Starbucks, Chipotle and Chick-fil-A: Here’s what’s new in fast food

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Some chains did their best to slim down, while others did the exact opposite. The flurry of additions to chicken sandwiches is notable because several chains have eliminated a number of items over the past year to save complexity and cost.
However, with a new year beginning and sales soaring again, restaurants are doing everything they can to support growth after a bleak 2020.
Boston Market enters the wars with chicken sandwiches with its own version.

As if there weren’t enough options for a simple fried chicken sandwich, Boston Market is here to raise the bar.

The Nashville Hot Crispy Chicken Sandwich is now on sale for a limited time, with a confident company saying the “chicken sandwich wars are over.” It gets its spiciness from a hot sauce that “pairs cayenne and chili powder perfectly with sugar, garlic and a handful of secret spices.”

Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A's new grilled chicken sandwich.

The fried chicken sandwich maker changes things up with a grilled version. The Grilled Spicy Chicken Deluxe Sandwich is the first new chicken sandwich in nearly two years and features its own custom Cilantro Lime Sauce.

“We know diners want to add more variety to their meals, especially after a year when new dining experiences have been limited,” said Leslie Neslage, director of menu and packaging at Chick-fil-A, in a recognition that the complex launched last year. pandemic menu debuts.

Chipotle

Chipotle's cauliflower rice made its nationwide debut.
Chipotle (CMG) has added cauliflower rice to the menu as customers’ tastes are increasingly shifting towards healthier options, including low-carb or more plant-based alternatives. The rice alternative, which costs an additional $ 2, was tested last summer before making its nationwide debut earlier this month.

Starbucks

Starbucks' New Honey Almondmilk Cold Brew Beverage.
Despite the cold temperatures, cold drinks continue to be a success for the coffee chain. Starbucks (SBUX) said sales of the ice-cold brews are up 45% over the past four years, leading to another cold drink being unveiled.

This month, the Honey Almondmilk Cold Brew was added to menus – a new drink that also capitalizes on the growth of non-dairy milks.

pizza Hut

Pizza Hut's new Detroit-style pizza is available now.
The pizza chain added two new items this month: a crunchy ring of cheese-filled dough called the Nothing But Stuffed Crust and a Detroit-style pizza.

Competition between the major chains has been fierce during the pandemic, driving the demand for pizza from Americans who spend more time at home and don’t eat in restaurants. Pizza Hut hopes the new menu items will support last year’s growth, a trend that is likely to continue.

“What we saw in 2020 was that many of these pizza deliverers had a big increase in their sales because they had nowhere else to go,” Peter Saleh, a restaurant analyst at research firm BTIG, previously told CNN Business. He predicts pizza sales will remain healthy in 2021, as the “dining environment continues to be challenged.”

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