Major fast-food chains and sit-down eateries alike have already announced a myriad of special offers that customers can cash in on come tomorrow, Feb. 29. The deals range from tantalizing freebies to menu item discounts to opportunities to score extra rewards points for chain restaurant loyalty programs.

Read on for details on the 15 best restaurant deals you won't want to miss this Leap Day—and how you can take advantage of them!

Chipotle

Adding guacamole to your Chipotle order will usually cost you extra, but the chain will offer the add-on free of charge on Leap Day. The deal is only available to customers who order a full-priced entrée through the Chipotle app or website on Feb. 29. Those who apply the code EXTRA24 at checkout can receive either a small side of guac or top their meal with guac for free.

RELATED: 8 Healthiest Chipotle Orders, According to Dietitians

Krispy Kreme

If your birthday happens to fall on Leap Day, you can score a dozen of Krispy Kreme's Original Glazed doughnuts free of charge on Feb, 29, no purchase required. Customers will need to show proof of their birthday and redeem the offer in stores or at the drive-thru.

The dessert chain also has another deal lined up for customers who won't be celebrating their birthdays on Feb. 29. Those who purchase any full-price dozen can also score an additional dozen Original Glazed doughnuts for $2.29 in a nod to Leap Day's "2/29" date.  The deal will be available in stores, online, and at the drive-thru.

Smoothie King

Because Leap Day falls on the 29th day of February, Smoothie King customers can score 29% off their smoothies this Thursday. The offer will only be available to customers who spend $15 or more through the Smoothie King app. Additionally, the discount will only be valid for smoothies that are 20 ounces or larger.

Burger King

Members of Burger King's Royal Perks loyalty program can earn four times the Crowns, or rewards points, when they make a purchase through the app or website on Feb. 29. Customers who rack up enough Crowns can use them to score freebies at Burger King, including burgers, fries, and beverages.

RELATED: All of Burger King's Burgers & Sandwiches—Ranked by a Dietitian

Taco Bell

Taco Bell Rewards members can score the fan-favorite Crunchwrap Supreme for just $2.29 on Leap Day. The menu item currently costs $5.49 at a Taco Bell in my area (though prices could vary at other locations), so customers who take advantage of the deal can potentially save a few dollars. This offer will only be available through the Taco Bell app and is limited to one per user.

Dunkin'

Dunkin's customers can snag a medium Cinnamon Vanilla Coffee for just $2 when they order through the chain's app on Feb. 29. Rewards members can also earn four times the points on all app orders on Leap Day.

RELATED: Every Dunkin' Drink—Ranked by Sugar Content

Wendy's

Wendy's made an exciting new addition to its breakfast lineup when it launched its new Cinnabon Pull-Apart on Feb. 26. This Thursday, Wendy's customers can sample the new offering completely free of charge, no purchase required. The offer will be available during breakfast hours on Feb. 29 while supplies last. Drive-thru customers can snag one free Cinnabon Pull-Apart per vehicle, while dine-in customers can score one per transaction.

Salad and Go

Salad and Go—a drive-thru chain with locations in Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Texas—will be able to add free avocado to any breakfast burrito, breakfast bowl, custom salad, or made-to-order wrap on Leap Day.

Customers who order online should apply the code "LEAPDAY" at checkout, while those who order at the drive-thru should mention the promotion to cash in on the offer. The deal will be available from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time.

RELATED: The 10 Best Salad Chains In America

Round Table Pizza

Round Table Pizza—a regional pizza chain with locations in the West and South—will offer a $7 discount on large and extra-large pizzas for Leap Day. Customers looking to take advantage of the offer will have to mention the offer in person or apply the code LEAP7 when ordering through the app or website. The deal will only be available at participating locations, so make sure to check with your local Round Table Pizza to confirm whether they're offering the discount.

BJ's Restaurants and Brewhouse

BJ's Restaurants and Brewhouse customers can score the chain's signature dessert—the Pizookie—for just $2.29 on Feb. 29. The offer is only available to dine-in guests who spend $10 or more. Customers can apply the discount to any Pizookie flavor, from the Chocolate Chunk Pizookie to the Strawberry Shortcake Pizookie.

RELATED: I Tried the Cookie Skillet at 5 Restaurant Chains & Only One Is a Perfect Hit

Hungry Howie's

Hungry Howie's—a pizza chain with more than 530 locations across 21 states—is offering a special BOGO deal in honor of Leap Day. Customers who buy one large pizza can get a second one for just 29 cents. The offer is valid for carry-out customers from Feb. 26 through Feb. 29.

Yogurtland

The frozen yogurt chain Yogurtland will gift triple the points to members of its Real Rewards program who stop by on Feb. 29. The offer will be available for in-store and online customers.

BurgerFi

Like Krispy Kreme, BurgerFi also has a special deal lined up for customers celebrating their birthdays on Feb. 29. Customers who were born on Leap Day can score a 20% discount on their meal when they dine in. Guests will need to mention the offer at the register when they place their orders.

RELATED: 10 Regional Burger Chains You Have To Try At Least Once

Long John Silver's

Customers who spend $5 or more at Long John Silvers on Feb. 29 can a free piece of fish or chicken at participating locations. The offer will only be available to online customers who apply the code "LEAPDAY" at checkout.

Wings and Rings

Wings and Rings—a sports-themed restaurant chain with a few dozen locations throughout the United States—will give out five bonus wings to customers who order 10 wings on Feb. 29. The offer, which is limited to two per customer, will be available to dine-in and takeout guests at participating locations.

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The post The 15 Best Restaurant Deals You Can Score on Leap Day appeared first on Eat This Not That.

In 2022, Pringles got rid of this flavor, much to fans' disappointment. According to Kellanova, the brand's parent company, "thousands" of social media users requested the item's revival. These chips feature a combination of garlic and red spices to present a tangy, slightly sweet flavor.

RELATED: I Tried 10 Old-Fashioned Plain Potato Chips & There Was One Clear Winner

"Pringles Honey Mustard has an incredibly passionate fanbase, in fact, it was our most asked-for flavor from the brand in the last two years," Mauricio Jenkins, U.S. marketing lead for Pringles, said in a press release. "Our die-hard fans' efforts paid off and the delicious tangy and subtly sweet Pringles Honey Mustard crisps are returning to shelves…for good!"

The returning chips will be available at select retailers nationwide.

RELATED: The 30 Unhealthiest Snacks on the Planet

When Pringles first teased the upcoming flavor release, Instagram users left their guesses in the post's comments section. Some predictions included ketchup and mustard, cheeseburger, spicy mustard, honey barbecue, and of course, honey mustard.

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After Pringles confirmed Honey Mustard's comeback on Instagram, fans swarmed the comments section to share their excitement.

"Omg these are so good! I hope I can find them soon. I use[d] to have to travel to another state to get them. They're that good," one Instagram user wrote.

"THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU," another one commented.

RELATED: I Tried 7 Popular Tortilla Chips & the Best Was Habit-Forming

In 2023, Pringles rolled out a few new flavors. In August, the brand released its limited-edition Everything Bagel flavor, which has notes of sesame, poppy seeds, and cream cheese, along with toasted onion and garlic.

Before this flavor debut, the snack brand launched Pringles Harvest Blend, a collection of chips featuring sweet potato and multigrain varieties. These chips come in a few different flavors, including Multigrain Farmhouse Cheddar, Multigrain Homestyle Ranch, Sweet Potato Sea Salt, and Sweet Potato Smoky BBQ.

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The post Pringles Just Brought Back a Fan-Favorite Chip Flavor appeared first on Eat This Not That.

The country-themed restaurant chain, known for its all-day breakfast and southern-style fare, just released its latest earnings report for the quarter that ended on Jan. 26. In a Feb. 27 call with investors where Cracker Barrel discussed its latest financial results, Chief Financial Officer Craig Pommells revealed that customer traffic dropped 4% during the quarter.

RELATED: The #1 Unhealthiest Cracker Barrel Order, According to a Dietitian

He added that the company expects "industry traffic to remain pressured for the remainder of the fiscal year." Other key takeaways from the quarter included a 1.2% increase in same-store sales, a 4.8% increase in menu prices, and a 5.3% drop in comparable sales for Cracker Barrel's in-restaurant gift shops.

Declining customer traffic has become a persistent issue for Cracker Barrel over the past year. The chain also lost customers during the four quarters that preceded the latest quarter, including a 7.1% drop in traffic during the period that ended on Oct. 27.

During previous earnings calls where Cracker Barrel discussed the traffic woes, company executives blamed the declines on factors like insufficient marketing, needed improvements in the guest experience, and a larger trend of consumers dining out less due to inflation.

Executives didn't offer any additional insight about why traffic has continued to fall during the Feb. 27 call. However, new CEO Julie Felss Masino did outline several ways in which the company hopes to win customers back and improve Cracker Barrel's overall performance and profitability.

One key part of this initiative is evolving the Cracker Barrel brand "to meet changing consumer tastes and needs," Masino said. The company has started testing changes to the interior design of its restaurants, such as adding new decor, lighting, and paint. Since the actual food is such a key part of what draws customers to restaurants, Cracker Barrel is also testing a major revamp of its core menu in select stores.

"This test includes approximately 20 new items, several modified items, and over 20 deletions, as we seek to balance our innovation with simplification," Masino explained.

RELATED: The 10 Best Cracker Barrel Dishes to Order, According to Dietitians

Meanwhile, Cracker Barrel also just debuted a new early dinner menu that features smaller versions of seven entrées, with prices starting at $8.99. Masino hopes that the new dine-in menu, which is available from 4 to 6 p.m. on weekdays, will draw in more "price-conscious" guests during a typically slow time of day.

Additionally, Cracker Barrel hopes to drive more customer visits through its new loyalty program that launched in September, as well as by focusing on store operations and execution to improve the guest experience.

"Obviously, there is a lot of work to do and it will not be quick or easy, but I am excited and optimistic about the path we are on," Masino said.

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The post Cracker Barrel Is Still Losing Customers—Here's How It Hopes to Win Them Back appeared first on Eat This Not That.

Both new cookies will be available starting Monday, March 4. While the Dirt Cake Oreos are a limited-edition release that will be available nationwide while supplies last, the Tiramisu Thins are a permanent addition to Oreo's product portfolio.

RELATED: 18 Most Unique Oreo Flavors Ever Released

The new Dirt Cake Oreos draw inspiration from the classic childhood dessert typically made with pudding, crushed Oreos, and gummy worms. The new flavor features two chocolate wafers sandwiching a layer of brownie-flavored creme stacked on top of chocolate creme with Oreo wafer crumbs. The cookies also have colorful gummy worm-inspired sprinkles on top of them.

"Imagine pulling up to the school function with these," Oreo wrote on Instagram yesterday, announcing the product's launch. Social media users flooded the comments section to express their excitement about the new cookie flavor—and bask in their nostalgia.

"That took me back to my childhood," one Instagram user wrote. "Oreo baby this is so creative!!! A+ work!!" another one commented.

For the tiramisu fans, the new Thins feature Oreo's classic thin cookies sandwiching a layer of tiramisu-flavored creme. "Coffee lovers stay winning!" Oreo wrote in the caption of a TikTok video announcing the new product. Other Oreo Thin options include Mint, Extra Stuf, Golden with vanilla creme, Golden with lemon-flavored cream, and of course, the original Oreo flavor.

RELATED: 8 Exciting New Flavors Oreo Released in 2023

In addition to Dirt Cake and Tiramisu, Oreo recently unveiled its new limited-edition, galaxy-inspired Space Dunk cookies. These cookies have pink and blue marshmallow-flavored creme with popping candies. The chocolate wafers also have space-themed cutout designs that preview the colorful creme filling.

To celebrate this new release, Oreo is giving customers the chance to take a six-hour "journey to the edge of space" through its Lift Off with Oreo sweepstakes. Fans can enter this contest by scanning the QR code on the cookie's package or by visiting LiftOff.OREO.com until April 5. 

Before the rollout of the Space Dunk cookies, Oreo dropped three new flavors at the beginning of January. These include Gluten-Free Golden Oreos, Oreo Peanut Butter Cakesters, and limited-edition Black & White Cookie Oreos.

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The post Oreo Is Dropping 2 Exciting New Cookie Flavors—And One Will Fill You With Nostalgia appeared first on Eat This Not That.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) both have dedicated pages on their websites where they frequently publish new recall notices. But unless you make a point of checking both government-run sites daily, it's very possible that you could entirely miss a food safety warning that pertains to something in your own pantry—especially if it doesn't make major news headlines.

So, to keep consumers up to date on which food products they should avoid, we've rounded up seven major food recalls that every American consumer should know about right now. We will be continuously updating this story with the latest recalls as they are announced throughout 2024, so be sure to bookmark this page and check back for the latest.

Dozens of dairy products

The most widespread and attention-grabbing recall of 2024 so far centers around a California-based dairy producer, Rizo-López Foods. Earlier this month, the company recalled dozens of its cheese, yogurt, and sour cream products that may have been contaminated with Listeria, which can cause foodborne illness. The products were sold under a variety of brands at many major grocery chains, including Walmart, Sam's Club, and Whole Foods.

The recall was later expanded with additional products from other major retailers like Trader Joe's, Costco, H-E-B, and Alberston's. The FDA has compiled the names, photos, and all other relevant information about the recalled items on a dedicated page on its website.

It urged any consumers who still have these items at home to refrain from consuming them and discard them immediately. It also suggested carefully cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces that the recalled products came in contact with to mitigate the risk of infection.

RELATED: 9 Highest-Protein Yogurts on Grocery Store Shelves

Trader Joe's Chicken, Lentil & Caramelized Onion Pilaf

Just a couple of weeks after Trader Joe's debuted its new Chicken, Lentil & Caramelized Onion Pilaf, the retailer pulled it from shelves after discovering that it may contain "foreign material"—specifically, rocks.

Trader Joe's instructed anyone who purchased the recalled frozen item to either discard it or return it to one of its stores for a full refund. Customers with additional questions can contact Trader Joe's by phone at (626) 599-3817 or submit a query through the company's website.

Hormel Spiced Ham

On Feb. 3, Hormel Foods issued a recall for roughly 945 pounds of ready-to-eat spiced deli ham that may have been contaminated with milk, an undeclared allergen. The recalled meat was distributed to retailers in Pennsylvania, which sliced the ham in their deli sections for purchase by consumers.

The recall applies to five-pound packages labeled "Hormel Spiced Ham With Natural Juices" with the lot code 051424. But while the product was originally packaged in this manner, consumers may have purchased the ham in a different type of packaging after it was sliced by the deli sections at their local stores.

The FSIS urged delis against continuing to serve the ham and instructed any customers with milk allergies who purchased it to either return it or throw it away. No adverse reactions have been reported in connection to the product.

RELATED: 17 Grocery Items You Should Always Buy Frozen, According to Experts

Banh Ba Xa and Banh Pia products

On Feb. 23, the California-based company LQNN Inc. recalled a dozen varieties of packaged pia cakes, a Vietnamese-Chinese treat featuring a pastry crust that can contain a variety of different soft fillings. The cakes (most of which were sold under the Saigon Gourmet brand) may contain undeclared egg, which poses a risk to people with allergies.

The recalled items were distributed in more than 30 U.S. states and Canada. While no illnesses have been reported to date, consumers who purchased them are being urged to return them for a full refund. The recall only affects products with certain best-by dates and lot numbers, all of which are listed on the notice posted on the FDA's site.

Don Novo & Son meat products

The Florida-based meat producer Don Novo & Son recalled more than 9,000 pounds of ready-to-eat meat products in mid-February. The reason? They may have been contaminated with Listeria.

The FSIS recall announcement revealed that a sample of the company's products tested positive for Listeria, though no confirmed illnesses have been reported to date. The recall applies to the following five items, which were sold at retailers in Florida:

• Don Novo Fully Cooked Chorizo
• Don Novo Smoked Pork Ribs
• Don Novo Smoked Pork Loin
• Don Novo Sweet Cooked Ham
• Don Novo Cuban Brand Mortadella

Only packages of specific sizes and with certain expiration dates are being recalled. Customers who purchased one of these ready-to-eat meats can find all of that information and label pictures on the recall notice. The recalled products should be discarded or returned for a refund.

RELATED: 10 Highest-Quality Cooking Oils on Grocery Shelves

Golden Owl Dried Mango

Though not technically a recall, a Pennsylvania-based supplier has issued an allergy alert for its Golden Owl Dried Mango, which was distributed nationwide in retail stores. While the alert was initially announced in late January, the company released an updated alert on Feb. 16 to correct the product packaging size.

The dried mango may contain undeclared sulfites, which could pose a health risk to people with allergies or sensitivities to sulfites. It was sold in seven-ounce clear plastic containers with the universal product code (UPC) of 816710-024461.

While no illnesses have been reported to date, consumers are being urged to return the recalled item to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Fratelli Beretta Antipasto charcuterie products

Proceed with caution if you get the urge to snack on any charcuterie. In mid-February, Fratelli Beretta recalled several charcuterie products that may have been under-processed, which means they could have been contaminated with foodborne pathogens.

The recalled meats were sold under several brand names and distributed nationwide to major retailers like Costco, Aldi, and Sam's Club. All of the affected items have the establishment number "EST. M47967 or M7543B" printed on the front of the package or inside the USDA mark of inspection. Consumers can view the full list of recalled products and photos of their packaging here. Anyone who purchased the items should discard them or return them to the place of purchase for a refund.

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The post 7 Major Food Recalls You Need to Know About Right Now appeared first on Eat This Not That.

Chicken Salad Chick, which serves a variety of chicken salads, sandwiches, soups, and sides, has expanded to more than 250 restaurants since it was founded in 2008. The company just announced that it has inked 18 agreements that will see franchisees develop 53 new restaurants over the next several years. The new units will be located throughout states like Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Ohio, Virginia, and Maryland.

RELATED: 15 Fastest-Growing Restaurant Chains Right Now

The release also revealed that Chicken Salad Chick is aiming to open 40 new stores by the end of 2024 alone, with some slated to debut in brand-new markets like New Mexico, Maryland, and Virginia's Fairfax County. A Chicken Salad Chick representative confirmed to Eat This, Not That! that the 40 locations it aims to open in 2024 will include some of the 53 franchised restaurants it plans to develop in the coming years. Varying construction timelines may result in the rest of the 53 planned locations opening after 2024.

These new development plans were announced right on the heels of a major year of growth for Chicken Salad Chick. The chain raked in $350 in systemwide sales throughout 2023, 15% more than it saw in 2022. It opened 32 new restaurants in states including Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, and Colorado, a new market for the chain.

Additionally, Chicken Salad Chick saw major success with a new specialty sandwich called the Chick Melt, selling more than half a million between its October debut and the end of the year. The chain also bought the Atlanta bakery Piece of Cake and plans to start serving its scratch-made cakes in all of its restaurants.

RELATED: 8 Restaurant Chains That Serve the Best Chicken Salad

"Chicken Salad Chick has grown through the years with wonderful franchisees and corporate team members who share our purpose of spreading joy, enriching lives and serving others," CEO Scott Deviney said in a statement. "We accomplished another great year in 2023 with disciplined growth balanced between new and existing markets, and new and existing franchisees. We couldn't be more pleased with our brand's growth, and we look forward to a successful 2024."

Chicken Salad Chick isn't the only chain whose footprint is about to get much, much bigger.  PJ's Coffee of New Orleans recently announced plans to open more than 40 new shops in 2024 after dozens of openings in 2023. Wingstop also revealed earlier this month that it anticipates opening a whopping 270 net new restaurants across the globe this year.

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Following the publication of this story on Feb. 27, Wendy's reached out with the following statement regarding its dynamic pricing plans: "Earlier this month we issued our fourth quarter and full year 2023 earnings results and included an update on investments we are making in our digital business. One initiative is digital menuboards, which are being added to U.S. Company-operated restaurants. We said these menuboards would give us more flexibility to change the display of featured items. This was misconstrued in some media reports as an intent to raise prices when demand is highest at our restaurants. We have no plans to do that and would not raise prices when our customers are visiting us most. Any features we may test in the future would be designed to benefit our customers and restaurant crew members. Digital menuboards could allow us to change the menu offerings at different times of day and offer discounts and value offers to our customers more easily, particularly in the slower times of day. Wendy's has always been about providing high-quality food at a great value, and customers can continue to expect that from our brand."

An updated version of the original story follows below.

How much does it cost to eat at Wendy's? In the future, the answer to that question could fluctuate constantly as the fast-food chain prepares to roll out a new pricing strategy.

During a recent earnings call, Wendy's announced plans to start testing "dynamic pricing" at its restaurants as early as 2025. Also commonly known as "surge pricing," this is a practice in which businesses adjust their prices based on demand, the time of day, or other factors.

RELATED: 10 Discontinued Wendy's Items Customers Want Back

Wendy's plans to spend roughly $20 million on installing new digital menu boards at all of its company-owned restaurants in the United States by the end of 2025. The upgrade will be a key factor in rolling out the dynamic pricing strategy because it will allow Wendy's restaurants to quickly and easily tweak their prices.

In a statement shared with TODAY.com, the company said that surge pricing "can allow Wendy's to be competitive and flexible with pricing, motivate customers to visit, and provide them with the food they love at a great value."

However, how Wendy's customers will respond to the pricing strategy remains to be seen. Other fast-food chains, like McDonald's and Taco Bell, have been facing significant online criticism in recent months after raising their prices. While Wendy's hasn't revealed many details about how its dynamic pricing will work, the strategy is already garnering some pushback from consumers worried that the chain will become less affordable.

RELATED: 9 Major Changes You'll See at America's Most Popular Fast-Food Chains In 2024

"Starting today I will no longer be eating at @Wendys. It is wrong to charge 'surge pricing' on food because you are busy," one consumer posted on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter.

"If Wendy's really does surge pricing that's my last time eating there," another wrote.

When contacted for comment on its dynamic pricing plans and the criticism, Wendy's shared the following statement with Eat This, Not That!:

"As we've previously shared, we are making a significant investment in technology to accelerate our digital business. In addition to evolving our loyalty program, one of the other benefits of these investments will be the flexibility to change the menu more easily and to offer discounts and value offers to our customers through innovations such as digital menu boards, which will roll out in some U.S. restaurants."

RELATED: 8 Big Changes You'll See at Taco Bell This Year

"Wendy's has always been about providing high-quality food at a great value to our customers and this recent investment will continue that by driving traffic and providing value during slower parts of the day," the statement continued. "As early as 2025, we plan to test a number of features such as AI-enabled menu changes and suggestive selling based on factors such as weather that we think will provide great value and an improved customer and crew experience."

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This new Costco bakery item—a Multigrain Bread—was first spotted late last week by Laura Lamb, who runs the Costco fan account @costcohotfinds. The hearty loaves are made with sesame seeds, golden flax seeds, sunflower seeds, and oats, and boast a deep golden brown crust.

RELATED: 12 Best Winter Bakery Items at Costco Right Now

Lamb raved about the bakery offering in an Instagram post on Feb. 24, describing the interior as "light and fluffy." Meanwhile, fellow Costco shoppers were also drooling over the loaves in the comments section on Lamb's post. 

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"Yum! I'll have to check my local Costco for this!" one fan commented.

"Looks so good," another said.

To be clear, some commenters noted that their local Costco warehouses had already been selling Multigrain Bread loaves for some time. But the fact that it's reportedly arriving at other locations for the first time now indicates that the availability of the bakery item has been limited.

Costco is selling the loaves in two-packs that were priced at $7.99 at the warehouse where Lamb spotted them. But as with any other Costco bakery offering, prices could vary by location. Members hoping to try the Multigrain Bread for themselves should make sure to check directly with their local warehouse to confirm the cost and availability.

RELATED: 12 Best-Ever Costco Essentials, According to Our Groceries Editor

The Multigrain Bread is only the latest in a series of exciting new bakery items that Costco has launched since the start of 2024. Earlier this month, the retailer introduced new Kirkland Signature White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies that immediately began racking up enamored reviews. 

"These were so soft that they literally melted in my hands, and let me tell you, it's hard to eat just one," Lamb said of the new bakery item in an earlier post.

In late January, Costco also launched a massive Cherry Topped Cheesecake that weighs nearly six pounds. The dessert features a sour cream layer, cheesecake filling, a sweet cherry topping, and a ring of white buttercream. Other new bakery items that have hit shelves at Costco since the start of the new year include a Triple Chocolate Cream Pie and Cookies 'N Cream Mini Cakes.

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The post Costco's Bakery Just Launched a 'Light & Fluffy' New Bread appeared first on Eat This Not That.

If your birthday falls on Feb. 29, then you're in luck. On Thursday, you can score a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts for free, no purchase necessary. To redeem this offer, you'll need to show proof of your birthday. This freebie is only available in-shop and at the drive-thru and is limited to one free dozen per customer.

RELATED: Fast-Growing Dessert Chain Plans to Open 70 New Locations

Additionally, those who don't have a Feb. 29 birthday can still get in on the Leap Day fun. Playing off of the "2/29" date, Krispy Kreme is offering a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts for $2.29 with a purchase of any regularly priced dozen on Feb. 29. This promo is available in-store, online, and at the drive-thru.

To redeem the deal digitally, you must use the code LEAPDAY at checkout. The offering is limited to two per guest for in-shop and drive-thru orders and one per guest for pickup and delivery. Both Leap Day offers are available at participating locations nationwide.

"An extra day in the year is an irresistible opportunity for Krispy Kreme to be extra-sweet to our guests," Dave Skena, global chief brand officer for Krispy Kreme, said in a company statement. "So, we're sweetening Leap Day by the dozens, including for fans whose true birthday comes around only every four."

The Leap Day promo isn't the only Krispy Kreme freebie this month. On Feb. 22, the doughnut chain offered free Original Glazed doughnuts to anyone without cell service amid a widespread AT&T cellular network outage.

RELATED: 8 Bakery Chains That Serve the Best Cupcakes

For doughnut fans looking to try a new treat at Krispy Kreme, the chain recently dropped its limited-time "Chocomania" collection, which includes four doughnuts featuring Hershey's chocolate.

First, there's the Hershey's Galaxy Brownie, which is a doughnut filled with Hershey's dark fudge cream, dipped in Hershey's chocolate icing, and topped with crunchy brownie pieces and rainbow sprinkles. For the black and white cookie fans, there's the Hershey's Black & White Chocolate Chip Dream. This is an Original Glazed doughnut with white icing, a Hershey's chocolate icing drizzle, and mini chocolate chips.

Then, there's the Hershey's Chocolate Cake Overload. This sweet treat features a Hershey's fudge-flavored old-fashioned cake doughnut topped with Hershey's milk chocolate icing and a dollop of Hershey's dark chocolate fudge buttercream.

Rounding out the new doughnuts is the Hershey's Chocolate Iced, which is an Original Glazed doughnut with Hershey's milk chocolate icing and a chocolate drizzle.

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The post Krispy Kreme Is Giving Out Free Doughnuts This Week—Here's How To Claim Yours appeared first on Eat This Not That.

This fast-growing competitor is PJ's Coffee of New Orleans, a chain that's mostly concentrated in the South aside from a select few East Coast and Midwest locations. It serves a variety of coffees, lattes, frozen drinks, energy drinks, sandwiches, and pastries, including fresh beignets in a nod to its Louisiana roots.

RELATED: The 15 Best Coffee Chains In America

According to a recent blog post on its website, PJ's opened 28 new stores last year in various states, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, Iowa, Florida, and New Jersey. This year, it plans to "outshine 2023" by opening more than 40 additional locations, the post revealed.

RELATED: Every Dunkin' Drink—Ranked by Sugar Content

These dozens of planned openings will further accelerate PJ's already rapid pace of expansion in recent years. The chain said that it doubled its total unit count in less than six years upon opening its 175th location in Pensacola, Fla., this past August. Meanwhile, coffee-loving customers have also been flocking to PJ's stores in droves. Customer visits were a whopping 91.6% higher this past November than they were in 2019, QSR Magazine reported in December 2023.

In the blog post, PJ's attributed its recent successes to both the quality of its products and the franchisees who run its shops and connect with local communities.

"As we head into 2024, we eagerly anticipate more milestones, partnerships, and the continued growth of our brand as a beacon of quality coffee and community engagement," the post read.

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PJ's isn't the only major coffee chain that's ramping up its expansion plans right now. Dutch Bros. Coffee, which opened an impressive 159 new shops in 2023, recently announced that it plans to open between 150 and 165 additional new stores in 2024. Since the company ended 2023 with 831 locations, the new openings in 2024 could push it much closer to the 1,000-unit milestone.

Starbucks is also working to further strengthen its title as the world's largest coffee chain. In November 2023, the chain revealed plans to open 17,000 additional stores by 2030. Starbucks also said that it eventually wants to expand to a whopping 55,000 locations globally, a major jump from the more than 38,000 locations it has now.

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The post Fast-Growing Coffee Chain Plans to Open Over 40 Locations This Year appeared first on Eat This Not That.