New breakfast items fill menus in the new year.
Tim Hortons is celebrating its 60th anniversary with the launch of four retro donuts. The four donuts making a limited-time return are the blueberry fritter, the Dutchie, the cinnamon sugar twist and the walnut crunch.
“We’re celebrating 60 years of ‘Keeping it Fresh’ throughout the year at Tims with a series of experiences for guests that will have a spirit of modern nostalgia — nods to the past but also celebrating the Tims of today and the future,” said Hope Bagozzi, chief marketing officer for Tim Hortons.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. is releasing its new Golden Carolina BBQ Tenders, which consumers can order to-go or via DoorDash. The new chicken tenders, which are drizzled in the sweet-and-tangy golden Carolina BBQ sauce, are officially coming to dine-in menus in late February.
“Fans of Cracker Barrel and sports alike have a lot to look forward to this season with the release of our new bold and tangy Golden Carolina BBQ Tenders,” said Thomas Yun, vice president of culinary at Cracker Barrel.
First Watch Restaurants, Inc. released its first limited-edition menu of 2024, which is inspired by regional foodie hot spots like Brooklyn and Mexico City. The new menu features several items, including a Brooklyn breakfast sandwich, barbacoa chilaquiles breakfast bowl, blackberry lemon cream french toast, holey donuts and mango passion palmer juice.
Red Lobster is adding to its Endless Shrimp menu with the new Crispy Salt & Vinegar shrimp, which feature a crispy texture and a salt-and-vinegar flavor, and are served with a side of ranch dressing.
Starbucks is adding three food products to its menu as part of its winter menu launch. The items include a chicken, maple butter and egg sandwich; potato, cheddar and chive Bakes; and a vanilla bean custard Danish. The egg sandwich is being added to the chain’s permanent menu while the Bakes and Danish will be available for a limited time.
The egg sandwich features a layering of chicken, eggs and a maple-butter spread on a toasted oat-biscuit roll. The Danish is formulated with sugared Danish dough and filled with vanilla bean custard. The Bakes combine eggs, diced potatoes, cheddar cheese, spinach and chives. FBN
To celebrate New Year’s resolutions, Qdoba is launching post-workout bowls, which are available through digital ordering. Qdoba added five varieties of the post-workout bowl to “help people maintain a healthy lifestyle and keep on track with their goals,” according to the company.
The life flavors include:
“We are dedicated to providing a variety of menu options while helping our guests achieve their health and fitness goals this year,” said Katy Velazquez, executive chef and director of culinary innovation at Qdoba. “A perfect way to refuel after a workout and ideal for those seeking a quick and wholesome meal, our specially crafted bowls align with our customers’ lifestyles and dietary preferences.”
Jack in the Box is introducing the Smashed Jack burger, a ¼-lb smashed-inspired patty topped with grilled onions, pickled, and a new Boss sauce, served on a brioche bun.
“Smashed patties have been extremely popular, and our new Smashed Jack pays homage as its first fast-food rendition, while adding a unique Jack twist,” said Ryan Ostrom, chief marketing officer at Jack in the Box. “Thanks to high quality ingredients and a new chef crafted sauce, our new burger boasts a bold, caramelized flavorful patty typically reserved for sit down restaurants or homemade barbecue settings. We recognized an opportunity to lean into our innovation history and bring something new to the drive thru.”
Krispy Kreme is bringing back its Biscoff line of donuts, which first made their US debut in January of last year. For a limited-time, consumers can order three Biscoff-inspired donuts:
Frozen yogurt chain Pinkberry is adding to its menu with the new ube honey flavored yogurt. The new flavor combines the rich and nutty notes of the purple yam with the sweetness of honey, according to the company.
Frozen yogurt shop SweetFrog added a PB&J swirl flavor to its line-up, which will be available until March.
“PB&J is the perfect mix of nostalgia and flavor, delivering an enchanting experience in every bite,” said Heather Marini, senior national marketing manager for Kahala Brands, parent company of SweetFrog. “Guests of all ages are bound to enjoy this comforting swirl.”
Spring has sprung—with new sandwiches.
New product introductions tap into trending consumer flavors.