KANSAS CITY, MO. — Restaurant operators are leaning on limited-time offerings (LTO) as an engine for menu innovation.

Restaurant Brands International subsidiary Popeyes is tapping into the pickle flavor trend with the Popeyes Pickle Menu. The lineup features five pickle-forward LTOs, including a pickle glazed chicken sandwich, pickle glazed bone-in and boneless wings, fried pickles and lemonade infused with pickle juice.

“This pickle-packed lineup was created to ensure the perfect balance of crisp texture, vibrant acidity and our world-famous Louisiana flavors with every bite,” said Amy Alarcon, vice president of culinary at Popeyes.

Taco Bell, a Yum! Brands company, has unveiled a toasted cheddar street chalupa LTO. The product merges two previous Taco Bell innovations, the toasted cheddar chalupa and cheesy street chalupas, and features a chalupa shell with a layer of mild cheddar baked into the dough with toppings such as onions, cilantro, cantina chicken or grilled steak, and a new chile lime crema sauce.

“The street taco is a cultural staple built on bold flavor and quality ingredients, and the toasted cheddar street chalupas honor that tradition while bringing in a unique Taco Bell touch that packs even more flavor into every bite,” said Luis Restrepo, vice president of product innovation at Taco Bell. “Fans immediately fell in love with the crispy, cheesy bite of the toasted cheddar chalupa in 2019, and now we’re elevating that street-inspired flavor experience and that’s exactly the kind of comeback our fans have been waiting for.”

Subway launched two hot honey offerings to appeal to consumers seeking sweet and spicy flavor combinations. 

The company’s hot honey pepperoni sandwich features pepperoni with provolone cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, Italian bread and a hot honey sauce formulated from cayenne pepper, habanero pepper, garlic, onion and cloves. The hot honey chicken sandwich features rotisserie-style chicken, Monterey cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, Italian bread, the hot honey sauce, sriracha and Subway’s SubKrunch toppings.

“Subway’s signature sauces have become as popular as the footlong itself, elevating our freshly sliced meats and vegetables with bold and beloved flavors,” said Paul Fabre, senior vice president of culinary and innovation at Subway. “Our fans know we’re the sub sauce experts, which is why we’re putting a Subway twist on a hot culinary trend, combining sweet honey with hot pepper and a savory blend of spices.”