KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Limited-time offerings (LTOs) continue to be a mainstay on foodservice menus. In 2016, foodservice operators continue to leverage LTOs for testing new products, creating brand awareness or highlighting seasonal flavors in menu items.
Spring sprang early for some foodservice operators that opted to use the approaching season as hook for limited-time offers.
Dunkin’ Donuts is helping customers “ring in spring” with the GranDDe Burrito, a 10-oz. breakfast burrito filled with rice and beans and a spicy omelet of jalapenos, red bell peppers and pepper jack cheese with habanero.
Foodservice operators also will use LTOs to bring variety to their menus while satisfying consumer demand. Technomic, a leading market research firm, noted that consumers continue to demand a wider offering of beef and pork items in addition to a greater selection of offerings.
“Offering beef and pork in ways that redefine value for consumers while positioning these dishes as unique offerings may help drive sales,” Technomic said in its Beef & Pork: Balancing Variety with Rising Costs report.
Other foodservice chains decided to hang their marketing hats on holidays. In time for Mardi Gras, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen brought back its Cajun Surf & Turf, but with a twist: a choice of butterfly shrimp or popcorn shrimp to accompany two handcrafted chicken Tenders. Meanwhile, Hard Rock Café opted to leverage the luck o’ the Irish with its Guinness & Jameson Bacon Cheeseburger.
“Celebrations — no matter how silly — are great hooks for LTOs, deals and social-media promotions,” Technomic said in its Tips from the Menu Experts.
