10 Great New Menu Items for Fall
By Aimee Harvey on Oct. 04, 2017CHICAGO -- The fall season ushers in familiar favorites on menus. Pumpkin flavors are no surprise, although other seasonal flavor profiles are emerging too; both retailers and restaurants are emphasizing apple, maple, pecan, molasses and cranberry accents for entrees, desserts and beverages.
Here's a look at how 10 convenience stores are promoting fall flavors, featuring standout offerings from the coffee bar to baked goods and sandwiches ...
1. GetGo's The Pilgrim
Pittburgh-based GetGo has brought back its Thanksgiving-themed toasted turkey sub, The Pilgrim, topped with cranberry sauce ...
GetGo's Biergarten Brat
... and the retailer also debuted an Oktoberfest-themed Biergarten Brat, served with caramelized onions on a pretzel bun, priced at $3.49.
GetGo's limited-time offerings (LTOs) mirror the menu activity at numerous restaurant chains, such as Red Robin, which rolls out a yearly Oktoberfest menu featuring fall-themed beers, burgers and appetizers.
2. Kum & Go's Harvest Salad
West Des Moines, Iowa-based Kum & Go now menus a Harvest Salad, featuring chicken strips, roasted sunflower seeds, Wisconsin feta cheese and dried cranberries.
3. Sheetz's Pumpkin Pie Cold Brew
Altoona, Pa.-based Sheetz was an early adopter of the cold-brew trend, and has introduced a Pumpkin Pie Cold Brew version for fall.
4. Maverik's pumpkin muffin
North Salt Lake, Utah-based Maverik has added a new Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffin for a limited time, priced at $1.99.
5. Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes' pumpkin LTOs
Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes, Canastota, N.Y., has rolled out a whole line of pumpkin-flavored LTOs, including pumpkin spice coffee, cappuccino, muffins, cookies and parfaits.
6. Rutter's fall offerings
Rutter's Farm Stores, York, Pa., has introduced a lineup of seasonal offerings for fall. At the coffee bar, customers can create their own fall-themed hot or cold coffee drinks with pumpkin flavoring and toasted marshmallow syrup. Other seasonal items include pumpkin beer, a Glazed Pumpkin Cake Donut and fresh-baked molasses cookies. Molasses was recently noted as a newly emerging fall flavor trend, according to Technomic's MenuMonitor, powered by Ignite.
7. Family Express' Spiced Apple Cider
Valparaiso, Ind.-based Family Express has added a new cinnamon-accented Spiced Apple Cider to its beverage menu, prepared with 100% natural apple cider.
8. Casey's new doughnut
Ankeny, Iowa-based Casey's General Stores has introduced a new Seasonal Pumpkin Donut, topped with a sweet glaze icing.
9. Speedway's Maple Griddle Cake
Enon, Ohio-based Speedway introduced a Maple Griddle Cake several months ago, and maple-flavored breakfast sandwiches, such as McDonald's McGriddle breakfast sandwich, appear on restaurant menus year-round.
But maple is increasingly being marketed as a seasonal draw on restaurant menus, and is often paired with other flavor profiles to create a sweet-and-savory offering. Full-service restaurant chain Cracker Barrel recently rolled out a Maple Pecan Fried Chicken Entree, Dunkin' Donuts debuted several maple-flavored coffees and lattes for fall, and Starbucks' Maple Pecan Latte is a new fall beverage option.
10. Ricker's apple treats and drinks
Indiana-based Ricker's is promoting locally sourced apple doughnuts and doughnut holes from Bowman Bakery, as well as apple-flavored wine from local purveyor Oliver Winery.
Apple flavors are up on fall menus 13.5% year over year, according to Technomic's MenuMonitor, while there's been a 19% increase in apple in adult beverages since 2015.