandwiches

    The chain will update three chicken sandwiches on June 16, just as rivals Popeyes and McDonald’s launch new items in the popular category.

    By • June 10, 2025
  • McDonald's Snack Wrap Files homepage
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    Retrieved from McDonald's on June 03, 2025
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    McDonald’s goes behind the scenes to hype fan-favorite Snack Wrap return

    The marketing campaign will include a new spot, a Snapchat activation and a throwback web portal that features behind-the-scenes content.

    By Chris Kelly • June 5, 2025
  • Three fast food beverages stand in line.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    McDonald’s will wind down CosMc’s, test drinks

     The Golden Arches will start shuttering its beverage innovation spinoff’s units in late June, just 18 months after its first location opened. 

    By • May 27, 2025
  • Chili's Big Smasher cheeseburger accompanied by sides of chips, fries and cola on a wooden dining table
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    Permission granted by Chili's Grill & Bar
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    The restaurant industry’s Q1 2025 winners and losers

    Consumer price sensitivity led to declines at Chipotle, McDonald’s and other QSRs, while Chili’s and Cava were among a handful of companies to see traffic and sales gains.

    By • May 22, 2025
  • Kent Companies
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    Retrieved from Kent Companies.
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    Kent Companies rolling out food-focused c-store format

    Locations feature a made-to-order kitchen, a drive-thru, a beer and ice cave, two-bay car washes and a dog wash.

    By Brett Dworski • May 19, 2025
  • Arko
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    Retrieved from NACS.
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    Arko begins building food-focused stores, will debut new foodservice program

    The convenience retailer is investing between $700,000 and $1.1 million into each new location and intends to finish all seven pilot sites by the end of 2025.

    By Brett Dworski • May 12, 2025
  • Exterior of a Potbelly restaurant
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    Permission granted by Potbelly
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    How Potbelly harnessed transformational growth

    After undertaking a turnaround strategy, the company has grown comparable sales, accelerated franchise development and added popular menu items.

    By • May 12, 2025
  • An image of a gray building with a white logo that says "Shake Shack"
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Shake Shack to open new support center, flagship restaurant in Atlanta

    The new support center and flagship location, equipped with a full bar, represent an evolution for the brand and could signal an increased reliance on menu innovation and LTOs as growth drivers.

    By • May 9, 2025
  • 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 restaurants can tap into the beverage craze

    Young, health-conscious consumers are seeking out innovative non-alcoholic drinks, and well-positioned restaurants can capture that new demand.

    By Danielle McLean • May 9, 2025
  • A rendering of a new Huddle House prototype.
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    Courtesy of Huddle House
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    Huddle House pursues drive-thrus, non-traditional growth in rebrand

    As casual dining struggles, brands are leaning into a wide array of real estate and menu changes to capture fast casual and QSR diners.

    By • May 8, 2025
  • An image of a Noodles & Company restaurant with outdoor seating
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    Courtesy of Noodles & Company
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    How Noodles & Company beat Chipotle’s Q1 comparable sales

    The chain posted a 4.4% increase in comp sales in Q1 2025 even though larger chains like Chipotle and Wingstop posted anemic comps.

    By • May 8, 2025
  • An image of three Krispy Kreme doughnuts and six in a box.
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    Permission granted by McDonald's/Krispy Kreme
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    Krispy Kreme pauses McDonald’s rollout as sales drop

    The doughnut chain said it has stopped expanding its McDonald’s presence while it works to assess the profitability of the business model.

    By • May 8, 2025
  • An image of the Shake Shack logo on a window.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Shake Shack rolls out digital menu boards, combos to speed up drive-thru

    The drive-thru efforts build on five consecutive quarters of improvements to speed of service and order accuracy.

    By Bryan Wassel • May 5, 2025
  • Three fast food beverages stand in line.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    McDonald’s to test expanded beverage menu this year

    Adding more items to its menu, including energy drinks and coffee, will help the chain compete with sector rivals and boost profitability.

    By • May 1, 2025
  • A photograph of a red and yellow sign with a giant yellow "M" above a red box that says "McDonald's Billions Served."
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s US traffic slides due to economic uncertainty

    Low- and middle-income guests pulled back spending in Q1, but the chain expects improved performance from promotions and the launch of chicken strips.

    By • May 1, 2025
  • A beige building with a green sign and white lettering that says "Panera Bread."
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Panera is shuttering its dough facilities to speed up innovation

    The closures and transition to par-baked bread are part of a brand turnaround effort under its new CEO. 

    By • May 1, 2025
  • An image of a pink sign that says "Saucy"
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    Permission granted by Saucy by KFC
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    Taco Bell sales surge, KFC will expand Saucy concept

    As Taco Bell succeeds in the U.S., KFC’s spinoff could replicate the Cantina strategy that Taco Bell has used to power its menu innovation.

    By • April 30, 2025
  • McDonald's new McCrispy chicken strips.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s chicken strips mark first permanent menu addition in 4 years

    The chain needs a menu win — and a leg up on fast-growing chicken competitors — after last year’s value and LTO successes were offset by an E. Coli outbreak.

    By • April 25, 2025
  • Omar Epps as the Sauce Boss in a Zaxbys campaign
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    Courtesy of Zaxbys
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    Q&A

    Zaxbys’ CMO on breaking through the chicken category with ‘sauce’

    The chain’s first work from Goodby Silverstein & Partners introduces a brand character that speaks to both signature sauces and cool charisma.

    By Chris Kelly • April 23, 2025