Fast-Food Chains Chase a Thirstier, Younger Crowd
Americans are drinking less alcohol, and fast-food chains have spotted a chance to fill the gap. They are courting young customers with frozen coffees and energy drinks that buyers can customize down to the flavor shot. Taco Bell has pushed harder than most, opening more than 30 Live Más Cafés inside its existing restaurants, where workers it calls "Bellristas" serve creamy chillers, fruity refreshers, and seasonal drinks alongside the usual menu. A diner can wash down a Triple Double Crunchwrap with a Pineapple Lime Rockstar Energy Refresca and its 200 milligrams of caffeine, roughly twice a regular coffee. Early results have already justified the expansion. After Taco Bell debuted Live Más Café outside San Diego in late 2024, that location saw a 40% sales lift, and the chain now plans a systemwide rollout as it chases $5 billion in beverage sales by 2030.
Dunkin' Returns to Canada to Face Tim Hortons Again
Dunkin' is heading back to Canada, eight years after it gave up on a market it couldn't crack. The coffee chain, owned by Atlanta-based Inspire Brands, said it has signed a deal with Foodtastic to open "hundreds" of locations across the country. Foodtastic, which owns Freshii and runs 27 brands and more than 1,200 locations in Canada, already operates Inspire's Jimmy John's sandwich shops there. Both sides pointed to that track record.
Gong Cha Unveils Tech-Driven Store Redesign
Bubble tea is about to get a lot faster. Gong Cha, the Taiwan-based chain with 2,200 stores in 33 countries, is introducing a major redesign that puts automation front and center. The company calls it "Gong Cha 2.0" - a new store model that combines drink-making robots, self-service kiosks, and a modern look. After testing the setup in Asia and the Middle East for two years, the brand is ready to bring it to its 240 U.S. locations.
Nothing Bundt Cakes Takes Top Spot in America's Favorite Chains for Second Year
Nothing Bundt Cakes, the Dallas-based bakery chain with nearly 800 locations across North America has claimed the No. 1 spot in America's Favorite Chains for the second year in a row. The chain didn't just win overall - it swept multiple categories. Nothing Bundt Cakes topped service and hospitality, unit appearance and ambiance, food and beverage, and convenience and takeout. It was also the No. 1 favorite limited-service chain among millennial consumers.
Dutch Bros Acquires 20-Unit Clutch Coffee Chain in Carolina Expansion
Dutch Bros is making a strategic move in the Carolinas by acquiring Clutch Coffee Bar, a 20-unit regional chain based in North Carolina, for an undisclosed price. Clutch Coffee locations closed on January 16th. After renovations, the shops will reopen as Dutch Bros locations, giving the Arizona-based chain a much larger footprint in a region where it currently operates just two stores.
2025 Fast Food Holiday Deals and Menu Items
The holiday season is upon us, and fast-food chains are getting into the spirit with new menu items, merchandise and deals that capture the flavors and fun of this festive time of year. Here’s a list of what’s already available:
Global Food Chains Want a Piece of the American Market
While U.S. restaurants battle rising costs and cautious consumers, international chains are rushing in the opposite direction. They're coming to America at roughly double the pace of a decade ago.
Chick-fil-A Debuts Daybright Coffee Concept in Georgia
Chick-fil-A opened Daybright Coffee & Refreshment, a standalone café concept in Hiram, Georgia, marking its latest venture beyond chicken sandwiches. The new location opened Thursday, Oct. 30, serving "handcrafted coffee beverages, smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and food made with simple ingredients," according to a company spokesperson. Unlike its parent restaurant, Daybright won't feature any Chick-fil-A menu items.
Taco Bell's Live Más Café Expands to Texas
Taco Bell is bringing its Live Más Café concept to Texas. To continue its push to transform itself into a beverage powerhouse, the fast food giant will open a Dallas location on November 6 and a Houston spot on November 20. Earlier this year, Taco Bell announced it’s targeting 30 new cafés by the end of 2025, with plans to expand the concept nationwide eventually.
Starbucks to Give 1,000 Cafes a Major Makeover by End of 2026
Starbucks brings back the cozy coffeehouse vibe that made it famous. The coffee giant plans to refresh 1,000 U.S. locations by the end of 2026, investing roughly $150,000 per store to create warmer, more welcoming spaces that invite customers to stay longer. The makeovers represent a dramatic shift from recent years, when Starbucks prioritized digital ordering over the in-store experience.
