national · tech

High-protein menu items keep gaining ground across chains

Original headline: “Protein maxxing continues to shape menus”

Why this matters

Major chains from Chick-fil-A to Smoothie King to Pokeworks are all adding or expanding high-protein options, signaling that protein-forward eating has moved from trend to baseline expectation. When chains at this scale retool menus around a single macro, it shifts what guests compare your menu against. Independent operators who have not audited their menu for protein-forward options risk looking dated to a guest who just came from a Pokeworks or a Smoothie King. This is not about copying chains. It is about understanding what your regulars now consider a default.

What to do

Audit your current menu and flag three existing items you could reposition or slightly modify to lead with a protein claim.

Curated by Chayadol Sundarapura · restaurant-business →

Published Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:01:55 GMT