Cool drinks heat up summer salesCool drinks heat up summer sales

Refreshing summer beverages featuring innovative iced tea and iced coffee flavors have gone upscale with a host of fresh ingredients — proving to be hot tickets in restaurants from coast to coast.

“Summer beverage LTOs are a wonderful way to add excitement to a beverage program,” says Amy Myrdal Miller, president of Farmer’s Daughter Consulting, a culinary and nutrition communication firm. “I see many chains using lemonade, limeade, teas and coffees as the base for innovative beverages.”

Many savvy operators have figured out that creative beverages not only add color and panache to the menu but also help bolster the bottom line.

Despite their ubiquity, iced teas and coffees have become increasingly popular thanks in no small measure to such...