Menu Development

  • A Sweetgreen salad and an order of air fried potatoes.
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Unprofitable Sweetgreen cuts workers and fries

    With same-store sales down by 7.6% and losses mounting, the salad chain is looking to trim operational complexity and corporate expenses.

    By • Aug. 8, 2025
  • A view of a Wendy's restaurant on May 12, 2021 in Pinole, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Wendy’s adopts McDonald’s chicken tender playbook, boosts beverages

    After an unfocused promotional calendar failed to boost sales, CEO Ken Cook said cold brew with cold foam and sparkling energy drinks will play a key role for the brand.

    By • Aug. 8, 2025
  • 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
  • An image of a Jack in the Box restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box posts worst sales quarter in years

    The burger brand shed traffic and closed stores. Del Taco did too. Now, executives are banking on real estate sales and reimages at 1,000 stores to strengthen the company.

    By • Aug. 7, 2025
  • A photograph of an Applebee's sign.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    How Applebee’s turned traffic positive

    New entrees and value plays helped the chain hit positive same-store sales for the first time in years, while dual-branding with IHOP promises longer-term positive results.

    By • Aug. 7, 2025
  • A smiling white man in a burgundy Noodles & Company shirt.
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    Courtesy of Noodles & Company
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    Noodles & Company promotes COO to CEO

    Joe Christina, who joined the company in February, will replace Drew Madsen, who led the brand’s sweeping menu overhaul.

    By • Aug. 6, 2025
  • A man in a white shirt and suit jacket.
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    Courtesy of Smashburger
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    Smashburger promotes president to CEO

    Jim Sullivan, who was brought on in 2024 as chief development officer, will focus on reversing the brand’s declining storecount through non-traditional development.

    By • Aug. 5, 2025
  • A chocolate pistachio milkshake.
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    Courtesy of Shake Shack
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    Shake Shack to spend more on ads to sustain sales growth

    CEO Rob Lynch said the brand should embrace a more aggressive marketing strategy to set it apart from fast food burger chains.

    By • July 31, 2025
  • Coffee drips into a white ceramic mug emblazoned with the Starbucks logo
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks teases protein drinks, new food

    After simplifying its menu, the coffee giant will focus on experiential beverages, artisanal foods and non-coffee drinks.

    By • July 30, 2025
  • An image of several specialty drinks from Taco Bell's Live Mas Cafe lined up on a white counter top.
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    Permission granted by Taco Bell/Diversified Restaurant Group
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    How Yum Brands predicts the ‘it’ beverage of the future

    The company is turning to data science and prediction markets as consumer demand for beverages creates opportunities for new dayparts and concepts.

    By • July 30, 2025
  • An image of a brown building with BJ's logo.
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    Permission granted by BJ's Restaurant
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    Why BJ’s CEO is betting on menu innovation to revive the brand

    Starting with its pizza, the chain is updating ingredients and flavors to boost guest satisfaction, which has waned in recent years.

    By • July 28, 2025
  • Wendy's Meal of Misfortune collaboration with "Wednesday" is displayed against a purple backdrop
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    Permission granted by Wendy's
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    Wendy’s marketing embraces the macabre with ‘Wednesday’ collaboration

    The chain’s pigtail-sporting mascot is swapped for scowling Wednesday Addams for a limited-time meal collaboration and in-app mobile game.

    By Peter Adams • July 24, 2025
  • Five fancy drinks at McDonald's against a dark blue background.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s to test premium drinks in 500 stores

    After winding down CosMc’s, McDonald’s will start testing drinks inspired by the spinoff in 500 stores across Wisconsin and Colorado in September.

    By • July 24, 2025
  • Three fast food beverages stand in line.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    How diversifying drinks can create new restaurant dayparts

    Consumer interest in value, healthier options and novelty is driving demand for higher margin beverages and new occasions.

    By • July 21, 2025
  • Caribou Coffee's lemonade refreshers with fruit inclusions.
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    Courtesy of caribou coffee
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    Caribou adds Lemonade Refreshers to permanent menu

    The coffee chain is expanding its lineup of cold, non-coffee beverages as the refresher category takes off across brands.

    By • July 17, 2025
  • Several Taco Bell menu items.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell tests value menu in Indianapolis

    The brand will watch how consumers respond to a limited-time slate of $3 and under items before deciding whether to take them national.

    By • July 17, 2025
  • A photograph of a digital menu board at McDonald's with various meal options.
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    Julie Littman/Restaurant Dive
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    McDonald’s Snack Wrap launch leads to double-digit traffic jump

    Placer.ai data revealed a 22.3% uptick in visit rates compared to the year-to-date average on July 11, the day after the Snack Wrap’s return.

    By • July 16, 2025
  • A photo of a neon sign outside at night. The sign says 7-Eleven.
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    Courtesy of 7-Eleven
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    7-Eleven facing shrinking foot traffic

    Store visits have been declining for several quarters, but Seven & i is banking on more QSRs on-site to help turn things around.

    By Jessica Loder • July 16, 2025
  • A collage of fake instagram posts and Starbucks drinks.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks makes secret menu hacks official

    The chain will offer a rotating selection of customized beverages, including ones designed by consumers, as it looks to deepen mobile engagement. 

    By • July 15, 2025
  • A cohort of sauces and a band of chicken dippers.
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    Courtesy of Popeyes
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    Popeyes unveils Signature Sauce, Chicken Dippers

    The sauce is served in rounded cups, rather than the chain’s standard rectangular containers, a move resembling Raising Cane’s and Dave’s Hot Chicken’s sauce strategy.

    By • July 14, 2025
  • A photograph of five fruit drinks within plastic cups.
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    Courtesy of Taco Cabana
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    Taco Cabana joins the refreshers trend with new drink lineup

    Cabana Refreshers will launch on July 23 starting as a limited-time offer, but could become a permanent beverage if proven popular.

    By • July 11, 2025
  • A photo of ice cream from Stewart's Shops in two cups on a table with some fall leaves.
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    Permission granted by Stewart's Shops
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    What restaurants can learn from c-store’s sweet treat offerings

    Owning their own baked goods or ice cream program gives retailers a world of innovation to play with, but comes with significant challenges, experts say.

    By Christine Blank • July 11, 2025
  • An iamge of three smothies and a phone for GLP-1 support from Smoothie King
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    Courtesy of Smoothie King
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    Smoothie King secures private equity investment

    Fresh funds from Main Post Partners could give the chain a leg up in its battle against Tropical Smoothie Cafe for segment leadership. 

    By • July 10, 2025
  • Two adults with two kids eats pizza at a restaurant.
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    monkeybusinessimages via Getty Images
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    Little bites, big ideas: Rethinking kids’ menus for today’s tiny diners

    Winning menus go beyond chicken fingers and hot dogs, chefs say, to offer customizable, healthy and globally inspired fare. 

    By Amanda Schuster • July 9, 2025
  • A photograph of a person wearing a white shirt and black pants and black apron. The person is wiping down a kitchen surface.
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    Ugur Karakoc via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Why restaurants need a wake up call on food safety

    Food operators need to rise to the challenge of improving food safety and become leaders in public health, says Hal King, managing partner at Active Food Safety. 

    By Hal King • July 2, 2025
  • Two iced coffee drinks in glass jars with cream being poured into the one on the right and filtering through. The jars are on a silver tray with a white linen napkin, two straws, a spoon and a bowl.
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    viennetta via Getty Images
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    Beverage trends: The forces shaping the coffee sector in 2025

    Small coffee chains are looking to experiential coffee occasions to outcompete major chains, but they’re not abandoning menu innovation.

    By • July 1, 2025