All articles tagged with #beverages
KFC’s global overhaul centers on staying relevant across generations rather than chasing Gen Z, with a new beverage platform (Kwench) and refreshed restaurant design and menu items designed to broaden appeal beyond traditional meals; early indicators show rising visits driven by menu innovation and nostalgia amid heightened competition from Chick-fil-A, Cane’s, and Wingstop.
KFC is rolling out a worldwide brand overhaul that includes more boneless menu options backed by a global sauces pantry of over 20 sauces, an expanded Dunked line, and an enhanced KWENCH beverage platform with Boba Refreshers and Krunch Shakes. The revamp features updated branding (new bucket logo and Colonel Sanders treatment) and new store concepts, including open-concept and two-story formats. After testing in the UK and Ireland, the drinks will become permanent in Australia and Canada this year, with phased rollouts beginning in the UK/Ireland and later extending to Australia and the US.
At the James Beard Foundation Awards in Chicago, Los Angeles chefs and restaurants won multiple honors: Seline and Pasjoli’s Dave Beran was named Best Chef California; Providence won Outstanding Hospitality; Kato earned Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages; Nancy Silverton received the Lifetime Achievement Award; Serving Spoon was named an American Classic; and No Us Without You founders were recognized as Humanitarian of the Year.
KFC is launching a global brand overhaul—including a new logo, packaging, menu updates with sauces like Chimichurri Ranch and Hot Honey Habanero, and the Kwench beverage platform—with redesigned, more immersive stores aimed at attracting younger diners while balancing heritage with modern experiences, as it competes with newer chicken concepts and seeks to regain momentum in the US.
McDonald's is adding six permanent drinks nationwide—three Refreshers (Strawberry Watermelon, Mango Pineapple, Blackberry Passion Fruit) and three crafted sodas (Sprite Berry Blast, Orange Dream, Dirty Dr Pepper)—as part of a beverage push, while phasing out self-serve soda machines by 2032 and introducing dedicated in-store beverage specialist roles.
McDonald’s plans to phase out self-serve beverage stations in U.S. dining rooms by 2032 to cut labor and maintenance costs while moving to counter-prepared drinks and expanding the beverage lineup, including new dirty sodas and Refreshers.
Dietitians flag ten sugar-heavy beverages to avoid or sip sparingly: fruit juice (even 100% juice), sweetened iced tea, sugary coffee drinks, soda, sweetened plant-based milks, pre-made alcoholic drinks, premade smoothies, premade protein drinks, energy drinks, and sports drinks. They recommend healthier swaps such as whole fruit, diluted juice or water, unsweetened teas, plain coffee, seltzer with a splash of juice or lemon, unsweetened plant milks (or soy milk), water, homemade smoothies with protein, and sugar-free options. The guidance also references daily added-sugar limits (men up to 36 g, women up to 25 g, or no more than 10% of calories).
Starting May 6, McDonald’s USA is launching six new beverages—three Refreshers and three crafted sodas—nationwide with features like freeze-dried fruit, popping boba, and cold foam. The lineup includes Strawberry Watermelon Refresher, Mango Pineapple Refresher, Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher, Sprite Berry Blast, Orange Dream, and Dirty Dr Pepper, and the company says these drinks are here to stay and will be a core reason customers visit.
McDonald's is refreshing its drink lineup with six new beverages—three lemonade-based refreshers (Strawberry Watermelon Refresher, Mango Pineapple Refresher, Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher) and three dirty sodas (Sprite Berry Blast, Orange Dream, Dirty Dr Pepper)—arriving nationwide May 6, with some locations possibly serving them early; check the McDonald's app for availability.
McDonald's will roll out refreshers and crafted sodas nationwide starting in May, with energy drinks to follow later this year, as part of a broader beverage push after the CosMc's closure; reports note possible items like a Dirty Dr Pepper and Mango Pineapple Refresher and indicate pricing may undercut rivals such as Starbucks and Dutch Bros.
McDonald's will roll out refreshers and crafted sodas in the U.S. this month after testing via the CosMc’s concept, with items like Dirty Dr Pepper and Mango Pineapple Refresher. Energy drinks are planned for August, and pricing is expected to be below rivals to support a broader value strategy aimed at attracting price-conscious diners.
A push to overturn Ohio’s ban on intoxicating hemp products, including THC/CBD beverages, failed to gather the required signatures by the March 19 deadline, leaving SB 56 intact. Organizers said time constraints limited their effort to collect more than 248,000 valid signatures from at least 44 counties, and Gov. DeWine’s veto removed a beverage carve-out from the measure. With no ballot measure, Ohio remains unable to overturn the law via a referendum, a feat not achieved since 2011.
An effort by Ohioans for Cannabis Choice to place a repeal of the state's intoxicating hemp ban on the ballot failed after organizers ran out of time to gather enough signatures—about 248,000 valid signatures across 44 counties were needed by the March 19 deadline. Senate Bill 56 already banned most intoxicating hemp, while Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed a beverage carve-out; supporters argue the outcome could hurt businesses and jobs, though organizers did not disclose how many signatures were collected. Ohio hasn’t seen a ballot override of a law since 2011.
Dietitians say drinks often thought to be off-limits can actually support blood sugar when chosen thoughtfully. The article highlights unsweetened coffee, dairy milk, 100% fruit juice in moderation (about a half-cup) paired with protein, unsweetened soy milk, and tea as budget-friendly options that fit a blood-sugar–friendly plan. Key tips include avoiding added sugars, retraining taste buds to prefer unsweetened drinks, swapping sugary drinks for unsweetened versions, downsizing portions, and watching caffeine intake.
A Washington Post column argues that investing in buy-it-for-life coffee makers can save money and cut waste by avoiding frequent replacements, while still delivering quality brews and supporting a more sustainable kitchen habit.