Beverages

Food

Menu launches take on a slower summer pace

Taste Tracker: Cool drinks debut at Applebee’s, Sonic and Caribou Coffee; Velvet Taco and Baja Fresh change up tacos; KFC tests nuggets; it’s a wrap for Arby’s; and more menu news of the week.

Financing

Beverage chains hope to get a jolt from energy drinks

After the success of Dutch Bros, chains like Biggby Coffee and Tim Hortons have added energy drinks. Expect more of them as younger consumers in particular demand the beverage.

Licensed establishments can now allow patrons to draw their own beer, wine or mixed drinks, though with very specific stipulations.

Taste Tracker: Outback tosses up a salad; Cinnabon does chocolate; chill out with cool drinks at Joe & the Juice, Scooter’s and Mellow Mushroom; burgers, fish and pizza heat up menus.

In a push to expand its customer base and increase check averages, the chain is focusing on breakfast customization, plant-based choices and on-trend menu items.

Taste Tracker: Chicken in new guises at BWW, Slim Chickens and Toppers; Mooyah, Auntie Anne’s and Smashburger shake it up; refreshing thirst-quenchers for Starbucks, Dunkin’ and Charleys; and everything from cocktails to concretes to cookies make their debut.

Taste Tracker: Just Salad and Chicken Salad Chick refresh the salad bowl; cool sipping at Potbelly, Corner Bakery and PJ’s; IHOP has a Minions menu; Newk’s and Taco John’s celebrate barbecue; and more menu news of the week.

The chain partnered with Creamalicious to create Sweet Tea Ice Cream, a dessert mashup with notes of sugar cookie and lemon.

Taste Tracker: Taco del Mar, Hurricane Grill and Tacos 4 Life boast a beach vibe; bowled over by peaches at Sweetgreen and BBQ at Sonny’s; a sweet tea-ice cream mashup for McAlister’s; Bad Ass Coffee and Ziggi’s launch summery LTOs to sip; and more menu news of the week.

The burrito chain, seeking to boost in-restaurant ticket sizes, is adding Watermelon Limeade for a limited time.

  • Page 7