Menu Development: Page 16


  • An exterior shot of a Red Robin restaurant, which is lit from inside, at night
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Cbraccialini is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    Red Robin unveils comeback plan for sales, brand positioning

    The restaurant chain will focus on improving its basic operations, including labor practices and food quality, that have floundered in recent years.

    By Jan. 10, 2023
  • An image of Panera's three toasted baguette sandwiches.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Panera Bread
    Image attribution tooltip

    Panera expands sandwich line with toasted baguettes

    The fast casual chain’s latest menu addition builds on its “warm and hearty” offerings, which include flatbread pizzas and grain bowls. 

    By Jan. 6, 2023
  • An image of several people eating hamburgers and french fries from a generic fast food restaurant. Explore the Trendline
    Image attribution tooltip
    Diamond Dogs via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    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 picture of a Chipotle with a pickup lane.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Chipotle
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chipotle targets Gen Z with wellness Snapchat Lens, menu items

    To address how Gen Z and millennials approach wellness, the chain is focused on convenience and mobile gamification.

    By Aaron Baar • Jan. 3, 2023
  • Papa John's Papadia sandwich
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from Papa John's/Business Wire on February 26, 2021
    Image attribution tooltip

    BTIG: Papa Johns’ value menu attracting new base of customers

    The Papa Pairings platform, which offers guests $6.99 menu items, is attracting customers earning $60,000 or less annually, according to a BTIG report.

    By Dec. 22, 2022
  • An image showing various food items and brand packaging from LankyBox Kitchen.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Virtual Dining Concepts
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chuck E. Cheese parent creates YouTube-inspired virtual brand

    LankyBox Kitchen, a collaboration between Virtual Dining Concepts and CEC Entertainment, expands Chuck E. Cheese’s virtual brand offerings, which include Pasqually’s Pizza & Wings. 

    By Nov. 18, 2022
  • Smokey Bones opened its first drive-thru in Bowling Green, Kentucky in April 2022.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Smokey Bones
    Image attribution tooltip

    Want a drive-thru? Make sure your menu is ready

    With drive-thru customers expecting faster speed of service, chains are honing in on what items work and don’t work to get orders completed quicker.

    By Nov. 17, 2022
  • An image of Panera's bakery shakes
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Panera
    Image attribution tooltip

    Panera whips up milkshakes in menu test

    The three shakes, which are available for $5.79, are being tested in select markets in Texas and could be rolled out nationwide next year.

    By Nov. 17, 2022
  • Image attribution tooltip
    yaoinlove via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    How 6 restaurant giants are hiking menu prices

    Brands like Chipotle, McDonald’s and Starbucks are walking a tightrope — charge enough to protect the bottom line without alienating customers.

    By , Nov. 15, 2022
  • An image of a happy hour sign at a restaurant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    claudio.arnese via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Report: Deals, promotions aren’t driving QSR traffic

    Foodservice deal occasions were down 1% and non-deal traffic was down 2% in the quarter ending September, The NPD Group found in its latest data. 

    By Nov. 11, 2022
  • A picture of a brown crispy rice treat from Sweetgreen.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Sweetgreen
    Image attribution tooltip

    Sweetgreen enters dessert category

    The salad chain’s Crispy Rice Treat, which costs $2.95, is part of a push to broaden its menu to reach more customers and dayparts.

    By Nov. 7, 2022
  • An image of Chase Elliot, Nascar racer, with chicken tenders.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Hooters of America
    Image attribution tooltip

    Hooters, Chase Elliott rev up off-premise with virtual brand

    The chicken tender concept developed with the NASCAR driver is Hooters’ newest virtual brand, joining Hootie’s Burger Bar and Hootie’s Bait & Tackle. 

    By Nov. 1, 2022
  • An image of a a white building with Chipotle signage at night.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Chipotle
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chipotle’s menu price hikes haven’t fazed high-income households

    The chain’s same-store sales grew 7.6% year-over-year as high-income households have increased their frequency, but low-income households are eating out less, CEO Brian Niccol said. 

    By Oct. 26, 2022
  • McDonald's McRib sandwich sits against a black background and underneath glowing golden text reading, "The McRib Farewell Tour."
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by McDonald's USA
    Image attribution tooltip

    McDonald’s double dips on nostalgia with ‘Farewell Tour’ for McRib

    Following the success of adult Happy Meals, the brand is dropping a throwback merchandise line celebrating the history of the boneless pork sandwich.

    By Peter Adams • Oct. 25, 2022
  • Chef Scott Rodriguez, Applebee's chief culinary officer
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005086/en
    Image attribution tooltip

    Applebee’s hires Papa Johns, BJ’s vet as culinary lead

    Chef Scott Rodriguez has over two decades of casual dining experience, and helped chains create new offerings through research and development. 

    By Oct. 24, 2022
  • An image of three Krispy Kreme doughnuts and six in a box.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by McDonald's/Krispy Kreme
    Image attribution tooltip

    McDonald’s to sell Krispy Kreme doughnuts in Louisville

    Three doughnut varieties will be available for in-restaurant and drive-thru purchases at nine McDonald’s units starting Oct. 26. 

    By Oct. 18, 2022
  • A photo of pizza folded that is part of Pizza Hut's new menu launched in October 2022.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Pizza Hut
    Image attribution tooltip

    Pizza Hut adds menu category with Melts

    The launch of handheld Pizza Hut Melts follows a rollout of oven-baked pastas as the chain struggles to reverse same-store sales declines.

    By Oct. 18, 2022
  • An image of Domino's pizza boxes
    Image attribution tooltip
    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Domino’s to raise pricing on carryout Mix & Match Deal

    Months after raising delivery Mix & Match item prices from $5.99 to $6.99, the chain plans to do the same for carryout because the deal retained value. 

    By Oct. 13, 2022
  • Four McDonald's figurines designed by Cactus Plant Flea Market encircle a Happy Meal placed on a red table against a sky-blue backdrop.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by McDonald's USA
    Image attribution tooltip

    Deja vu? McDonald’s adult Happy Meals raise specter of past promos run awry

    Kotaku pointed to posts from overwhelmed employees on Reddit and TikTok, while a budding resale market underpins strong demand for the meals.

    By Peter Adams • Updated Oct. 10, 2022
  • Pete Davidson for Taco Bell
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Taco Bell
    Image attribution tooltip

    Pete Davidson pairs new Taco Bell breakfast item with an apology

    The Breakfast Crunchwrap reflects an effort by the QSR to reach consumers looking for comfort and familiarity in the morning.

    By Sara Karlovitch • Oct. 4, 2022
  • A man and a woman dressed as a chef look at a tablet.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Wavebreakmedia via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Report: 31% of restaurants have reduced menu size due to inflation

    Another 38% of restaurants have adjusted the number of food suppliers they use, according to a Toast survey. 

    By Oct. 3, 2022
  • Four McDonald's figurines designed by Cactus Plant Flea Market encircle a Happy Meal placed on a red table against a sky-blue backdrop.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by McDonald's USA
    Image attribution tooltip

    McDonald’s repackages Happy Meals for adults with cult streetwear label

    Meant to invoke nostalgia, the menu bundles come with unique art and collectible figurines as the chain tries to align with pop culture tastemakers.

    By Peter Adams • Sept. 30, 2022
  • An image of various pumpkins in green, white, orange and various sizes.
    Image attribution tooltip
    IvanMikhaylov via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Report: Pumpkin-flavored menu items flood restaurants

    In the last 30 days, SpotOn’s restaurant clients have added nearly 2,000 pumpkin-flavored menu items, 40% of which are pumpkin-flavored beers.

    By Sept. 26, 2022
  • An image of a beige building with Pie Five logo on the outside.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Rave Restaurant Group
    Image attribution tooltip

    Pie Five rolls out biggest menu transformation in its history

    After six months of testing, the company will add individual pizzas to its menu and eliminate large pizzas. 

    By Sept. 23, 2022
  • A selection of Carl's Jr. and Hardee's food with new branding
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc.
    Image attribution tooltip

    Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s refresh brand identity with flavor as inspiration

    The changes will debut in an ad campaign and come months after parent company CKE announced plans for a $500 million brand transformation.

    By Chris Kelly • Sept. 23, 2022
  • Livestock cows in New Zealand
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Silver Fern Farms
    Image attribution tooltip

    Report: Beef prices to rise 15% in 2023, poultry costs will fall

    Poultry prices are expected to ease substantially next year, benefiting chicken-heavy brands like Wingstop and Chipotle, according to a BTIG report.

    By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 22, 2022