A rich selection of desserts, snacks and beverages headlines Fast Food Week! Novelties and Events abound. Starbucks jumps the Pumpkin Spice Latté gun. And El Pollo Loco flips over 2 new Chicken Quesadillas…
El Pollo Loco flips over 2 new Quesadillas
The rundown…
Whataburger celebrates 75th. Dr. Seuss Classic celebrates Green Eggs and Ham’s 65th! McDonald’s celebrates the’first fruit’ of its CosMc’s R&D efforts…
Mains
El Pollo Loco flips over 2 new Quesadillas
Choose from either the Creamy Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla or the Salsa Verde Chicken Quesadilla. Both feature melted Jack cheese, and citrus-marinated flame-grilled white-meat chicken breast on a grilled tortilla. A side of handmade guacamole is included with the former, while the Salsa Verde Chicken Quesadilla comes with a side of salsa verde.
Whataburger celebrates 75th with $0.75 Burgers
That’s a pretty special promo price – for an historic Burger. Whataburger is selling its ‘classic’ burger for just $.75 to celebrate its 75th birthday. On August 8, National Whataburger Day, Rewards members can grab a classic #1 Whataburger for just 75 cents. The deal’s only good from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. Only 1 per member.
Beverages
Starbuck’s brings back Pumpkin Spice Lattée
Not immediately. But soon. And for the rest of Fall. The classic Lattée is back at all Starbuck’s loca-tions August 26. But why they decided to announce it a month early is anybody’s guess… Maybe they thought they were losing control of the classic ‘generic brand’ after other brands announced the return of their versions of the PSL last year…
McDonald’s ‘previews’ new Bevs
The first ‘fruit’ of its CosMc’s R&D efforts, McDonald’s is now premiering a new line of Beverages ahead of their official launch on September 2.
McD’s stresses its not a ‘test’, but a full-scale début at 500 select McDonald’s restaurants across Wisconsin, Colorado, and areas nearby. The lineup ranges from, “cold coffees, fruity refreshers, crafted sodas, and energizing sips.”
Raspberry syrup returns to Starbucks
… For a limited time, featured in a new Raspberry Cream Cold Brew. In an odd turn of affairs… It’s not real Raspberry, but a ‘rich sangria color made from fruit and vegetables’. The flavour remains the same. A summer-time tradition…
Jones ‘unloads’ cannabis soda line
Jones Soda has stepped aside from the cannabis soda space selling its Mary Jones weed-infused line to its MJ Reg Disruptors associate. The cannabis division only made up 8 percent of Jones Soda’s revenue in the first quarter of 2025. Jones’ probiotic drinks, caffeinated sodas, and hard craft beverages
Desserts & Snacks
Krispy Kreme intros Italian sinkers
Krispy Kreme has another first…. Italian-style Dessert doughnuts in 4 fancy versions: The specialty flavours include a Limone-frosted, a Cannoli-inspired half-dipped treat and a Tiramisu-inspired treasure.
Available at participating locations across the country through August 17. Why Italian?Why now? Why not!
Starbucks launches in-app Secret Menu
A legend for ages, Starbucks’ Secret Menu is landing for real, soon in its digital app. It’s described as an official version of its App offfering, “twists on fan favorites [and] completely new creations.” The the Starbucks secret menu is not really too well-hidden in the ‘offers’ tab of the Starbucks app…
OREOs x Reese’s = Irresistable treat
It’s about time: It’s a double crossover – not a double-cross. hold perhaps the ultimate ‘x’ in the Dessert and Snacks ream. Reese’s and OREO’s have combined to produce special, reciprocal tribute to one another: The chocolate cup is filled with Peanut Butter Cream + OERO Cookie chunks. The top half is filled with OREOs Stuff…
Cheetos creeps out Wednesday movie sequel tribute
Cheetos creeps us out with a Wednesday movie sequel promo – Flamin’ Hot Fiery Skulls Cheetos. They’re popping up – like Thing’s hand – at the usual retail locations across the US now, for a limited time to the celebrate the arrival of the movie on NETFLIX…
At the same time, Cheetos is also Launching the World’s First Fingertip Sponsorship with Global Superstar Becky G and the Return of Deja tu Huella Campaign…
Novelties
Dr. Seuss Classic celebrates 65!
Which one? I hear you say? The ‘food’ one, of course! Green Eggs And Ham first hit the stands 64 years ago this month. And Hormel has a partnered with the publisher to bring you commemorative Green Eggs and SPAM! Recipe on the SPAM website. SPAM in the special ORANGE anniversary can.
Krispy Kreme and Cloggs team up
… And the result is doughnut-inspired cloggs, adorned with facsimiles of some of KK’s classic frost-ings and sprinkles. The base colour, of course, celebrates the golden tan of KK’s classic Original Glazed. The clogs will be available exclusively in adult sizes at Crocs stores, the main website, and participating retailers. A special doughnut collection will be available at KK stores starting August 5…
Events
VenHub débuts first AI-enabled vending ‘hub’
Less than a full-fledged store, more than a kiosk… VenHub – the food service robot people – have opened their first ‘AI-Automated’ snacks and bevs vending machine ‘kiosk’.
It looks like a crossover between an regular vending machine and a glass bus shelter. But VH insists, it’s ‘the next thing’.
Fenway Park Food Workers strike for first time
Baseball history of the wrong kind was made this past week: Fen way Park Food concession workers sent on strike fo r the first time in 113 years. And trheir demands are simple: “living wages, guardrails on technology, and R-E-S-P-E-C-T!” Does this mean fans still can’t bring their own food and drinks to the park? Get details at X: @UNITEHERE26.
And that’s the skinny…
… On what’s going to be making some of us a little less comfortable about dressing comfortably in the coming days and weeks. See you back here in 7 for the next record-hot summer edition of Fast Food Week!
~ Maggie J.