Ugly sweaters and burrito gift wrap: Restaurants roll out holiday gift

Chipotle

Courtesy of Chipotle

This year, customers can wrap their presents in burritos (or at least make it look that way) with new Chipotle wrapping paper plastered with images of the brand’s famous guacamole, salsa, and burrito-wrapping foil for $14 per roll. The gift-wrapping set — which includes three rolls, 10 bows, five gift bags and tissue paper — costs $50. Customers can also snag Chipotle T-shirts, aprons and baby onesies in the chain’s online store.

Courtesy of Chipotle

Taco Bell

Courtesy of Taco Bell

Taco Bell debuted its seasonal merchandise before December even hit, and some of the most popular items are already sold out, including ugly Christmas sweaters emblazoned with Santa Claus and his eight trusty tacos and hot sauce packet onesies, sold for $59 and $78, respectively. Also sold out are the “The answer is always tacos” mug ($10) and a burrito wrap blanket ($40). Fans can still buy some of the brand’s onesies, sweaters, and saucy socks on the website Tipsy Elves. Still available for sale are Taco Bell greeting cards ($3), hot sauce pocket pillows ($25), and hot sauce packet pajama shorts ($35). Taco Bell representatives hinted that they might get more onesies in time for Christmas.

Courtesy of Taco Bell

Starbucks

Courtesy of Starbucks

Although holiday merchandise is nothing new for Starbucks, this year customers can buy designer Ban.do-branded mugs ($12.95), reusable cups ($14.95), and tumblers ($19.95), pencils ($9.95), and pencil pouches ($13.95) emblazoned with cheery floral ban.do designs.

Chili’s

Courtesy of Chili’s

Chili’s introduced a one-day-only sale of its branded holiday merchandise on Cyber Monday, or Nov. 26, and the scarcity value placed on the items appears to have worked in their favor. The Chili’s-themed swimsuits ($35), t-shirts ($15), black bomber jackets ($75) and cuff links ($20) sold out within hours. The “I Feel God in this Chili’s Tonight” shirt — a reference to “The Office” — was the first item to sell out. Chili’s told NRN it does not have any plans to restock the holiday shop this year.

Courtesy of Chili’s

White Castle

Courtesy of White Castle

White Castle’s holiday merchandise has a charitable component. The brand’s commemorative 2018 holiday mugs — designed by fashion designer Telfar Clemens and featuring the burger chain’s logo and blue-and-white color scheme — are available in restaurants for $5.99. Partial proceeds will benefit the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights bail fund that helps juvenile prisoners being held on Rikers Island in New York City.

Wienerschnitzel

Courtesy of Wienerschnitzel

The Calif.-based hot dog chain is cashing in on the holiday merchandising trend by offering 15-ounce cans of its chili meat sauce ($5) through its online shop. Wienerschnitzel is also offering branded baby onesies ($24.99), beach balls ($9.99), trucker hats ($24.99), plush hot dogs ($24.99) and t-shirts ($19.99) online.

Burger King

Courtesy of Burger King

The burger chain said last week that it would be offering a Dogpper — also known as a Dog Whopper — to guests who order through DoorDash between November 28 and December 4. Although this is technically a food item and it was offered for free to guests who had already purchased a human Whopper, it’s yet another example of holiday limited-edition merchandising by a major brand. The item is a Whopper burger-flavored dog biscuit. Burger King said it does not have any further plans to offer the limited-edition item again.

Courtesy of Burger King