Chipotle to Bring Back Smoked Brisket as Restaurants Compete for Fall Dining Occasions

Chipotle Mexican Grill will bring back its Smoked Brisket to restaurants in the US and Canada on Nov. 5, reintroducing the limited-time protein as quick-service restaurants look to capture foot traffic with seasonal menu offerings and promotional deals.

The brisket will return during the heart of the US football season, when restaurants often use game days and watch parties to create additional dining occasions. Chipotle has not disclosed how long the brisket will remain on menus, but the company says the item has sold out...

Arby’s Brings Back Steak Nuggets With Push Across Loyalty, Sports and Social

Arby’s is supporting the limited-time return of its Steak Nuggets with a mix of influencer content, a loyalty promotion and football-related activations.

The restaurant chain recently brought back the menu item, which features bite-sized pieces of 100% steak. The return is being supported by activity across social media and sports partnerships, including appearances tied to both college and professional football.

As part of its social media efforts, Arby’s partnered with reality TV star, model and influencer Caleb McDaniel on content...

Wingstop Kicks Off Football Season with New Lemon Pepper Trio and Its First-Ever Wing Pass

Football season is back, and Wingstop is bringing more flavor to fans' game day rituals with the Lemon Pepper Trio, alongside new ways to fuel the watch party all season long.

For the first time, Wingstop is taking its iconic Lemon Pepper beyond the original dry rub with two bold new expressions crafted by Wingstop's Flavor Experts, giving fans three ways to get their Lemon Pepper fix:

• Original Lemon Pepper: Zesty lemon and cracked black pepper, the iconic...

The Retail Rundown: Meat Case Momentum Meets Football Season

Labor Day has come and gone, but summer is still lingering in much of the country. Warm temperatures are keeping grills in use even as consumers turn their attention to football, back-to-school routines, and heartier fall meals. 

For retailers, that overlap creates an opportunity to keep grilling staples prominent while gradually introducing the roasts, chops, and other cuts that typically gain momentum as temperatures drop. 

The 2026 NFL season officially starts today, putting game-day favorites such as wings, burgers, hot dogs, and ribs in the spotlight. Football promotions...

The Retail Rundown: Ample Chicken Supply Keeps Retailers on the Promotional Offensive

There is plenty of chicken available in 2026—and retailers are making sure shoppers notice.

The latest USDA retail feature data shows the national chicken feature rate reached 84.1%, up about five points from a year earlier. At the same time, the activity index was 74,145, essentially unchanged from last year. In other words, chicken is occupying a significant amount of promotional space even though overall ad activity is not dramatically higher.

That tracks with the broader supply picture, with ample production leaving processors with more pounds to...

The Retail Rundown: Retailers Pivot to Back-to-School and Football Season

August marks one of grocers' busiest seasonal transitions as retailers work to capture the final weeks of summer while preparing for back-to-school routines, Labor Day cookouts, and the start of football season.

Store circulars are increasingly shifting from vacation essentials to lunchbox staples, breakfast foods, and snacks. Retailers are also capitalizing on the broader protein trend by highlighting products that deliver both nutrition and convenience, with deli meats and ready-to-eat offerings prominently featured. 

USDA retail feature activity indicates this emphasis on fresh proteins, with ground beef serving as a key traffic driver...