Datassential

Energy drinks on coffee chain menus have grown 187% in four years. The routine morning coffee experience is no longer just about coffee and tea.

The LSR Coffee segment hit $51.5 billion in sales in 2025 — and the brands driving that growth aren't just competing on espresso anymore. A new wave of drive-thru chains is reshaping America's morning routine, and the menu innovation behind them tells a bigger story about where the category is headed.

Here's what the data shows:
- Energy drinks are one of the fastest-growing additions to coffee chain menus, up 187% in four years
- The chains gaining ground fastest are names most people outside their home markets had never heard of just a few years ago
- The morning daypart is no longer solely owned by legacy players — it's being redefined from the drive-thru window up

The competition for America's morning routine has entered a new chapter. Here's who's winning it: https://hubs.la/Q04kjNcz0

France's foodservice beverage market is worth €7.7B and the opportunity is more nuanced than the headline number suggests.

- Wine and champagne lead the market, accounting for 45% of alcoholic beverage purchasing across French foodservice, representing €1.4B.
- City-level opportunity varies sharply: Paris generates €890M in beverage spend, while Bordeaux over-indexes thanks to its wine culture and tourism.
- 32% of French consumers are interested in mocktails but haven't tried one yet, representing a significant growth opportunity.

👉 Read the full blog to see where beverage suppliers should focus in France: https://hubs.la/Q04kfdST0

Chili crisp appeared on just 0.6% of U.S. menus in 2021. Today it's grown +760% in four years.

That kind of growth doesn't come out of nowhere. The signals were there — they just needed the right methodology to catch them early.

Here's how to track trends before they go mainstream, and what it means for your next menu or product decision: https://hubs.la/Q04k95Dm0

Menu intelligence. Consumer insights. Published industry research. Now all of it is accessible through a single question in Datassential's AI Chat.

With the latest update to Datassential One, AI Chat connects menu intelligence, consumer tracking, and industry research in one place — surfacing the most relevant data for every question, instantly.

The answer is there. Now it takes seconds to find.

Available now to all Datassential One users. Read more: https://hubs.la/Q04k7K7h0

Cocktail innovation isn't just a menu strategy — it's a reason to visit. And Applebee's has mastered it. 🏆

Applebee's is the 2026 Datassential 500 award winner for America's Cocktail Innovation Leader — recognized through a comprehensive analysis of real consumer sentiment data for earning top consumer scores for purchase intent, uniqueness, draw, and value across its alcoholic beverage limited-time offers and menu releases, alongside proprietary and publicly available brand data.

Congratulations to President John Peyton, CMO Michelle Chin, and the entire Applebee's team on a well-deserved win!

👉 Explore the full list of 2026 Datassential 500 award winners: https://hubs.la/Q04k6p-70

📊 Want to dig deeper into the trends behind this year's winners? Join us for our Datassential 500 webinar on June 11th — register here: https://hubs.la/Q04k6Kty0

Knowing the data is one thing. Winning the deal is another.

We're back with Part 2 of Datassential's 2026 GTM Webinar Series — and this one is for everyone on the front lines of F&B sales.

🗓️ Wednesday, June 17 | 12pm CT
📍 From Data to Deal: Your AI Advantage in Food & Beverage Sales

Here's what you'll walk away with:
✅ Tailored, data-backed sales stories — built in seconds with Datassential AI
✅ A smarter approach to outreach based on the latest news and trends
✅ Tips & tricks on how to prompt, ask, and interpret AI like a pro

45 minutes + live Q&A. Whether you joined us for Part 1 or this is your first time, come ready to sell smarter.

👉 Register here: https://hubs.la/Q04jXjWZ0

Will you be at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Chef Culinary Conference next week? If so, say hello to Datassential's Renee Lee Wege and catch her session around the The State of Food, the Economy, and Trends.

In this session, Renee will explore the good, the bad, and the tasty, from consumer sentiment and outlook to unemployment and tariffs to the latest trends taking over Gen Z tastebuds. Walk away with an understanding of today’s current foodservice landscape and the tools to turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s wins.

Learn more about the event here: https://hubs.la/Q04jQW7R0

Value isn't just a menu tactic anymore — it's the defining battleground of modern foodservice. Join us June 11 at 12 pm CT for an exclusive look at the 2026 Datassential 500, our most comprehensive annual analysis of the state of chain restaurants in America.

What you'll learn about:
• The top 10 largest U.S. restaurant chains by unit count
• Fast-growing brands across segments, from coffee upstarts to global dining concepts
• Chains new to the Datassential 500 list this year
• Full segment-level unit and sales growth breakdowns
• Consumer perception rankings across food quality, last visit ratings, and value for the dollar
• A deep dive into how trends like protein, global flavors, and the growing push for value affected the chain restaurant landscape

Register here: https://hubs.la/Q04jLWtp0

In one of the most competitive categories in all of foodservice, consumers keep choosing Domino's. 🏆

Domino's is the 2026 Datassential 500 award winner for America's Best Pizza Chain — recognized through a comprehensive analysis of real consumer sentiment data for being the pizza brand with the strongest growth backed by strong consumer ratings for taste and satisfaction, alongside proprietary and publicly available brand data.

Congratulations to CEO Russell Weiner, COO & President of Domino's U.S. Joe Jordan, and the entire Domino's team on a well-deserved win!

👉 Explore the full list of 2026 Datassential 500 award winners: https://hubs.la/Q04js3-q0

📊 Want to dig deeper into the trends behind this year's winners? Join us for our Datassential 500 webinar on June 11th — register here: https://hubs.la/Q04jpLSM0

Will you be at IDDBA What's in Store Live? If so, say hello to the Datassential team Sean Gill, Matt Schreffler, and Josh Smith and join our session around AI for dairy, deli, and bakery!

Matt Schreffler, Sales Director at Datassential, will show how you can cut through the hype and use AI-powered intelligence to better plan, forecast, and win.

Reach out to set up a meeting. And learn more about the event here: https://hubs.la/Q04jr45G0