Bloomin’ slows US growth to focus on Outback turnaround

With same-store sales slipping, Bloomin’ is changing its strategy, trimming its menu and devolving power to brand presidents.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 27, 2025

Starbucks cuts less popular drinks, plans 30% menu reduction

Several Frappucinos, the Royal English Breakfast Latte and the White Hot Chocolate are getting the axe next month to reduce complexity and make space for experimentation.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 26, 2025

Explore the 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

IHOP in-houses creative as part of bid to return to cultural relevance

A Guinness World Record attempt that involves creating 20,000 pancakes is the first major marketing effort under new leadership. 

By Peter Adams • Feb. 26, 2025

Dave’s Hot Chicken debuts catering program

The company expects the channel, offered via ezCater, to make up as much as 10% of its business within a year.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 25, 2025

Golden Corral reinvents its fast casual spinoff

Over a year after it launched Homeward Kitchen, the buffet chain will rebrand it as Golden Corral Favorites, with a menu highlighting signature items.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 25, 2025

Denny’s adds surcharge to meals with eggs

The price of this additional charge will be determined on a market-by-market and restaurant-by-restaurant basis reflecting the bird flu’s regional impact.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 25, 2025

McDonald’s adds Krispy Kreme doughnuts in NYC, bagel sandwiches nationwide

The menu moves could help the Golden Arches recover from a traffic shortfall triggered by an E. coli outbreak late last year.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 25, 2025

3 foodservice moves 7-Eleven has already made in 2025

While North America’s largest c-store retailer begins building hundreds of food-focused stores, it’s also making more immediate changes to its menu.

By Jessica Loder • Feb. 24, 2025

Wendy’s will expand chicken, beverages and value in 2025

The burger chain will also enhance its loyalty platform with limited-time offers only available through the app.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 13, 2025

Chili’s rides with NASCAR, Lifetime to push margaritas with music, TV

Two very different campaigns look to broaden the company’s consumer base in an effort to continue its wave of success.

By Sara Karlovitch • Feb. 13, 2025

From vending machines to airports: How CPK is reaching more diners

California Pizza Kitchen is also investing in a virtual brand partnership and expansion of consumer packaged goods to reach more diners.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 12, 2025

McDonald’s will bring back snackwraps, chicken strips to boost sales

The Golden Arches will emphasize menu innovation in the chicken category this year to recover traffic momentum that was stalled by its E. coli outbreak. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 10, 2025

NRA: 95% of restaurant operators say diners are more value-conscious

Forty-seven percent of operators are planning to offer discounts or value promotions this year, per National Restaurant Association research.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 10, 2025

Chipotle builds 2025 around ‘total guest experience,’ CEO says

The company will continue to roll out kitchen equipment and mobile order-focused Chipotlanes to keep order throughput high.

By Bryan Wassel • Feb. 6, 2025

Chipotle’s LTOs drove 7% same-store sales bump in 2024

Chicken Al Pastor and Smoked Brisket boosted traffic at the chain, which plans to roll out Chipotle Honey Chicken — its best-performing test LTO — this year.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 5, 2025

How nonalcoholic beverages are driving the next wave of profits

Expanded zero-proof menus are attractive to Gen Z, who drink 20% less than millennials, and yield better margins than traditional cocktail offerings, writes Sidework CEO Rishabh Kewalramani.

By Rishabh Kewalramani • Feb. 5, 2025

Waffle House adds 50-cent surcharge due to egg shortage

Egg prices are expected to rise 20% this year due to the impact of bird flu, and operators and chains are finding ways to make up the cost.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 4, 2025

What’s the restaurant outlook for 2025?

Price-sensitive diners and rising food and labor costs are pushing chains to refine their value propositions, setting the stage for cutthroat competition.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Jan. 31, 2025

Dunkin’ CMO on building a ‘cinematic universe’ to capture attention

Jill McVicar Nelson explains what the brand has learned from its Super Bowl ads and how it’s facing uneasiness around TikTok’s future.

By Chris Kelly • Jan. 30, 2025

How Chili’s boosted comparable sales by 31%

Value-oriented ads and marketing for its Triple Dipper menu boosted the chain’s traffic by nearly 20%, driving a record-breaking quarterly performance.

By Julie Littman • Jan. 30, 2025

2025 could be fast casual’s year, again

Long-term trends in consumer preference have put fast casual chains in a position to leverage price sensitivity, digital touchpoints and an appetite for human connection.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 27, 2025

Tijuana Flats exits bankruptcy with menu innovation plans

After Chapter 11 helped the chain reduce its debt and improve efficiency, it will add street tacos and refresh its stores to compete with fast casual rivals.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 24, 2025

Top 3 food and beverage trends coming to hotels in 2025

Restaurant experiences turn multisensory, social media influences menus and generations connect over “newstalgic” plates in the year ahead, per Marriott’s VP of Culinary.

By Jenna Graber • Jan. 23, 2025

Hy-Vee will transition all in-store Wahlburgers to Market Grille

This transition includes introducing new menus as well as shuttering its partnership with Wahlburgers.

By Peyton Bigora • Jan. 22, 2025

McDonald’s amplifies mobile app with Pokémon Happy Meal

The burger chain is again wedding pop culture and nostalgia with a Happy Meal box inclusive of a Pokémon booster pack, poster and sticker sheet.

By Jessica Deyo • Jan. 22, 2025