Super Bowl Food Spending Soars as Restaurants Roll Out Game-Day Promotions
Super Bowl LVIII is set to be a major win for the restaurant industry, with an expected $17.3 billion in consumer spending, 80% of which will go toward food and beverages. Many restaurant chains are offering special promotions, from discounted wings and pizza bundles to unique items like Popeyes’ Tequila Don Julio chicken sandwich and Cracker Barrel’s Party Platters. In addition to dine-in and delivery deals, brands like Chipotle and Taco Bell are tapping into digital campaigns to keep customers engaged, while others like Raising Cane’s and Smoothie King are offering catering and limited-edition menu items for game day.
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Restaurant Chains Weighed in on Quitters Day with Unique Promotions
As the second Friday of January approached, marking “Quitters Day,” several restaurant chains embraced or poked fun at the tradition of failed New Year’s resolutions. Arby’s launched a “New Year, Same You” menu with disguised high-calorie items, while Smoothie King offered a Resolution Menu with smoothies tailored to different fitness goals. Meanwhile, Chipotle and Strava continued their partnership, promoting “No Quitters Day” by encouraging customers to stay on track with wellness goals through motivational content and rewards like free Lifestyle Bowls.
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McDonald’s Shifts to Smaller Formats for CosMc’s Concept Expansion
McDonald’s updated its CosMc’s concept, revealing plans to open two new small-format locations in Texas in 2025 while closing three larger ones. The company highlighted that smaller stores, which focus on drive-thru and digital experiences, have proven more effective for the beverage-led concept. Since its launch in 2023, CosMc’s has gained popularity with drinks like the Island Pick Me Up Punch and Churro Cold Brew Frappe, along with food items like Savory Hashbrown Bites and McPops.
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Domino’s Enters the Pizza Wine Trend with Limited-Edition Yellow Tail Collaboration
Domino’s Pizza has teamed up with Yellow Tail to create a limited-edition red wine blend designed to pair perfectly with their pizzas. The wine features a branded label and a “Twist.Tap.Order.” device that allows customers to easily order pizza by tapping their phone to the bottle cap. While the wine is not pizza-flavored, it aims to make pizza night more fun and convenient, with the special device available only online and the wine without it sold in select retail stores.
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Red Robin Drives Growth with Enhanced Local Marketing Strategies
Red Robin reported a positive fourth-quarter outlook, with same-store sales expected to rise by 3.4%, a significant improvement from earlier in 2024. CEO G.J. Hart highlighted the success of the company’s five-point “North Star” plan, which included a menu overhaul, staffing adjustments, and a successful loyalty program. Additionally, Red Robin has seen strong results from its managing partner program and increased local marketing efforts, helping the brand gain momentum as it continues its turnaround strategy.
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