We’ve got a record 20 ‘menu items’ on the Fast Food Week List this week. From an ‘elevated’ BK Whopper, to a Returning McD’s Big Arch, to JITB’s Sauced & Loaded Onion Rings, to Johnsonville’s Dr. Pepper-inspired, Cola-Infused Sausages…
The new, tweaked Whopper (right) appears little changed from the
former Classic. But there’s now creamier mayo and a softer bun…
The rundown…
And make sure to take a peek at OREO’s new DOOMSDAY cookies, Dunkin’s new 48 oz / 1.4 L ‘Bucket’ bevs, and Walmart’s new Sushi Bar…
MAINS
Burger King tweaks the Classic Whopper!
BK is making three changes to the Classic Whopper which you may or may not notice. The biggest is… The Whopper will now come in a box – like the Big Mac – rather than a flimsy paper wrap. The chain says it should hold together better… The other changes are minor – creamier mayo and a softer bun. But BK emphasizes it’s not changing the basic recipe: “The Whopper is an icon, so we didn’t set out to reinvent it. Instead, we elevated it based on direct guest feedback,” BK President Tom Curtis assured in a news release.
… Brings back Maple Bourbon Whopper
BK is bringing back its ‘swavoury’ Maple Bourbon Whopper – for a limited time. The flame-grilled quarter-pound patty is slathered with maple bourbon BBQ sauce, crispy-fried onions, crispy-fried Jalapeños, maple-candied bacon, and American (processed) cheese, all on a toasted sesame seed bun. A Whopper Jr. version is also available.
McDonald’s reboots the ‘Big Arch’
Remember when McD’s started talking about a bigger, value-conscious burger? It took months for the chain to even come out with a teaser about what the menu item would look like. But the Big Arch (see photo, top of page) finally appeared. And even then some folks were less than impressed. Now it’s coming back for a limited time at participating McD’s locations.
For those who don’t remember it… The Arch starts with a distinctive sesame- and poppy-seeded bun and two quarter-pound beef patties. They’re topped with three slices of white cheddar processed cheese, both crispy and slivered onions, lettuce, pickles, and Big Arch Sauce. But the price, early ad-opters report, is not so value-conscious this time around – right up there with the Double Bacon Quarter Pounder with Cheese…
Firehouse making rare permanent menu addition
Firehouse Subs is adding a new Chicken ‘N’ Cheddar Rancher to its permanent menu. It’s based on ‘premium’ grilled chicken breast, and topped with smoky bacon, Cheddar cheese, and a new ‘herb-forward’ buttermilk ranch dressing.
And it’s different from the peppercorn Ranch created for the Turkey Bacon Ranch Sub. Which is typical of the Firehouse. They do try to ‘be different’, but in a low-key, restrained way…
Jack In The Box has ‘Munch Better Deal’
Jack has launched another contender in the value-meals segment. It’s called the $5.99 Munch Better Deal Meal. The bundle includes:Your choice of either a Jr. Jumbo Jack Cheeseburger, a Jr. Chicken Sandwich, a Double Jr. Jumbo Jack (for an extra $1.50), or a Really Big Chicken Sandwich (also for an extra $1.50); plus small fries and a drink. Now, that’s a genuine value…
Pepsi crosses the line – into Wings!
PepsiCo has dared to go where no other fizzy drink or snack maker has gone before. It’s extended its Lay’s Flamin’ Hot spicy brand to Chicken Wings. “Flamin’ Hot fans have been loud and clear—they want more ways to turn up the heat. We’ve been listening, and that’s why we’re bringing Flamin’ Hot Boneless Chicken Wings to stores,” Janelle Rowe, PepsiCo’s Sr. Vice President of Foodservice, told Foodbeast.
KFC reprises beloved Twister…
That’s their dual-Tender wrap, garnished with lettuce, tomato, and Pepper Mayo and rolled up inside a warm tortilla. It comes like that in the Classic version…
… But you can also add smoky bacon and/or Zinger sauce to make it personal. And this time, it’s full-sized, not a ‘snacker’.
… And fills up a new Bucket
The new $20 Bucket is built on your choice of either eight pieces of bone-in chicken or eight Original Recipe Tenders. You also get 4 individual sides and four biscuits. And you get four sauces if you choose Tenders. The Bucket is apparently designed to feed 4 moder-ately hungry diners – as the 4-side feature suggests…
Taco Bell stuffs Chicken Bacon Ranch Chalupas
Ranch is everywhere these days. And if its previous appearances as an innovation in other Fast Food niches is any indication, it’s due for a rave run in Tex-Mex. The Chicken Bacon Ranch Street Chalupa, feature slow-roasted chicken inside a signature Bell toasted cheddarshell, layered on bacon, pico de gallo, cheddar, and Avocado Ranch Sauce. They’re 2 for $5.99. You can also get matching Loaded Nachos. Now through March 18, across the chain.
SIDES
Jack In The Box dresses up Onion Rings
Jack has rolled out what he calls Sauced & Loaded Onion Rings. ‘Classic’ Bacon Cheddar is topped with melty cheese, sauce, ranch, and bacon crumbles.
The new Hot Mess version swaps in Pepper Jack in place of Cheddar and adds Jalapeños. This brash move is right on Script for Jack’s. The chain is noted for bucking the copycat trends and taking its own – sometimes bumpy – road…
BEVERAGES
Dunkin’s pours 48 oz / 1.4 L Iced Drinks
The container is less a cup than a bucket. It even has a carry handle. Right now, you can order the chain’s iced coffee and Refresher drinks in buckets for $7 to $10 at select locations in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. It’s a test to see if last summer’s short but sweet ‘bucket coffee’ fad will carry over to this year.
McDonald’s adds CosMc’s bevs to McCafé menu
So9me say McD’s CosMc’s spinoff failed miderably. NcD’s says it closed the ‘prototype’ fast food out-lets after gathering vital info on new food and bev items. Whatever the case, McD’s is adding several bevs from CosMc’s to its McCafé menu. There’s a Frappé, a Cold Brew, two Refreshers and something called the Lunar Splash – in spite of the fact that there’s no liquid water on the Moon.
Topo Chico on hiatus over production issues
The CocaCola Co. has announced its popular Topo Chico sparkling water drink will be unavailable for a while. Coke cites upgrades and water quality issues at its production facility in Monterrey, Mexico.
The taditional Mexican quaff, first sold in 1895, was imported by Coke in 2017, to rave reviews in California and the Southwest.
DESSERTS & SNACKS
Wendy’s supports Girl Scouts
Wendy’s is brining back its popular Thin Mints Frosty Swirl in honour of Girl Scout Cookie Season. Which is now in Full Swing. It’s just what you’d expect: a Vanilla Frosty swirled and topped with a minty cookie crumble sauce inspired by Girl Scouts Thin Mints cookies. There’s also a thin Mints Frosty Fusion is a topuch richer… Mixed with a minty cookie crumble sauce and crushed Girl Scout Thin Mints cookies. You’ll know where to get them by the Girl Scouts out front selling cookies at participating locations.
Smuckers gets into the Protein Game
Smuckers – who for decades relied on their preserves and related products for their signature su-cess, have branched out into the snacks business. And their latest offering is what they call, UnCrust-ables Burstin’ Blueberry ‘Peanut Butter and Blueberry Spread Sandwich’. The rest of the industry calls it a ‘hand pie’. And it’s advertised boldly as containing 12 g of protein. Another in-novation: Uncrust-ables come frozen. But Smuckers says they can now be kept in safely the fridge for up to 5 days.
OREO celebrates DOOMSDAY (the movie)
The guys who love to bring you new flavours are trolling out what they call the ‘STUF OF DOOM – A Twist of Power OREO’. And it’s got something really new: Stuf that turns DR. DOOM’s signature green when licked. Not only that, but the marshmallow-flavoured filling starts out ‘black toasted’.
Visit OREO.com/UnwrapTheCollab, for prerelease packs. Or wait for the nationwide launch on March 2, at marveloreostufoflegends.com. Avengers: Doomsday – the final ‘act’ of the Avengers sedries – arrives in theatres on December 18.
Nissin adds Protein to Noodle Cups
Everybody’s doing it. Now Nissin, proprietor of the popular Noodle Cups instant Ramen brand, is making big noise about adding protein to selected flavours. Cup Noodles Protein is available in Rich & Savory Beef, Rich & Savory Chicken, and Hot & Spicy Chicken, to start. Each has 16 g of protein – about twice what a regular serving of Cup Noodles provides.
Grab-and-Go: Walmart tests in-store Sushi bars
It’s about time. Jut about every ‘real’ supermarket now has an in-store Sushi Bar. My go-to has one staffed by sushi ‘mistresses’ certified authentic by Canada’s legendary Asian Supermarket chain, T&T. But ‘fans’ have been almost uniformly negative about the idea. A recent study by the American Cust-omer Satisfaction Index, based on 31,293 completed surveys, ranked Walmart 17 out of 19 in the Supermarket category, with the freshness of its meats and produce emerging as an issue.
NOVELTIES
Johnsonville partners with Dr. Pepper
No, it’s not a sausage-flavoured cola. It’s a cola-flavoured sausage. Johnsonville decided to test the Dr.’s claim that his bev is the go-to marinade for meats. And created a sausage featuring the soda’s trademark 23-flavour blend.
They claim the end result is a sausage with a swalty (sweet and salty) finish. “Reaction to the idea of a soda-inspired sausage has been a little polarized,” Johnsonville’s Vice President of Marketing, Jamie Schmelzer, admits…
EVENTS
Hershey descendant accuses Company of ‘dilution’
We all know candy makers are trying to make their chief ingredient go farther, in the face of major cost increases. But now Brad Reese, the grandson of Reese’s inventor, H.B. Reese, has written an open letter to Hershey’s expressing disappointment over what ultimately boils down to allegedly false advertising. Brad says the company is ‘diluting’ is key ingredients to prop-up profits.
The letter appeared in the NY Times. Reese’s classic Peanut Butter Cups, Almond Joy, Mr. Goodbar, and Rolo are now labelled: ‘Chocolate Candy’. Which Brad says indicates they no longer contain real chocolate…
And that’s the skinny…
… On what’s going to be making some of us a little more ultra-processed over the coming days and weeks. See you back here in 7 for the next waiting-for-the-thaw edition of Fast Food Week!
~ Maggie J.