The Cheesecake Factory is known for having one of the most extensive menus in the restaurant industry, featuring hundreds of dish options spanning a wide range of cuisines. However, its vast menu often comes with equally generous price tags.
Now, the restaurant chain is once again expanding its menu, this time introducing two entirely new categories: Bowls and Bites.
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This latest addition features 14 new items specifically created to appeal to value-conscious diners, providing them with more affordable and flexible options. The Cheesecake Factory aims to attract more guest traffic and increase overall sales while maintaining the variety it is renowned for.
New menu highlights
- The new bowl category includes six options, such as Teriyaki Salmon Bowl, an Orange-Color Flower Bowl, and a Peruvian Chicken Bowl. Each is priced between $15 and $16, offering a full meal at a competitive price.
- The new bites selection includes eight smaller plates that range from $10 to $15 per dish. These include the New Orleans Cajun Shrimp, Chicken and Biscuits, and Meatball Sliders.
To ensure the new offerings stand out among The Cheesecake Factory's massive menu, the company will feature them on a separate menu card. This will encourage guests to explore the latest offerings without getting lost in all the options on the main menu.
“When we look at what we're doing from a value perspective, on effective pricing, I think it's going to be well below where the industry is at, and we're driving significant value for the consumer,” said The Cheesecake Factory CEO Matthew Clark in an earnings call.
The Cheesecake Factory's new menu additions are a strategic move to boost growth and compete against rivals
The coming months will be critical for The Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) , since the new additions will give it an idea of how customers react. The new menu categories could become standalone favorites that bring in customer traffic but lower ticket sales, or act as value add-ons that increase overall spending.
The company says the Bites category has great potential to increase check averages by encouraging guests to add them to their regular meals, since they have a lower price point than most items on the menu.
At the same time, the competitive pricing of the Bowls category could lure customers looking for affordable meal alternatives to more expensive entrées, leading them to choose The Cheesecake Factory over its competitors.
The company also hinted at a marketing push focused on daytime dining, particularly on weekdays. This suggests that lunch deals or targeted promotions may come with the rollout to attract consumers' attention.
Either way, the new Bowls and Bites lineup is a strategic way for The Cheesecake Factory to meet consumers' needs and demands, evolve with ever-changing trends, and drive growth.
The Cheesecake Factory increases prices, but consumer loyalty remains strong
If your bill at The Cheesecake Factory has felt more expensive than usual, that's because it is. But even with the price increase, its loyal fanbase continues to splurge on special occasions, even if it means going less often.
The Cheesecake Factory raised its prices by 4% during the second quarter of fiscal 2025, contributing to a 1.1% decline in traffic.
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To reverse these negative results, the company is now prioritizing value-driven offerings as part of its new business strategy to regain lost market share.
With the introduction of its new menu categories, pricing is expected to decline around 2% to 2.5%.
Despite the dip in traffic, comparable sales still increased by 1.2%, driving record-high average weekly sales for the company. This highlights the strong loyalty of Cheesecake Factory fans, despite an increase in overall food prices and a slowdown in consumer spending.
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