This week on Nation's Restaurant News the top story was Menu Tracker: New items from McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and IHOP. Plus innovation at &Pizza, Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar, Beyond Juicery & Eatery, Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, Burgerville, Cinnaholic and more.
In other news, Taco Bell’s innovation wheel is constantly churning and that has been especially clear in recent months after the chain announced its plans to launch at least one new product every five weeks, twice the rate of 2023.
Indeed, the chain has served up everything this year from Cantina Chicken and the Big Cheez-It Crunchwrap Supreme to Mtn Dew Baja Blast Gelato to tests featuring Tajín or focused on beverages like Churro Chillers and Agua Refrescas.
Also, as new Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol begins his first week at the Seattle-based coffee chain, he laid out his plan for “refocusing” the Starbucks brand in an open letter to customers, employees and investors.
In the letter, Niccol conceded that the brand had “drifted from its core” of being a “welcoming coffeehouse” and laid out a four-point plan to right the ship, including empowering baristas with the best tools to do their jobs, meeting customer expectations on quality and service, elevating the in-store experience, and telling the Starbucks brand story.
See what else was trending on NRN.com this week.
