Menu Development: Page 5

  • A picture of a hand lifting a Chicken Al Pastor Street Chalupa with another in the background.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell to test chicken al pastor

    The Al Pastor Street Chalupa is the first flavor variant of Taco Bell’s Cantina Chicken Menu. The chain will test more al pastor items in the future. 

    By • Oct. 9, 2024
  • An image of three noodle dishes from Noodles & Company
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    Permission granted by Noodles & Company
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    Noodles & Company brings new flavors to menu with 3 dishes

    The fast casual chain’s transformation will touch two-thirds of the menu and will fill in flavor gaps with items like Chipotle Chicken Cavatappi. 

    By • Oct. 9, 2024
  • A photograph of chefs in a kitchen. Explore the Trendline➔
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    sam edwards via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Menu development

    Restaurants big and small are experimenting with their menus to align with the preferences of on-the-go diners and mitigate the impact of rising food costs, supply chain disruption and shrinking consumer discretionary funds. 

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • Am image of a sign on a window that says "Meal Deal" and shows a chicken sandwich and burger with nuggest, fries and a Coca-Cola.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Did McDonald’s $5 Value Meal bring customers back? Here’s what the data shows.

    Traffic rose in the days following the promotion launch, but customers still view pricing negatively at McDonald’s.

    By • Oct. 8, 2024
  • EG Group
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    Retrieved from Cumberland Farms website.
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    EG America reveals 3 new foodservice concepts

    A Cumberland Farms store in Massachusetts is now home to the retailer’s first Alanza Pizza, Burger Baby and Wing Trip locations.

    By Jessica Loder • Oct. 8, 2024
  • Del Taco items against a white background.
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    Courtesy of Del Taco
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    Del Taco rolls out meal combos starting at $4.49

    The Mexican QSR chain’s new combo meals could help improve consumer value perceptions as 2024’s discount wars continue.

    By • Oct. 4, 2024
  • An image of a chicken big mac sold by a McDonald's duplicate set up by the chain to promote the sandwich
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s takes Chicken Big Mac national

    The sandwich, which is available starting Oct. 10 while supplies last, could help the chain recover traffic and sales. It swaps the Big Mac’s beef patties for tempura-coated chicken.

    By • Oct. 3, 2024
  • A photo of food items in a warming case in either wrappers or boxes. The boxes read "Hatch chicken."
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    Permission granted by Rebel
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    Rebel introduces Hatch Chicken QSR

    The proprietary eatery features a variety of chicken and sides and is expected to expand to 20 additional stores next year.

    By Jessica Loder • Oct. 2, 2024
  • An image of people sitting at tables eating barbecue. The walls say "Dickey's."
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    Courtesy of Dickey's Barbecue Pit
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    Dickey’s to cease expanding non-barbecue brands

    Virtual brands grew over the past four years, but never had the same success of Dickey’s Barbecue, said Roland Dickey Jr., CEO of Dickey’s Capital Group.

    By • Oct. 1, 2024
  • Shake Shack food with Worth It tagline
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    Retrieved from Shake Shack on October 01, 2024
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    Shake Shack touts premium ingredients in multichannel ‘Worth It’ ads

    Commercials that leverage slow-motion footage and a voice-over about how the chain lives up to the hype arrive as competitors focus on affordability. 

    By Jessica Deyo • Oct. 1, 2024
  • Couche-Tard
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    Retrieved from Couche-Tard.
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    The c-store value deals keep on rolling

    Circle K and EG America are the latest players to launch $5 meals amid what's become a booming trend this year to compete with QSRs.

    By Brett Dworski • Sept. 30, 2024
  • Several items from Sonic Drive-In arranged to showcase the brand's changes to its Fun99 value menu
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    Courtesy of Sonic
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    Sonic Drive-In switches up its $1.99 value menu

    The QSR chain, which added its permanent value menu in July, added Cream Slushes and Grilled Cheese Burgers as competition around affordability grows.

    By • Sept. 30, 2024
  • An image of a man with white hair wearing a suit
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    Courtesy of IHOP
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    IHOP president Jay Johns to retire

    Lawrence Kim, chief innovation officer at Yum, has been appointed president designee, effective Oct. 21, and will succeed Johns on Jan. 6.

    By • Sept. 26, 2024
  • Firehouse Subs hot sauce bar
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    Courtesy of Firehouse Subs
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    Firehouse Subs brings back fan-favorite Hot Sauce Bar with new campaign

    The RBI-owned sandwich chain debuted its first major effort since adopting a multi-agency roster model to handle its marketing earlier this year.

    By Aaron Baar • Sept. 26, 2024
  • Person in suit holds Qdoba queso
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    Courtesy of Qdoba
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    Qdoba looks to own National Queso Day on its way to national expansion

    New menu item Queso Apocalypto reflects the popularity of spicy foods and arrives as the chain ramps up marketing to Gen Z and adds locations.

    By Aaron Baar • Sept. 24, 2024
  • Castor River Habitat & Farm packaged rice
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    Permission granted by Castor River Habitat & Farm
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    Sponsored by Our Farms

    Just Salad sources regenerative rice

    It started with a simple vision: food that tastes great and doesn’t cost the planet. For Just Salad, that vision guides everything from pioneering carbon-labeled menus to their famous reusable bowls

    Sept. 23, 2024
  • People enter a McDonald's restaurant that has posters on the windows advertising meal deals.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Why consumers, not restaurants, are dictating value

    Guests with tighter budgets are seeking out more affordable options, and restaurants — desperate for their dollars — are responding with a battle for the best value offer. 

    By • Sept. 18, 2024
  • MOD Pizza
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    Permission granted by MOD Pizza
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    Mod Pizza changes its menu pricing strategy

    The brand abandoned its “one price fits all” approach, regardless of toppings. Cheese and one-topping pizzas now cost less than multi-topping pies.

    By • Sept. 18, 2024
  • A pair of hands holding a burger over a table set with other burgers.
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    Courtesy of Smashburger
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    Smashburger remakes its menu and its brand

    The chain launched the menu changes, including eight new dishes, after successful regional market testing.

    By • Sept. 17, 2024
  • Tacos and a burrito made by IHOP on plates against a red table cloth.
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    Courtesy of IHOP
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    IHOP’s new menu innovates beyond breakfast

    With sales soft in recent quarters, the pancake chain is looking to boost visits outside its brunch and breakfast core.

    By • Sept. 17, 2024
  • An combined image with tacos, burgers and other fast food items offered as part of value offeirngs.
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    Courtesy of Carl's Jr. and Taco John's
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    QSRs made 2024 the summer of value

    Nearly a dozen major QSRs launched limited-time and permanent value offerings to woo guests.

    By • Sept. 3, 2024
  • A photo of a red and yellow fuel canopy. A logo on the canopy says "Rutter's."
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    Jessica Loder/Restaurant Dive
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    Q&A

    How Rutter’s keeps innovating its menu

    Philip Santini, senior director of advertising and food service, breaks down how the c-store retailer keeps offerings exciting and competes with restaurants.

    By Jessica Loder • Aug. 29, 2024
  • An image of Subway's footlong cookies, pretzels and churros
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Q&A

    How Subway developed its latest snackable menu items

    The chain’s latest menu innovations, from Subway Sidekicks to spicy sandwiches, appeal to guest demands for bolder flavors, Chef Paul Fabre said.

    By • Aug. 28, 2024
  • An exterior shot of a Red Robin restaurant, which is lit from inside, at night
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    The image by Cbraccialini is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Red Robin reports highest guest satisfaction in nearly a decade

    Improvements to its labor model, increased focus on food quality and decreased wait times have all boosted the guest experience, the chain said.

    By • Aug. 23, 2024
  • The exterior of a Cava in Chicago
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    Permission granted by Cava
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    Cava’s traffic surges in Q2

    Customers are switching to the fast casual chain from across the restaurant industry thanks to its moderate approach to menu pricing.

    By • Aug. 22, 2024
  • Taco Bell breakfast burritos
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    Permission granted by Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell will let franchisees stop breakfast

    Ditching the morning meal gives franchisees the flexibility to focus on other dayparts, the brand said.

    By • Aug. 22, 2024