Menu Development: Page 17

  • Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Report: Starbucks, Dunkin’ score traffic bump from pumpkin spice lattes

    Placer.ai finds visits at Starbucks and Dunkin’ rose nearly 26% and nearly 10%, respectively, in the week following their fall menu launches.

    By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 20, 2022
  • Chipotle Garlic Guajillo Steak metaverse
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle launches its Garlic Guajillo Steak in the metaverse

    The chain says the menu item, which will debut in the Chipotle Grill Simulator on Roblox, is the first from a restaurant brand to launch in the metaverse.

    By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 13, 2022
  • 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
  • An image of several plant-based meat items from Baja Fresh
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    Courtesy of Baja Fresh
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    Baja Fresh makes plant-based items permanent

    The Impossible Meat taco, burrito and bowl received positive customer feedback during the yearlong test at the fast casual chain.

    By • Sept. 1, 2022
  • A picture of three sandwiches
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    Permission granted by Del Taco
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    Del Taco adds tortas to its menu

    The addition of Epic Tortas comes nine months after the debut of Del Taco’s 20 for $2 value menu, which helped drive sales during the most recent quarter. 

    By • Aug. 30, 2022
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    Courtesy of CKE
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    Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s ask Twitch community to help build new menu item

    After polling followers about their favorite ingredients, the brands are sponsoring creator livestreams where people can vote on their preferred meals.

    By Peter Adams • Aug. 26, 2022
  • Brinker International launched its second virtual brand, Maggiano's Italian Classics, in 2021.
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    Retrieved from Maggiano's Italian Classics on August 18, 2021
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    Brinker to trim virtual brand menu, hike prices

    The company is rightsizing menus, pricing and kitchen operations for It’s Just Wings and Maggiano’s Italian Classics, which drove 6% of sales in fiscal 2022. 

    By • Aug. 25, 2022
  • Burger King Impossible Chicken Sandwich
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King’s original chicken sandwich goes plant based

    The brand’s Impossible Original Chick’n Sandwich pilot follows two Impossible Whopper launches and last year’s Impossible Nuggets test.

    By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 22, 2022
  • An image of a table and several plates with a burger and breakfast items
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    Permission granted by IHOP
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    IHOP’s new menu serves up customization

    The Choice menu, which includes made-to-order griddle combos, steakburgers and chicken sandwiches, will be available any time of day.

    By • Aug. 22, 2022
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    yaoinlove via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s will test a Chicken Big Mac in Miami

    The Chicken Big Mac received positive diner reviews when it launched for a limited time in the U.K. earlier this year, according to McDonald’s. 

    By • Aug. 18, 2022
  • A marketing image featuring several Taco Bell products with the company's new plant-based protein blend.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell pilots its own plant-based protein option

    Customers will be able to try the proprietary soy and pea protein blend in menu items at participating stores in the Birmingham, Alabama, area. 

    By • Aug. 18, 2022
  • Applebee's launched a virtual brand Cosmic Wings February 2021 with Uber Eats.
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    Permission granted by Cosmic Wings
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    Applebee’s to add items from virtual brand Cosmic Wings to core menu

    The strategy will help the wing brand expand its reach from 13% of customers to 100%, Applebee’s President John Cywinski said. 

    By • Aug. 10, 2022
  • An image of three bowls that contain various food items like pepperoni, meats and vegetables
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    Permission granted by Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns’ latest menu item removes the dough

    Papa Bowls is the third product launch at the pizza chain this year, and franchisees are excited about this item because of how easy it is to cook. 

    By • Aug. 9, 2022
  • A person holds a smartphone showing the Starbucks app
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Despite menu price increases, Starbucks Rewards members keep coming back

    Guest counts reached an all-time high during the quarter, with loyalty customer growth outpacing non-members. 

    By • Aug. 3, 2022
  • Outback Steakhouse exterior
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    Courtesy of Bloomin' Brands
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    Bloomin’ plans to keep menu price hikes below inflation

    The company said during its second quarter earnings call it expects to keep price increases around 6.5% in the latter half of the year.

    By • Aug. 1, 2022
  • An image of various chicken wings products and French fries inside green containers.
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    Courtesy of Wingstop
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    Wingstop expects its food costs to shrink this year

    The chain is experiencing a 19% drop in chicken wing costs, allowing it to lean more heavily on value offerings as other restaurants hike menu prices. 

    By • July 29, 2022
  • McDonald's McPlant
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s US plant-based burger test is over

    The company said the test “concluded as planned,” but the news comes amid analyst speculation of low product sales.

    By • July 28, 2022
  • A woman and man at a cash register
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle plans 4% menu increase in August

    The price hike will help offset rising operating costs due to increased wages and inflation, especially around dairy, tortillas and packaging.  

    By • July 27, 2022
  • A Piestro branded pizza box.
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    Courtesy of Piestro/Matt Lucido
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    Piestro and Capriotti’s pilot automated pizzeria in Las Vegas

    The sandwich chain plans to buy up to 100 Piestro Pods in the five years following the pilot, and to incorporate the pods in future store layouts. 

    By • July 21, 2022
  • Five people in black uniforms working a makeline at a Chipotle restaurant
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    Permission granted by Chipotle
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    Report: Chipotle remains cheaper than rivals despite menu price hikes

    The chain is about 10% less expensive than Qdoba and Moe’s Southwest Grill, a survey from BTIG indicates. 

    By Alicia Kelso • July 18, 2022
  • A promotional image of Starbucks Chicken Maple Butter and Egg sandwich.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks chicken sandwich recall dents food strategy

    The coffee chain issued a stop-sale order on its Chicken, Maple Butter & Egg Sandwich on June 26. Some employees say the menu item made them sick.

    By • July 7, 2022
  • A promotional image for Subway's new menu
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    Permission granted by Subway
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    Subway launches biggest menu update in its history

    A year after its Eat Fresh Refresh menu debut, the chain unveiled 12 signature subs that customers can order by name or number instead of customizing.

    By • July 5, 2022
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    Courtesy of Krispy Kreme
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    Krispy Kreme adds soft serve ice cream to menu

    The new frozen treats, which launched Tuesday, will appear initially in 10 U.S. markets with additional locations to come later in the summer. 

    By • June 21, 2022
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    Willis Lam via Flickr
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    How Wingstop is taking control of its poultry supply chain

    The company is considering joint ventures with suppliers, acquiring a poultry complex or building its own plant to secure more predictable food costs.

    By • May 18, 2022
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    McDonald's
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    McDonald’s hikes menu prices 8% as visits fall 1%

    CEO Chris Kempczinski told investors the chain is closely monitoring lower income consumers, who he predicts will have "increased value sensitivity" as gas costs and rent rates surge.

    By • April 29, 2022
  • McDonald's brings back Szechuan sauce for a limited time. Retrieved by Marketing dive on March 21, 2022
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    Retrieved from McDonald's via Twitter on March 21, 2022
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    Why McDonald’s leveraged buzzy Szechuan sauce to boost its app

    Promotions like the recent mobile-only offer for Szechuan sauce can onboard more app users and deliver insights into consumer spending habits.

    By Robert Williams • April 18, 2022