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You know it’s the holiday season when Starbucks breaks out their red cups again. While Starbucks itself is not a franchise, many top franchise brands across the country are able to pursue similar strategies in order to draw a seasonal spike in revenue.On Monday, <a href="https://www.nrn.com/beverage-trends/beverage-tracker-holiday-specials-starbucks-dunkin-and-dutch-bros?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=seasonal-menu-items-have-returned-and-seasonal-franchise-strategy-has-evolved-2717410" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nation’s Restaurant News</a> reported that many national brands are trying something new, or at the very least, taking advantage of some holiday festiveness. Writer <a href="https://www.nrn.com/author/Bret-Thorn?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=seasonal-menu-items-have-returned-and-seasonal-franchise-strategy-has-evolved-2717410" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bret Thorn</a> put together this in-depth listing of some seasonal menu items from top national franchises and restaurant chains, showing how the holiday spirit has doubled as a business opportunity for many brands.The holiday season is often a time where many people will indulge a little more than they otherwise would. This is where franchises can see dollar signs, and where a unique strategy can turn into long-term customer retention.&nbsp;Large and small coffee chains have implemented seasonal flavors, while brands like Applebee’s and Dave &amp; Buster’s have resorted to special holiday-themed cocktails to help drive seasonal traffic. If a limited-time strategy like this shows promise among customers, it can lead brands to consider full-time implementation, or at least an ongoing seasonal campaign. If it doesn’t, it can be written off as a one-time holiday trial that disappears without a trace.A seasonal menu is just enough of a twist to lure customers back in with something new, while preserving the confidence a customer might have already developed for the brand.Franchises can implement seasonal recipes on a large scale, which requires carefully-executed procedures and planning well in advance of December. A mom-and-pop store can throw in some peppermint flavor to virtually anything and call it seasonal, while a nationwide brand can have a tougher time creating uniformity under a similar strategy.Brands have already been forced to plan ahead in the wake of COVID-19, and the holiday season is just another reminder of what a few months of advanced insight can provide. Seasonal offerings take a lot more than planning; however, given the current state of the global supply chain, it can be <a href="https://www.qsrmagazine.com/outside-insights/5-tips-navigating-supply-chain-disruptions?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=seasonal-menu-items-have-returned-and-seasonal-franchise-strategy-has-evolved-2717410" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">difficult enough</a> to stock up on essential ingredients, much less seasonal ones.

Seasonal Menu Items Have Returned — and Seasonal Franchise Strategy Has Evolved

1851 Franchise

Nationwide restaurant brands can develop new customer retention with some seasonal menu items, but implementing them takes far more than a simple suggestion.

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Pet Wants

How Pet Wants Can Be the Ideal Family Business Opportunity

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Daily Meal: Layne’s Chicken Fingers Earns National Attention as a Breakout Brand for 2026

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Daily Meal: Paris Baguette Gains National Spotlight as One of 2026’s Fastest-Rising Restaurant Chains

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Minuteman Press Franchise Review: From Food to Print in High Point, NC

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Seasonal Menu Items Have Returned — and Seasonal Franchise Strategy Has Evolved

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