Retail News and Headlines

A Sweet Proposition

Quick‑service restaurants are pivoting toward bright, sugary beverages to win over Gen Z and millennial diners who are less price‑sensitive than older consumers. Brands such as Blank Street Coffee, Starbucks and Dutch Bros have seen cold, flavor‑forward drinks now dominate a large share of their sales, with Starbucks reporting 60% of revenue from non‑coffee drinks. QSR giants McDonald’s and KFC have launched drink‑centric concepts—CosMc’s and Kwench—testing menu‑only beverage formats and planning broader rollouts. The shift promises higher margins and social‑media buzz, reshaping the traditional food‑first model.