Sandwiches, Sweets Tempt Foodservice Consumers

The rising cost of dining out is curbing consumers’ spending on foodservice. Chain restaurant sales were up by just 3% last year, making it the lowest-performing year since the pandemic, according to Technomic’s 2025 Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report.

The quick-service restaurant industry is particularly vulnerable to the impact of tariffs on prices, according to insights from market research platform Zappi. In a Zappi survey of 1,000 consumers conducted this past April, 59% of respondents said that even a modest price increase of 10% would prompt them to stop buying fast food. And 49% of Zappi survey respondents said they are cooking more at home.

Meanwhile, fast-food operators are working to woo consumers. They are heating up the center of the plate with a variety of offerings, including smashed burgers, burgers layered with different types of meat, globally inspired sandwiches, and dippable sandwich/soup combinations.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers piles smoked, sliced brisket and two steakburgers on a bun for its BBQ Brisket Steakburger, available for a limited time. The Hardee’s chain has a BBQ Pulled Pork Frisco sandwich on the menu, and Del Taco introduced a Slow-Cooked Pork Carnitas lineup that includes burritos, tacos, and quesadillas.

Fast-casual chain Bobby’s Burgers, founded by celebrity chef Bobby Flay, is serving Mediterranean-inspired Greektown Burgers seasoned with fresh herbs, feta cheese, yogurt sauce, and tomato-cucumber relish as a limited-time offering (LTO) this summer. Whataburger brought back its Pico de Gallo Burger as an LTO. McDonalds debuted a Daily Double Burger made with two beef patties topped with lettuce, onions, mayonnaise, and two tomato slices.

Fast-food operators are also mixing it up with french fries. Jack in the Box introduced BBQ Potato Chip Flavored Seasoned Curly Fries, and Burgerville brought back Rosemary Shoestring Fries during the winter holiday season. Del Taco’s Funnel Cake Fries are dusted with powdered sugar.

Panera Bread’s Ciabatta Dippers, paired with a small serving of soup for dipping, and new Croissant Toast sandwiches, including Croque Monsieur and Fromage Croissant Toast options, add a bit of global inspiration to the fast-casual sandwich segment.

Sweets and Snacks

According to Technomic’s Ignite Menu platform, desserts posted the highest growth in new menu items for the yearlong period from the first quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2025—up 11.9%. Other items with the greatest growth on menus were appetizers, +10.5%; entrées, +7.2%; nonalcoholic beverages, +7.1%; sides, +6.8%; and kids’ menu items, +6.7%.

Technomic reports that the growth of desserts on menus was driven by an uptick in mentions of pudding and gelatin desserts, including panna cotta (+38.0%) and plain crème brûlée (+20.6%). Cracker Barrel offers Dessert Skillets in S’mores Brownie and Cinnamon Roll varieties.

Carvel’s Mother Earth Flying Saucer frozen treat featuring blue and green swirls of vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two chocolatey wafers is grabbing young diners’ attention nationwide as an LTO.

Watch for more kid-specific beverages. Jack in the Box recently added SOUR PATCH KIDS beverages, including a shake, slushie, lemonade, and soda with a whipped topping, to its menu.

With the p.m. snack occasion posting the largest gains in restaurant traffic last year, per the National Restaurant Association, it’s not surprising that quick-service operators are adding small bites to their menus. McDonald’s brought back its Snack Wrap this summer. Dave’s Hot Chicken offers Mini Sliders.ft