Menu Development: Page 2

  • 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 takes Chicken Big Mac national

    The sandwich, which is available starting Oct. 10 while supplies last, could help the chain recover traffic and sales. It swaps the Big Mac’s beef patties for tempura-coated chicken.

    By • Oct. 3, 2024
  • A photo of food items in a warming case in either wrappers or boxes. The boxes read "Hatch chicken."
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    Permission granted by Rebel
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    Rebel introduces Hatch Chicken QSR

    The proprietary eatery features a variety of chicken and sides and is expected to expand to 20 additional stores next year.

    By Jessica Loder • Oct. 2, 2024
  • 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 people sitting at tables eating barbecue. The walls say "Dickey's."
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    Courtesy of Dickey's Barbecue Pit
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    Dickey’s to cease expanding non-barbecue brands

    Virtual brands grew over the past four years, but never had the same success of Dickey’s Barbecue, said Roland Dickey Jr., CEO of Dickey’s Capital Group.

    By • Oct. 1, 2024
  • Shake Shack food with Worth It tagline
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    Retrieved from Shake Shack on October 01, 2024
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    Shake Shack touts premium ingredients in multichannel ‘Worth It’ ads

    Commercials that leverage slow-motion footage and a voice-over about how the chain lives up to the hype arrive as competitors focus on affordability. 

    By Jessica Deyo • Oct. 1, 2024
  • Couche-Tard
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    Retrieved from Couche-Tard.
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    The c-store value deals keep on rolling

    Circle K and EG America are the latest players to launch $5 meals amid what's become a booming trend this year to compete with QSRs.

    By Brett Dworski • Sept. 30, 2024
  • Several items from Sonic Drive-In arranged to showcase the brand's changes to its Fun99 value menu
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    Courtesy of Sonic
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    Sonic Drive-In switches up its $1.99 value menu

    The QSR chain, which added its permanent value menu in July, added Cream Slushes and Grilled Cheese Burgers as competition around affordability grows.

    By • Sept. 30, 2024
  • An image of a man with white hair wearing a suit
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    Courtesy of IHOP
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    IHOP president Jay Johns to retire

    Lawrence Kim, chief innovation officer at Yum, has been appointed president designee, effective Oct. 21, and will succeed Johns on Jan. 6.

    By • Sept. 26, 2024
  • Firehouse Subs hot sauce bar
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    Courtesy of Firehouse Subs
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    Firehouse Subs brings back fan-favorite Hot Sauce Bar with new campaign

    The RBI-owned sandwich chain debuted its first major effort since adopting a multi-agency roster model to handle its marketing earlier this year.

    By Aaron Baar • Sept. 26, 2024
  • Person in suit holds Qdoba queso
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    Courtesy of Qdoba
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    Qdoba looks to own National Queso Day on its way to national expansion

    New menu item Queso Apocalypto reflects the popularity of spicy foods and arrives as the chain ramps up marketing to Gen Z and adds locations.

    By Aaron Baar • Sept. 24, 2024
  • Castor River Habitat & Farm packaged rice
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    Permission granted by Castor River Habitat & Farm
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    Sponsored by Our Farms

    Just Salad sources regenerative rice

    It started with a simple vision: food that tastes great and doesn’t cost the planet. For Just Salad, that vision guides everything from pioneering carbon-labeled menus to their famous reusable bowls

    Sept. 23, 2024
  • People enter a McDonald's restaurant that has posters on the windows advertising meal deals.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Why consumers, not restaurants, are dictating value

    Guests with tighter budgets are seeking out more affordable options, and restaurants — desperate for their dollars — are responding with a battle for the best value offer. 

    By • Updated Sept. 23, 2024
  • MOD Pizza
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    Permission granted by MOD Pizza
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    Mod Pizza changes its menu pricing strategy

    The brand abandoned its “one price fits all” approach, regardless of toppings. Cheese and one-topping pizzas now cost less than multi-topping pies.

    By • Sept. 18, 2024
  • A pair of hands holding a burger over a table set with other burgers.
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    Courtesy of Smashburger
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    Smashburger remakes its menu and its brand

    The chain launched the menu changes, including eight new dishes, after successful regional market testing.

    By • Sept. 17, 2024
  • Tacos and a burrito made by IHOP on plates against a red table cloth.
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    Courtesy of IHOP
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    IHOP’s new menu innovates beyond breakfast

    With sales soft in recent quarters, the pancake chain is looking to boost visits outside its brunch and breakfast core.

    By • Sept. 17, 2024
  • An combined image with tacos, burgers and other fast food items offered as part of value offeirngs.
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    Courtesy of Carl's Jr. and Taco John's
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    QSRs made 2024 the summer of value

    Nearly a dozen major QSRs launched limited-time and permanent value offerings to woo guests.

    By • Sept. 3, 2024
  • A photo of a red and yellow fuel canopy. A logo on the canopy says "Rutter's."
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    Jessica Loder/Restaurant Dive
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    Q&A

    How Rutter’s keeps innovating its menu

    Philip Santini, senior director of advertising and food service, breaks down how the c-store retailer keeps offerings exciting and competes with restaurants.

    By Jessica Loder • Aug. 29, 2024
  • An image of Subway's footlong cookies, pretzels and churros
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Q&A

    How Subway developed its latest snackable menu items

    The chain’s latest menu innovations, from Subway Sidekicks to spicy sandwiches, appeal to guest demands for bolder flavors, Chef Paul Fabre said.

    By • Aug. 28, 2024
  • An exterior shot of a Red Robin restaurant, which is lit from inside, at night
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    The image by Cbraccialini is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Red Robin reports highest guest satisfaction in nearly a decade

    Improvements to its labor model, increased focus on food quality and decreased wait times have all boosted the guest experience, the chain said.

    By • Aug. 23, 2024
  • The exterior of a Cava in Chicago
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    Permission granted by Cava
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    Cava’s traffic surges in Q2

    Customers are switching to the fast casual chain from across the restaurant industry thanks to its moderate approach to menu pricing.

    By • Aug. 22, 2024
  • Taco Bell breakfast burritos
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    Permission granted by Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell will let franchisees stop breakfast

    Ditching the morning meal gives franchisees the flexibility to focus on other dayparts, the brand said.

    By • Aug. 22, 2024
  • An image of several cherry and almond pastries with a spoon drizzling icing on top.
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    Courtesy of Panera Bread
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    Panera bakes up new pastries, sweets

    Months after its biggest menu transformation to date, the chain added five baked goods and three croissant breakfast sandwiches to its lineup.

    By • Aug. 21, 2024
  • Freebird World Burrito's brisket-based menu items.
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    Courtesy of Freebird World Burrito
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    Sun Holdings buys 64-unit Freebirds World Burrito

    The Texas-based burrito brand is Sun Holdings’ second purchase of a brand, and proof of its ability to grow as a brand owner, CEO Guillermo Perales said.

    By • Aug. 20, 2024
  • Sherif Mityas has been promoted to Brix CEO.
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    Courtesy of Brix Holdings
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    Q&A

    Friendly’s plans a comeback after decades of decline

    The CEO of the chain’s parent company says a new menu, store renovations and social media savvy moves are breathing new life into the retro brand.

    By • Aug. 19, 2024
  • 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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    C-stores are taking aim at QSRs in the value war. Will it pay off?

    C-stores are using value offerings to compete with QSRs as consumers look for cheaper options.

    By Christine Blank • Aug. 16, 2024
  • A Chili's Burger framed by fries and a drink.
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    Courtesy of Brinker
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    Chili’s sees sales, traffic surge

    By emphasizing price competitiveness with fast food, Brinker International’s flagship brand avoided the downturn that has plagued other full-service chains.

    By • Aug. 15, 2024