national · macro

Fast casual chains test new menu items across the country

Original headline: “Menu Tracker: New items from Chick-fil-A, CAVA, and Krispy Kreme”

Why this matters

Chick-fil-A, CAVA, Krispy Kreme, and a handful of regional chains are actively rotating new items right now. When chains at that scale test menu innovation, it shifts what nearby customers expect and what they are willing to pay. Independents often feel the traffic impact before they see it in the data: guests try the new item down the street, then benchmark your menu against it. This round of chain innovation skews toward flavor-forward and customizable, which is where independents have a natural edge if the menu and the pricing are current.

What to do

Pull your menu's last price update date and check whether your highest-margin items still stand up against what the chains near you are promoting.

Reveal Newsroom · Auto-published from nrn →

Published Fri, 24 Jul 2026 18:08:25 GMT