Menu Tracker: New items from Taco Bell, Taco John’s, and Tim Hortons

by Adfinitely | Jan 17, 2025 | Blog, FrontPage

From Bret Thorn at nrn.com on January 17, 2025:

Photos courtesy of the restaurant companies

During the pandemic, a number of chains took menu items that didn’t travel well, like burgers and tacos, and put them on something known for being delivered intact: Pizza. Hence a brief period of pizza topped with the fixin’s of those other popular menu items.

Well, as you know, the delivery trend that grew when dining rooms were closed continues to be a popular option, and the trend of coaxing pizza to taste like hard-to-deliver items continues, but this time a popular option is jalapeño poppers. &Pizza did that last week, and this week we’re seeing it at Your Pie

Pizza with Indian toppings is another little trend, hence the Tikka Masala Pizza now available at Via 313.

In other pizza news, Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, the little chain based in New Haven, Conn., known for its clam pies, is offering a pizza with a topping that’s popular in Rome: Potatoes.

Round Table Pizza now has a pie topped with both pepperoni and chicken (and bacon), while California Pizza Kitchen now offers burritos on a secret menu in partnership with virtual brand Man Vs. Pies (speaking trends that emerged during the pandemic), and Mountain Mike’s Pizza has a couple of new salads.

Taco Bell has cheesy new miniature burritos and Taco John’s has a new quesadilla-taco hybrid.

Taco Cabana, for its part, has a new salad.

Farm Burger has two new salads

The Crack Shack has some new seasonal items, along with a breakfast sandwich that’s a permanent addition, and there are also new permanent items at Cotton Patch Cafe, Goodcents, Tropical Smoothie Café, Veggie Grill by Next Level, The Human Bean, Hurricane Grill & Wings, and, notably, Snooze A.M. Eatery, which has rolled out protein pancakes.

Noodles & Company is bringing back its Steak Stroganoff, which was a big hit last year, and Beard Papa’s has essentially renamed some of its cream puffs as a cross-promotion with manga series Mashle: Magic and Muscles.

There are new sweet drinks from Dutch Bros and not-so-sweet drinks from Fiiz Drinks.

Island Fin Poke has coho salmon now, permanently, and Freebirds World Burrito has new seasoned ground beef for a limited time.

Vegan chain Cinnaholic has new pastries, and other vegan chains Next Level Burger and Veggie Grill by Next Level have a burger and shake and a bunch of smoothies, respectively.

Ike’s Love & Sandwiches is not a vegan chain, but it has a vegan sandwich for January.

Juice it Up! has new smoothies and a build-your-own waffle, Oakberry has oatmeal, and Tender Greens has a new meal inspired by the Blue Zone diet.

Miguel’s Jr. has pozole, as it generally does in January,

Iron Hill has some new items just available through early February, including a tomato basil soup, which Flying Biscuit Café has too.

Protein Bar & Kitchen has some high-protein items, just as you’d expect,

Zaxby’s has a chicken sandwich inspired by the Philly Cheesesteak, Starbird has a chicken Park, and Schlotzsky’s has a tortilla soup.

Vicious Biscuit has a new omelet, and Vitality Bowls has its own version of a hangover cure. WOB Bar & Kitchen, aka World of Beer, has new wings, Wings and Rings has several items with Sam Adams beer cheese, Tim Hortons has indulgent drinks and doughnuts, and Velvet Taco’s Weekly Taco Feature is inspired by jambalaya.enticing blend of super greens, grass-fed sous-vide steak, grains, radishes and more wrapped in a tomato basil tortilla—each item aligns with the brand’s mission help gmentary açaí bowl on their birthday and earn a $10 reward for every 150 Vitality Points they accumulate.

Vitality Bowls Builds Momentum in 2024

by Adfinitely | Jan 6, 2025 | Blog, FrontPage

From QSR at qsrmagazine.com on January 6, 2025:

Vitality Bowls, the nation’s leading superfood café concept specializing in nutrient-packed açaí bowls, smoothies, wraps, salads, grain bowls, and more, is building off of the momentum and innovation it generated in 2024 to hit the ground running in the new year.

The Northern California-based company marked more than one decade of providing allergy-friendly, health-focused menu items to communities across the country earlier this year when it celebrated its 13th year in business. This milestone was complemented by a series of significant accomplishments that reinforce Vitality Bowls’ commitment to health, innovation, and continued expansion.

“2024 was a transformative year for Vitality Bowls,” said Tara Gilad, president and co-founder of Vitality Bowls. “We experienced exciting growth with several new location openings in key markets such as Arizona, New Jersey, Texas, and Georgia. We also launched innovative programs around our new cold-pressed juices and virtual brand, Harvest Kitchen, pushing the boundaries of what it means to offer clean, nutritious food that tastes good too. Our continued expansion reflects our mission to make healthy eating accessible to all, and we’re eager to carry this momentum into 2025 as we aim to grow even further and connect with more communities nationwide.”

In the past year, Vitality Bowls opened eight new locations, including its first-ever café in the state of New Jersey and its fourth location in the state of Arizona. Additionally, the brand expanded its offerings with the introduction of cold-pressed bottled juices, shots and smoothies across the Texas market, and its virtual restaurant brand, Harvest Kitchen, which introduced savory, protein-packed bowls, wraps, and other menu items to complement its impressive lineup of superfood dishes. In 2024, Vitality Bowls sold over 1.2 million açai bowls and continued its advocacy for food allergy education, partnering for the fifth year with the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT). In addition, Vitality Bowls earned continued recognition by securing a spot on the Franchise Times Top 400 for the sixth consecutive year, cementing its status as a leader in the restaurant and franchise sectors.

With a diverse and growing menu of nutrient-dense superfoods, Vitality Bowls remains a go-to destination for health-conscious individuals. Whether it’s the vibrant acai bowl – the Superfood Bowl – or the satisfying Chimichurri Steak Wrap, Vitality Bowls continues to offer customizable, made-to-order meals designed to support wellness without sacrificing convenience. As the brand continues to evolve, it remains unwavering in its mission to bring accessible, high-quality food to all. nibs and goji berries—to hearty crowd favorites like the Chimichurri Steak Wrap—an enticing blend of super greens, grass-fed sous-vide steak, grains, radishes and more wrapped in a tomato basil tortilla—each item aligns with the brand’s mission help gmentary açaí bowl on their birthday and earn a $10 reward for every 150 Vitality Points they accumulate.