Menu Development

  • An image of two chicken wraps from McDonald's
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    Courtesy of MCDonald's
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    Restaurant winners and losers from H1 2025

    Casual dining chains, led by Chili’s, had a surprisingly strong quarter, while fast casuals, like Chipotle and Sweetgreen, struggled with consumer pullback and operations problems.

    By • Aug. 27, 2025
  • An image of various chicken sandwiches and wraps at McDonald's with a golden background
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    Permission granted by McDonald's
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    McDonald’s bulks up chicken menu with Special Edition Gold Sauce

    The North Carolina barbecue-flavored sauce will accompany two new McCrispy sandwiches as the QSR aims to boost its chicken market share.

    By • Aug. 27, 2025
  • An image of several people eating hamburgers and french fries from a generic fast food restaurant. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Diamond Dogs via 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
  • Various food items and toast set on a red background
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    Permission granted by Smoothie King
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    Smoothie King debuts food menu

    The fast casual chain added toasts and protein bowls following a 100-store test in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

    By • Aug. 26, 2025
  • An image of three large platters in the forefront with various food items. I nthe bagkround there are three cups, chips and tortillas.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle adds family meals as online exclusive

    The “Build-Your-Own-Chipotle” offering serves a family of four to six and could help drive same-store sales, which were down in the first half of the year.

    By • Aug. 25, 2025
  • Two drinks, a coconut water matcha cold foam one on the left and the same base but with cold brew cold foam on the right.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks expands coconut water drinks test to 400 stores

    CEO Brian Niccol has said the chain’s menu innovation will focus on “the function-forward modern offerings that customers want.”

    By • Aug. 22, 2025
  • Five flat pizzas.
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    Courtesy of Pizza Hut
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    Pizza Hut’s new menu category targets solo diners

    Crafted Flatzz, which include flatbread-style pies, marks Pizza Hut’s largest global launch of a menu item and will be available in over 20 countries.

    By • Aug. 20, 2025
  • An image of different bowls with foods and hands making tacos.
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    Permission granted by Del Taco/ezCater
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    Del Taco expands catering with ezCater

    The partnership is live in about 250 restaurants, and more units will be phased onto the platform through 2026.

    By • Aug. 19, 2025
  • An image of a Noodles & Company restaurant with outdoor seating
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    Courtesy of Noodles & Company
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    Noodles & Company accelerates closure of underperforming restaurants

    The chain closed 20 company-owned units last year and saw a bump in traffic and sales at nearby restaurants. Now it plans to shutter up to 32 more.

    By • Aug. 14, 2025
  • Various Italian dishes, pastas and entrees from Maggiano's set on a red and white checkered table cloth.
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    Courtesy of Maggiano's Little Italy
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    Maggiano’s president departs as brand turnaround proceeds

    Rich Kissel, a longtime Chili’s exec who helped revive the chain, joins Maggiano’s as COO after Dominique Bertolone’s resigned as brand president.

    By • Aug. 14, 2025
  • An image of a Chili's sign with a red chili pepper.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Chili’s same-store sales growth tops 20%, again

    Three years into its turnaround strategy, the chain continues to outperform the casual dining industry with double-digit traffic growth.

    By • Aug. 14, 2025
  • A promotional image of several Pepsi premium mixed drinks.
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    Courtesy of PepsiCo
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    Why Coke and Pepsi think dirty soda is a win for restaurants

    Consumer demand for premium, customizable beverages is pushing soda makers to add everything from fruit to flavored soft serve ice cream to sodas.

    By • Aug. 12, 2025
  • A box with potato wedges and chicken wings in it.
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    How KFC’s Potato Wedge LTO ties into its comeback strategy

    The chain said consumer demand pushed it to revive the side after a five-year hiatus and bring back Hot & Spicy wings, as well.  

    By • Aug. 11, 2025
  • 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
  • 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