Restaurants embrace sauces as Gen Z demands new flavors

McDonald’s

Earlier this year, the chain introduced the Savory Chili WcDonald’s Sauce to go with its anime-inspired WcDonald’s campaign. The sauce, a mix of ginger, garlic, soy, and chile flakes, was only available for a limited time, but illustrates the progressing role of sauces as part of brands’ promotions.

Taco Bell

At its Live Mas event, Taco Bell launched an entirely new sauce, Avocado Verde, to complement its new Cantina Chicken menu. The chain also partnered with Portland, Ore.-based hot sauce company Secret Aardvark to introduce Secret Aardvark Nacho Fries. Last year, the chain partnered with Yellowbird and Truff to sauce up its signature Nacho Fries.

Wendy’s

Wendy’s teamed up with Cholula to roll out new breakfast burritos in January.

KFC

The brand’s newly launched Saucy Nuggets include sauces with flavors honey sriracha, Korean BBQ, Sticky Chicky Sweet ‘n Sour, Nashville Hot, and Georgia Gold.

Bojangles

The Southern chain just brought back its Bo Sauce and partnered with Sauer Brands to bottle its most popular dipping sauces at select grocery stores across the Southeast.

Starbucks

In February, Tasting Table spotted a Green Siren Sauce and a Red Siren Sauce at Starbucks locations. The green sauce features a “creamy, herby ranch flavor,” while the red sauce features a roasted red pepper flavor to drizzle.

Fajita Pete’s

The Mexican brand launched a new chipotle aioli sauce in April, with smoky notes from chipotles, spice derived from habaneros and jalapeños, and sweetness from onions.

Zaxby’s

Chicken brand Zaxby’s rolled out new Southern Fried Shrimp along with new Zaxtail Sauce, which blends the brand’s signature Zax Sauce and cocktail sauce, with notes of horseradish.

Sonic Drive-In

This month, Sonic Drive-In is planning to introduce what it’s calling Groovy Sauce, with ranch and herbs combined with Sriracha. The sauce was created to complement Sonic’s new Groovy Fries.

BurgerFi

BurgerFi recently debuted the Heinz Remix Machine at a Florida location, claiming to be the first restaurant brand to do so.

Church’s Chicken

After seven decades, Church’s Chicken launched its first-ever signature hot sauce.

Subway

The sandwich brand teamed up with T. Marzetti Co. to launch four of its sauces — Sweet Onion Teriyaki, Roasted Garlic Aioli, Baja Chipotle, and Creamy Italian MVP — at select retailers and grocery stores.

Texas Roadhouse

Texas Roadhouse added its Roadhouse Gold Steak Sauce and Classic Steak Sauce to retailers nationwide, also in partnership with T. Marzetti.