McDonald’s Launches the Most Comprehensive Value Menu Overhaul Since 2018
The biggest promotion is at McDonald’s: This week it launched the “McValue” menu, a new permanent category representing the chain’s biggest change since the 2018 launch of its $1-$2-$3 menu. Restaurant analysts consider this shift particularly significant because it demonstrates McDonald’s commitment to regaining price-sensitive customers. In addition to the popular $5 meal, the McValue menu has buy-one, get-one-for-$1 options, as well as app-exclusive offers and food and drink deals organized by its franchisees.
In the wake of a deadly E. Coli outbreak linked to the Quarter Pounder burger that caused waves of illness to spread throughout the United States, business is decidedly down for the company with the golden arches. Perhaps this is what inspired McDonald’s upcoming New Year’s resolution: an all-new value menu, reportedly set to drop in 2025. Industry experts suggest this timing isn’t coincidental. The chain is betting heavily on affordability to rebuild consumer trust following recent food safety concerns.
Subway Revolutionizes Its Approach with Daily Menu Rotation Strategy
Subway’s added a new “Meal of the Day” menu that changes daily. Priced at $6.99 for a specific six-inch sub or $9.99 for a footlong, all meals include a small drink and two cookies or a bag of chips. This represents a complete departure from Subway’s traditional static menu approach, creating urgency and encouraging repeat visits from curious customers.
Restaurant analysts note this strategy could be genius or risky. Subway is hoping that this pivot will be more successful than its last attempt at a value meal. A $6.99 meal last year that included any six-inch sub with a drink and cookies or chips ended earlier than planned because of lackluster sales. Paired with a small drink and a bag of chips or two cookies, the new 12-inch meal of the day is available for $9.99 or $6.99 for the same deal with a 6-inch sandwich. Subway reportedly plans to swap Coca-Cola products for Pepsi across all franchises in 2025.
KFC Undergoes Massive Brand Transformation with New Restaurant Concept
According to Nation’s Restaurant News, KFC U.S. President Tarun Lal says a “brand transformation” is underway, which is designed to grow both sales and transactions The transformation includes a shocking operational change that has industry watchers talking. Citing a company-wide goal to make ordering at its locations easier, speedier, and more accurate, the chain started converting 16 KFC restaurants in Orlando, Florida, into a new restaurant concept called KFC Original. Aiming for an overall better KFC experience (though not exactly new in concept), dine-in customers at KFC Original in 2025 will be treated to curated playlists of ambient music along with new interior design features including original artwork.
Even more surprising is KFC’s headquarters move. KFC’s parent company Yum! Brands has reportedly announced plans to move KFC’s operations base from Louisville, Kentucky to Plano, Texas. Those offices will serve as the new command center for both KFC and Pizza Hut, while Taco Bell and Habit Burger and Grill corporate employees will remain at its complex in Irvine, California. The $5 Bowl lineup is expanding with new options like the Nashville Hot Mac & Cheese Bowl. It’s the same creamy mac and cheese KFC fans know, but now topped with crispy, spicy chicken and drizzled with that signature Nashville Hot sauce.
Starbucks Returns to Its Roots with Handwritten Cups and Milk Stations
Brian Niccol swapped carnitas for coffee when he stepped down as CEO at Chipotle in September 2024 to turn the 53-year-old coffee brand around after a recent slump. He’s had a busy few months on the job so far, and it looks to continue with the changes Starbucks has planned for 2025. The changes represent a complete philosophical shift back to Starbucks’ coffeehouse origins.
One of his first orders of business was trying to find 200,000 Sharpies. That’s right, the handwritten name on your cup is coming back, along with several other OG Starbucks touches intended to reinstitute the cozy coffee house vibe. Milk and sugar stations will return, and dine-in customers can enjoy free refills of brewed coffee and tea. In a nod to its olden days, Starbucks will also strip its menu of drinks and food that are complicated and slow to make (say bye to the likes of the Caramel Ribbon Crunch Creme Frappuccino).
Taco Bell Doubles Menu Innovation While Pushing Beverage Sales
Menu innovation in 2025 will double compared to 2024, and the brand plans to add eight new dining occasions in the coming years. The strategy focuses on menu innovation, expanding dining occasions, enhancing digital sales, and elevating guest experience. Menu innovation in 2025 will double compared to 2024, and the brand plans to add eight new dining occasions in the coming years. Restaurant analysts are particularly interested in Taco Bell’s aggressive beverage expansion strategy.
Like many of its fast food competitors, Taco Bell is also laser-focused on its beverage offerings this year, expecting sales to reach $5 billion in the next five years. Taco Bell is also betting big on fried chicken and fries in 2025 with the return of its fan-favorite Nacho Fries and Crispy Chicken Nuggets, with the latter also added to new burritos and tacos. The returning Decades menu will pay tribute to the early 2000s with nostalgic favorites like the Doritos Locos Tacos and the Double Decker Taco. The taco chain is having so much success with its $7 “Luxe Cravings Box” that it’s expanding it with two new price points at $5 and $9.
Panera Bread Abandons Fresh Dough Production After Decades
The most shocking transformation might be happening at Panera Bread. Panera revealed it will close all its remaining fresh dough facilities over the next two years, as reported by NRN on April 30. As shocking as the news may sound, the company quietly began this transition in early 2024 as part of a three-year turnaround plan. This represents a fundamental betrayal of what made Panera distinctive.
Panera’s name translated from Latin is “bread basket,” but the company has moved further away from the product that once defined it. For decades, each Panera café baked bread fresh daily, a signature feature that separated Panera from standard fast-food chains. That changed when the company announced the closure of its last fresh dough facilities. Instead of bakers kneading dough overnight, stores now rely on frozen, partially baked bread shipped in from external suppliers. Since starting its three-year turnaround plan, it has closed at least eight fresh dough facilities and has nine remaining. This is a massive downsizing from the 24 facilities it had in 2016.
Chick-fil-A Prepares for International Expansion While Maintaining Sustainability Goals
The celebrated poultry chain, Chick-fil-A, may be one of America’s top spots to grab a mouth-watering chicken sandwich, but its presence overseas has been surprisingly limited. Other than Puerto Rico and Canada, the wafting smell of the chain’s fried tenders and salted waffle fries has been mostly reserved for consumers in the United States alone. All of that stands to change, however, in 2025. With the new year comes an exciting new restaurant presence in both the United Kingdom and Asia. Construction on five of the U.K.’s very first Chick-fil-A locations is reportedly set to begin in early 2025, while in the latter half of the year, Singapore will see its v
Corporate social responsibility and sustainability continue to be Chick-fil-A priorities in 2025. Chick-fil-A actually achieved its 2025 goal of diverting 25 million pounds of landfill waste early in 2024. Imagine how much bigger our landfills would be if the 38 million pounds of food managed by Shared Table since 2020 had landed there instead of being donated to help fight hunger. Chick-fil-A projects to debut a record eight locations across Ontario and Alberta in 2025, marking the most openings in the country since Chick-fil-A entered Canada in 2019. Chick-fil-A’s Asia development will begin with Singapore in late 2025, the start of a 10-year, $75 million investment.
Dunkin’ Faces Backlash Over Value Menu Changes
Dunkin’ added a new $5 breakfast meal deal. Included in the all-day deal are two breakfast wraps and a 14-ounce hot coffee or 24-ounce iced coffee. However, the change angered some of its fans, since it replaced a $6 meal deal that included a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich; hash browns; and a medium hot or iced coffee. Some people on social media complained that the new meal offers less food for a similar price and are asking the chain to bring back the previous option.
This consumer pushback demonstrates how sensitive customers have become to perceived value decreases. Restaurant analysts note that Dunkin’s misstep shows how chains must carefully balance cost-cutting with customer satisfaction. The social media backlash suggests that even minor menu adjustments are being scrutinized more heavily than ever before.
Wingstop Develops Sophisticated Loyalty Program Despite Record Growth
Consumers have been pulling back, but not at Wingstop. In 2024, Wingstop reported strong sales growth and same-store sales lifted 20 percent. Despite this success, Wingstop recognizes it needs to build brand awareness. However, Wingstop – despite operating over 2,000 restaurants – sees significant brand awareness potential. CEO Michael Skipworth calls it “the biggest brand no one has heard of,” citing a 20 percent awareness gap compared to peers.
The chain is taking the next step in its digital evolution by launching a loyalty program, with a pilot planned for Q4 2025 and a full rollout in 2026. Skipworth emphasized the program’s personalized, insight-driven design – built to foster one-to-one engagement rather than traditional transaction-based models. This move leverages years of investment in data infrastructure and digital tools, including a CRM platform and the MyWingstop ordering system, powered by a database of over 50 million users.
Panda Express Accelerates Expansion with Largest Growth Plan in Years
Panda Express has been one of the steadiest growth chains in quick service and appears to be ramping up. The chain added a net 85 stores in 2024 to get to 2,505. But according to its recent FDD, Panda Express projects 123 new company-owned outlets in fiscal 2025 alongside 14 new franchised stores. That would represent one of its largest growth runs in recent memory.
As it expands, the 1983-founded and family-owned brand continues to introduce menu innovation, with recent tests including Chili Crisp Chicken and Firecracker Steak and Shrimp. Restaurant analysts view this aggressive expansion as particularly noteworthy given the challenging market conditions that have forced other chains to contract.
Jack in the Box Returns to Chicago After 40-Year Absence
The city of Chicago may have stunning buildings, beautiful lake views, and deep dish pizzas galore, but one thing it hasn’t had for the last 40 years? A local Jack in the Box. It’s true; Illinois’ largest city has been without the varied fast food chain for the past four decades. But in late 2024 and into 2025, the winds of change are blowing into the windy city – right along with the smell of the famous Jack in the Box tacos. Twelve Jack in the Box locations are expected to be planted over the duration of the coming year – two of these are already open – marking a historic new beginning for both the franchise and craving Chicago residents.
The company reports that this initial planting is just the beginning of an intended larger expansion, potentially culminating in 125 established locations in the Chicago market. This geographic expansion strategy suggests Jack in the Box sees untapped potential in markets where it previously failed or retreated from operations.
