Beverages are highly profitable and operationally straightforward, and their sale is also usually incremental.
Obviously they’re not always incremental: People go to many chains, such as Starbucks, Dunkin, and Sonic Drive-In just for the drinks.
But all of those chains have new ones anyway, because you can’t rest on your laurels, especially when so many other chains are rolling out competing items.
This week those chains include Scooter’s Coffee, Snooze A.M. Eatery, and Topgolf.
Panera is rolling out a bunch of new breakfast items, Cracker Barrel is testing a whole new lineup of food, and Popeyes is introducing boneless wings.
BJ’s has a new Pizookie, as you might expect, and Black Tap, along similar lines, has a new CrazyShake.
There are new barbecue sandwiches at Blimpie and Logan’s Roadhouse, and teriyaki items and Carl’s Jr., which, when you think about it have similar flavor profiles to many barbecue preparations.
A biscuit prepared like French toast can be had at The Big Biscuit, and Carrabba’s has a bunch of summertime specials.
Church’s Texas Chicken has wraps now.
Cicis and Hungry Howie’s have summery pizzas, and Jack in the Box is celebrating the launch of the film “Deadpool & Wolverine” with special chimichangas.
Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken has new Buffalo flavored menu items, Jason’s Deli has new vegan options, La Madeleine has a tarte suitable for both Independence Day and Bastille Day, and Velvet Taco’s Weekly Taco Feature is actually a lettuce wrap with shrimp.