Menu Development

  • Wendy's
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    Thai Phi Le/Restaurant Dive
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    Wendy’s will expand chicken, beverages and value in 2025

    The burger chain will also enhance its loyalty platform with limited-time offers only available through the app.

    By • Feb. 13, 2025
  • A man wearing a cowboy hat rides a giant margarita shaker.
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    Courtesy of Brinker International
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    Chili’s rides with NASCAR, Lifetime to push margaritas with music, TV

    Two very different campaigns look to broaden the company’s consumer base in an effort to continue its wave of success.

    By Sara Karlovitch • Feb. 13, 2025
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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
  • An image of a light brown building with a small tree out front that lost its leaves. The signage says California Pizza Kitchen.
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    Permission granted by California Pizza Kitchen
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    From vending machines to airports: How CPK is reaching more diners

    California Pizza Kitchen is also investing in a virtual brand partnership and expansion of consumer packaged goods to reach more diners.

    By • Feb. 12, 2025
  • 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 will bring back snackwraps, chicken strips to boost sales

    The Golden Arches will emphasize menu innovation in the chicken category this year to recover traffic momentum that was stalled by its E. coli outbreak. 

    By • Feb. 10, 2025
  • 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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    NRA: 95% of restaurant operators say diners are more value-conscious

    Forty-seven percent of operators are planning to offer discounts or value promotions this year, per National Restaurant Association research.

    By • Feb. 10, 2025
  • Chipotle
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    Chipotle builds 2025 around ‘total guest experience,’ CEO says

    The company will continue to roll out kitchen equipment and mobile order-focused Chipotlanes to keep order throughput high.

    By Bryan Wassel • Feb. 6, 2025
  • A promotional image for Chipotle's smoked brisket menu item. Text on the image reads, "Limited time only Smoked Brisket Chipotle"The image shows a burrito bowl with rice, beans, meat and peppers on the left. On the right is sliced beef with a cup of dipping sauce and sliced peppers.
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    Permission granted by Chipotle
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    Chipotle’s LTOs drove 7% same-store sales bump in 2024

    Chicken Al Pastor and Smoked Brisket boosted traffic at the chain, which plans to roll out Chipotle Honey Chicken — its best-performing test LTO — this year.

    By • Feb. 5, 2025
  • A mocktail, made with cranberry juice, red grapefruit juice and sweetened with some simple syrup with a salted glass
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    Clarkandcompany via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    How nonalcoholic beverages are driving the next wave of profits

    Expanded zero-proof menus are attractive to Gen Z, who drink 20% less than millennials, and yield better margins than traditional cocktail offerings, writes Sidework CEO Rishabh Kewalramani.

    By Rishabh Kewalramani • Feb. 5, 2025
  • A photograph of a sign with black letters that says "Waffle House." Each letter is in a box with a yellow background.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Waffle House adds 50-cent surcharge due to egg shortage

    Egg prices are expected to rise 20% this year due to the impact of bird flu, and operators and chains are finding ways to make up the cost.

    By • Feb. 4, 2025
  • Overly busy restaurant
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    JazzIRT via Getty Images
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    What’s the restaurant outlook for 2025?

    Price-sensitive diners and rising food and labor costs are pushing chains to refine their value propositions, setting the stage for cutthroat competition.

    By • Jan. 31, 2025
  • Sabrina Carpenter appears in a Dunkin ad
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    Courtesy of Dunkin'
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    Q&A

    Dunkin’ CMO on building a ‘cinematic universe’ to capture attention

    Jill McVicar Nelson explains what the brand has learned from its Super Bowl ads and how it’s facing uneasiness around TikTok’s future.

    By Chris Kelly • Jan. 30, 2025
  • A nighttime photo of Chili's building with green and red neon signage
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    Courtesy of Brinker International
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    How Chili’s boosted comparable sales by 31%

    Value-oriented ads and marketing for its Triple Dipper menu boosted the chain’s traffic by nearly 20%, driving a record-breaking quarterly performance.

    By • Jan. 30, 2025
  • Chipotle opens its first Chipotlane Digital Kitchen in Ohio in December 2021.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    2025 could be fast casual’s year, again

    Long-term trends in consumer preference have put fast casual chains in a position to leverage price sensitivity, digital touchpoints and an appetite for human connection.

    By • Jan. 27, 2025
  • An image of Tijuana Flats
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    Permission granted by Tijuana Flats
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    Tijuana Flats exits bankruptcy with menu innovation plans

    After Chapter 11 helped the chain reduce its debt and improve efficiency, it will add street tacos and refresh its stores to compete with fast casual rivals.

    By • Jan. 24, 2025
  • A table with a teapot and tea during high tea service.
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    Hanna Lassen via Getty Images
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    Top 3 food and beverage trends coming to hotels in 2025

    Restaurant experiences turn multisensory, social media influences menus and generations connect over “newstalgic” plates in the year ahead, per Marriott’s VP of Culinary.

    By Jenna Walters • Jan. 23, 2025
  • Exterior of a grocery store.
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    Courtesy of Hy-Vee and VusionGroup
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    Hy-Vee will transition all in-store Wahlburgers to Market Grille

    This transition includes introducing new menus as well as shuttering its partnership with Wahlburgers.

    By Peyton Bigora • Jan. 22, 2025
  • McDonald's, Pokemon Go hero imagery
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s amplifies mobile app with Pokémon Happy Meal

    The burger chain is again wedding pop culture and nostalgia with a Happy Meal box inclusive of a Pokémon booster pack, poster and sticker sheet.

    By Jessica Deyo • Jan. 22, 2025
  • A Smoothie King with a drive-thru.
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    Courtesy of Smoothie King
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    Smoothie King targets 100 openings in 2025

    The chain, which is also testing food items this year, plans to enter Phoenix for the first time as part of its Southwest expansion plan.

    By • Jan. 22, 2025
  • An image of serveral food items from Taco Bell's Craving's Value Menu
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Why quality may trump price in 2025’s restaurant value battle

    The mixed success of recently launched value menus highlights the importance of focusing on more than just affordability, experts said.

    By • Jan. 17, 2025
  • Panera Bread storefront
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    Permission granted by Panera Bread
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    Panera hires marketing, culinary executives

    Robin Seward joins the chain as senior vice president, brand and innovation, while Scott Uehlein was hired as vice president of culinary.

    By • Jan. 14, 2025
  • A photo of the upgraded coffee service in a 7-Eleven in Laurel, MD.
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    Jessica Loder/C-Store Dive/Restaurant Dive
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    Column

    3 Big Numbers: C-stores zero in on coffee consumers

    Wawa, Casey’s and 7-Eleven all are either updating their coffee programs or employing promotions to draw in more caffeine aficionados.

    By Jessica Loder • Jan. 14, 2025
  • A exterior shot of the blue and yellow building with CosMc's signage
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    Permission granted by CosMc's
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    McDonald’s to shutter 3 CosMc’s, open 2 more

    The chain said its beverage-centric concept works better in smaller locations and will close larger restaurants that were converted from McDonald’s units.

    By • Jan. 10, 2025
  • An image of burritos and other items from virtual brand Man vs Fries
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    Permission granted by Virtual Dining Concepts
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    CPK adds virtual brand to menu

    The pizza chain plans to fulfill digital orders for Man Vs Fries at 118 locations, with a secret menu for dine-in guests.

    By • Jan. 9, 2025
  • Taco Bell's $5, $7 and $9 luxe boxes. Each combo meal contains several items, a side and a drink.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell adds $5 and $9 meal combos

    A year after launching its $7 Luxe Cravings Boxes, Taco Bell is building out its value combo offerings with a cheaper choice and a more premium option.

    By • Jan. 7, 2025
  • John Cena in a McDonald's ad
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s value menu launch gets inspirational boost from John Cena

    The actor-wrestler appears in new ads that turn into a oddball spiel about the transformational power of the McValue platform. 

    By Peter Adams • Jan. 7, 2025