Patricia Cobe

Page 67

Seasonal specials flavor March menus

Taste Tracker: Pie Five Pizza gets crafty; Sonic dresses up burgers; Hard Rock goes Irish; and more menu news of the week.

Food

It’s time for McDonald’s to take the chicken sandwich challenge

Can the burger giant make a sandwich as good as the chicken chain specialists?

Operations

Independent restaurateurs are embracing ghost kitchens

Chef-driven ghost kitchens are breaking into the chain-dominated market. Independent restaurants are seeing virtual concepts as an additional revenue stream that can evolve into brick-and-mortar locations.

Food

Restaurants boost catering sales by thinking inside the box

Operators are packaging catering programs in new ways to win back lost business. Individually boxed meals are seen as a safer solution as people slowly return to the office or are in need of a quick lunch to grab-and-go. Cracker Barrel, BJs and El Pollo Loco recently introduced or upgraded boxed meal catering.

Food

March menus tie into timely promotions and on-trend ingredients

Taste Tracker: Schlotzsky’s, Slim Chickens and more upgrade sandwiches; Cracker Barrel expands heat-and-eat; BurgerFi starts a burger war; and Mars launch inspires CPK.

Food