The Living is Easy with These New Seasonal Menu Items 

With Memorial Day upon us, food franchisors and restaurants are kicking off Summer 2023 with new seasonal menu items, limited time offers (LTO’s) and special promotions. From ice cream and barbecue to cocktails and tea, there’s a little something for everyone to stay cool and have fun all summer long. Here’s a sampling of the fun and creative offerings you’ll find this summer 2023.

Summer 2023 Food Franchise Menu Items

16 Handles

Summer and ice cream just go together. To keep guests happy all summer long, 16 Handles is offering a new flavor on the 16th of every month from May through August. For May, the flavor that was released was Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream (above). The June flavor will be Rocket Pop Italian Ice. On July 16, the new flavor will be Fudgesicle Fudge Pop Sorbet. To wrap up the summer, 16 Handles will release Tiger’s Blood Italian Ice starting August 16. 

Applebee’s

Nothing says summertime like colorful drinks. Applebee’s recently debuted two new $6 Sips on the Beach drinks: Passion on the Beach and Mucho Mai Tai (above). The Passion on the Beach is made with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, peach schnapps, orange juice and Ocean Spray Cranberry. Mucho Mai Tai features Captain Morgan Rum with a blend of pineapple, lime and orange juices topped with lemon lime soda and a pineapple gummi.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit

It wouldn’t be summer without barbecue. Through August 30, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is offering its new kielbasa-style Mac & Cheese Sausage. It combines kielbasa-style pork sausage, spices and smoked brisket and is stuffed with macaroni and cheddar cheese. Guests can order on the barbecue franchisor’s app or website. Dickey’s also offers catering options for those looking to spend more time with family and friends rather than grilling. 

Gigi’s Cupcakes

Gigi’s Cupcakes is making summer 2023 even sweeter with 12 summer-themed flavors like Lemon Blueberry, Caribbean Colada, Scarlett’s Red Velvet, Cookies N Cream, GF Wedding Cake, and more. Gigi’s Cupcakes’ Mini Box: Summer 2023 includes a dozen mini cupcakes and is available from June 1- August 31. The Patriotic Pop Box (above) contains 12 mini cupcakes made of white and Devil’s cake with Red Buttercream/ Buttercream/ Blue Buttercream. This box is available from June 26- July 4. 

Jamba

To bring the summertime vibes, Jamba released two new treats: the Tropical Dragon Twist Smoothie and Tropical Dragon Twist Smoothie Bowl. The Tropical Dragon Twist Smoothie combines dragon fruit, mangos, raspberry sherbet and juice blends. Topped with fresh fruit, shredded coconut and granola, the Tropical Dragon Twist Smoothie can also be enjoyed in bowl form.

Jimmy John’s

For summer 2023, Jimmy John’s is bringing back the Chicken Caesar Wrap and Thai Chicken Wrap and adding the Jalapeño Ranch Chicken Wrap (above) to the mix. The new wrap features all-natural chicken, provolone cheese, jalapeño ranch, crispy jalapeños, and red pepper flakes.

Nekter Juice Bar

In partnership with Nintendo, Nekter Juice Bar is offering three new plant-based and dairy-free Skoop offerings inspired by Nintendo Switch games: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 3, and Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe. The Mario Kart Cookie Cruiser option contains cookie dough, blue spirulina and a proprietary coconut cream blend. Splatlands Birthday consists of a batter flavor from a coconut cream blend with turmeric and topped with sprinkles. Kirby’s Berry Dream combines strawberry puree and a coconut cream blend. This promotion runs from June 1 though September 4.

Pizza Guys

Who says that pizza and summer don’t mix? Not Pizza Guys. Through July 31, the pizza franchisor is offering the Hawaiian Luau Stuffed Crust Pizza (above) and Hawaiian BBQ Pizza. The Hawaiian Luau Stuffed Crust Pizza is topped with Canadian-style bacon, applewood-smoked bacon, pineapple chunks, and extra mozzarella. Hawaiian BBQ Pizza consists of grilled chicken, green bell pepper, applewood-smoked bacon, and pineapple chunks. It is topped with a BBQ sauce drizzle.

PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans

Just in time to beat the summer heat, PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans is rolling out six new drinks: three Boosted Teas and three Red Bull Infusion Drinks. The Boosted Teas are the Berry Mango Boosted Tea, Blue Razz Boosted Tea, and Cherry Lime Boosted Tea. Those looking for an added boost of energy can try the Dragon Fruit Red Bull Infusion, Blue Coconut Blast Red Bull Infusion, and Tropical Mango Red Bull Infusion. 

Playa Bowls

To get in on the fun of the summer season, Playa Bowls is releasing a new line of products on June 1. These new items contain summertime favorite mango and coconut flavors. Through August, guests can enjoy the Goldie Mango Bowl, Mango Glow Bowl, Mango Pina Colada Smoothie (above), Summerade Smoothie, and Coconut Cold Brew. To introduce the Mango Glow Bowl, Playa Bowls partnered with Vital Proteins. Playa Bowls is also offering Coconut Protein Bites, which are made with gluten free granola, vanilla plant protein, coconut flakes, chia seeds, agave, coconut oil and semi-sweet chocolate.  

Saladworks

Saladworks is spicing summer up with Hot Honey, berries and poppyseed dressing LTOs. Through September 5, guests can enjoy the Summer Berry Salad, Hot Honey Chicken Panini, Hot Honey Shrimp Salad, and Hot Honey Chicken Salad at all of the salad franchise’s locations.

Smoothie King

Through August 28, Smoothie King is bringing back its X-Treme Watermelon Smoothie (above) and offering the new X-Treme Watermelon Lemonade Smoothie. The X-Treme Watermelon Lemonade Smoothie contains watermelon juice blend, sweetened strawberries, white grape lemon juice blend and turbinado. With watermelon juice blend, strawberries, coconut water, and dairy whey blend, you have the X-Treme Watermelon Smoothie.

SONIC Drive-In

SONIC kicked off summer 2023 with the new Griller Cheeseburger and Red Bull Summer Edition Juneberry Slush (above). Through June 25, the Griller Cheeseburger comes layered with two slices of American cheese, hickory smoked bacon, SONIC Comeback Sauce, chopped lettuce and ripe tomatoes. Guests can order them at participating SONIC locations. For the fifth straight year, SONIC is partnering with Red Bull, and the new Juneberry Slush features notes of cherry, red berry, juneberry, and red grape, with a floral finish. Only available for the summer, this slush is half-priced for guests that order using the SONIC app.  

Starbucks

Just in time for summer 2023, Starbucks released two new drinks: the Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino (above) and White Chocolate Macadamia Cream Cold Brew. The Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino blends Frappuccino roast coffee, sweet chocolate, and mint flavors with Frappuccino chips. The White Chocolate Macadamia Cream Cold Brew is sweetened with macadamia syrup and topped with a white chocolate macadamia cream cold foam. The summertime beverage is finished off with toasted cookie crumbles.

Zoup! Eatery 

Through September 5, Zoup! Eatery’s guests can enjoy two new summer items: the Hot Honey Crispy Chicken Salad (above) and the Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich. The Hot Honey Crispy Chicken Salad includes crispy chicken, cucumber, raw carrots, diced tomatoes, shredded cheddar, roasted jalapeno ranch, and hot honey sauce. The new chicken sandwich includes ciabatta, crispy chicken, roasted jalapeño ranch, sliced cheddar cheese, sliced tomato, and hot honey sauce. 

Preparing for Summer 2023

Likely to see increased foot traffic due to these hot new items, food franchise owners can do things to prepare. For example, they have to hire quality seasonal staff and order the right amount of inventory to keep the summertime party going. Great ways to find teens who are looking for a summer job include posting a job listing on social media and hosting community events. Keeping track of what’s selling also ensures that popular items are never out of stock.