A little of everything on the menu at Fast Food Week this time ’round. Also, a rash of relocations, with the KFC head office and an IHOP + Applebee’s collab moving into Texas, and… Netflix moving into a Vegas casino for a one-year resto ‘residency’!
The rundown…
Celebrate the return of variety in the Fast Food News this week, with a refreshingly differentiated rundown of quick service resto and snacks news…
Mains
Big Smashed Jack exactly what it says
If you thought the regular 1/4 lb. / 113 g Smashed Jack Burgher is big, wait until you try to get your head – especially your mouth – around the new Big Smashed Jack. Jack In The Box bills it as a, “bigger version of McDonald’s Big Mac,” with, “nearly triple the beef compared to [the] leading competitor’s burger.” Available now for a limited time, through April 7.
74-Cent Jumbo Jack a REAL Value Deal
Jack In The Box is offering a 74-Cent Jumbo Jack commemorating its 74th birthday this weekend only. It’s a standout deal even among the dozens of Value Meal deals being offered this winter across the fast Food landscape. Predictably, you’ll find the deal only when ordering through the app or online, in the ‘offers’ menu…
Panera updates nutty Chicken Salad sandwich
I’ve always loved the idea of a Chicken Salad Sandwich filling dressed up with chopped nuts. Even before Panera Bread started offing them. Now, the soup and sammy brand is changing up its CSS menu again…
… with a new Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad offering. The new combo replaces the previous ‘nutty special’ Napa Almond Chicken Salad Sandwich.
Beverages
7-Up goes ‘Tropical’
There’s been significant movement in the fruit-flavoured soda market over the past few months. Now, 7-UP is getting in on the act with a new ‘Tropical’ flavour that ups the ante. ‘Tropical’ adds mango, and peach flavours to the traditional 7-UP lemon-lime blend. And so confident is the brand of the appeal of its new variant, ‘Tropical’ is going on the ‘permanent menu’ immediately.
Andes Mint Chocolate Shake is back at Arby’s
The Andes Mint Chocolate Shake finds itself back at Arby’s for St. Patrick’s Day. It’s green, of course… The double-minty delight features Arby’s vanilla shake base mixed with mint chocolate shake syrup, finished with whipped topping and dotted with chopped, chocolaty Andes Mints.
Perfy delivers Pizza Parlour Experience in a can
The quirky, upstart soda brand has something new for pizza fans. Pepperoni Pizza is a limited-time ‘perfect soda’ flavour. “We’ve captured that magic in every can. Where each slice is transformed into a lightly carbonated love letter to our childhood,” the product’s official description claims.
It’s caffeine-free, contains only has 3 grams of sugar per 12 oz. / 355 ml can, and, rings up just 30 calories, and is vegan-friendly.
Desserts & Snacks
Krispy Kreme + Hulu = new Movie-themed doughnuts
Krispy Kreme teams up with streaming service Hulu to launch a Movie Snack Donuts Collection. Try ’em all: Blue Raspberry Slush, Caramel Popcorn, Cookie Dough Superstar, and Candy Double Feature. The collab includes a chance to win one of 10 1-year Hulu subscriptions. Sweepstakes and doughnut special runs through March 9.
OREO doubles up with new Cakesters
Specifically, they’re Oreo Double Chocolate Cakesters, a permanent addition to the family that will feature a chocolate flavored creme filling sandwiched between two chocolate snack cakes.
All they’re missing in appealing to the most ardent chocoholics is a dip in dark chocolate ganache. But OREO has to leave itself someplace to go for future upgrades…
Taco Bell + Milk Bar = Birthday Cake Churros
Taco Bell is collabbing with Milk Bar chocolates to bring you Birthday Cake Churros. It’s neither brand’s birthday, so the treat will be around for an indefinite period – while supplies last. You can order either one or two Churros, stuffed with Milk Bar’s iconic birthday cake frosting and topped with confetti sprinkles…
Novelties
Old El Paso re-ups Dessert Taco Shells
This time they’re also upping the ante, pre-dressing them with natural caramel flavour. “Last year, football fans went wild for our limited-edition box featuring J.J. Watt and Justin Jefferson,” said Jenny Jonker, Old El Paso Brand Experience Manager, in a press release. “This year, we’re bringing back the excitement with another MVP duo and a brand-new flavor that perfectly blends sweet and savor.”
Events
First ever IHOP + Applebee’s restaurant has opened
We told you in this space a few weeks back that IHOP and Applebee’s were partnering to share space in a small town just out San Antonio, TX. A first for both brands and their industry…
“IHOP has always struggled bringing in the dinner crew,” CEO John Peyton of Dine Brands told re-porters at the grand opening. “So we figured what better way to drive [them and the] late-night crowd than by introducing the Applebee’s crowd.”
KFC moving out of Kentucky – to Texas!
At least the iconic southern-themed chicken outlet is staying in the south. It’s all part of parent holding company YUM Brands’ head-office consolidation effort. Not totally unexpected for the legendary fried chicken brand, either. Did you know the founder of KFC, Col. Harlan Sanders, first started selling chicken in Ohio, not Kentuckey?
Netflix melds food and flix
But it’s only in Las Vegas and only for a ‘one-year residency’. The streaming service wants you to experience, through a unique collab with the MGM Grand Hotel Casino, “known for their top-notch hospitality and entertainment, is the ideal creative partner delivering fun, original storytelling through memorable food and drink experiences,” said Netflix VP of Consumer Products Josh Simon.
And that’s the skinny…
… On what’s going to be making some of us a little less likely to worry about buying a new swim suit over the coming days and weeks. See you back here in 7 for the next sub-arctic edition of Fast Food Week!
~Maggie J.