Menu Development: Page 12

  • A photo of pizza folded that is part of Pizza Hut's new menu launched in October 2022.
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    Courtesy of Pizza Hut
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    Yum sales boosted by Pizza Hut Melts, Taco Bell Mexican Pizza

    Value-heavy menu items were key to driving visits among lower-income diners, Yum CEO David Gibbs said on the company’s Q4 earnings call.

    By • Feb. 8, 2023
  • A promotional image showing three boxes of Domino's loaded tots.
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    Courtesy of Domino's Pizza
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    Domino’s adds loaded tater tots to menu

    The menu item, which comes in three varieties as part of the chain’s $6.99 Mix & Match Deal, marks Domino’s first potato product on its national menu.

    By • Feb. 6, 2023
  • 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
  • A photo of a chef in a white coat.
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    Courtesy of Red Robin
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    Red Robin hires CPK vet as VP of culinary

    Brian Sullivan, who spent 34 years at California Pizza Kitchen, will help Red Robin invest in higher food quality and a menu refresh. 

    By • Feb. 2, 2023
  • A promotional image for Dunkin's old loyalty program, DD Perks, illustrating that program's coffee-centric offerings.
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    Courtesy of Dunkin'
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    Dunkin’ doubles down on loyalty with exclusive latte

    Months after retooling its rewards program, the chain has added the Brownie Batter Signature Latte, its first beverage available only to loyalty members.

    By • Feb. 1, 2023
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    yaoinlove via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s will lean into chicken, coffee to grow diner frequency

    The core menu categories pose significant growth opportunity, McDonald’s executives said Tuesday, as the chain aims to better compete with chicken-only chains and leverage coffee’s high margins. 

    By • Jan. 31, 2023
  • Chick-fil-A piloted a virtual restaurant brand via Little Blue Menu in fall 2021.
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    Retrieved from Chick-fil-A on September 15, 2021
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    Chick-fil-A to open second Little Blue Menu location

    The chain’s original Nashville, Tennessee, prototype offers items from virtual concepts Outfox Wings and Because, Burger in addition to Chick-fil-A’s menu. 

    By • Updated Jan. 30, 2023
  • A picture of chicken wings at Mod Pizza
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    Permission granted by Mod Pizza
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    Mod tries expanding beyond pizza with wings test

    If the pilot is successful, Mod could add wings to its permanent menu, revising its offerings alongside brands like Pizza Hut, Papa Johns and Pie Five.

    By • Jan. 26, 2023
  • 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 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.
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    Permission granted by Panera Bread
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    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
  • A picture of a Chipotle with a pickup lane.
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    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
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    Retrieved from Papa John's/Business Wire on February 26, 2021
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    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.
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    Courtesy of Virtual Dining Concepts
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    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.
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    Permission granted by Smokey Bones
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    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
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    Permission granted by Panera
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    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
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    yaoinlove via Getty Images
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    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.
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    claudio.arnese via Getty Images
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    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.
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    Permission granted by Sweetgreen
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    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.
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    Permission granted by Hooters of America
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    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.
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    Permission granted by Chipotle
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    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."
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    Permission granted by McDonald's USA
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    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
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    Courtesy of https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005086/en
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    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
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    Flickr user Jennie Faber
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    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
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    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
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    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.
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    Permission granted by McDonald's USA
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    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