Make LTOs That People Love
Limited-time offers (LTOs) are great ways to keep customers engaged and loyal. The biggest promotional piece for your restaurant is your menu.
Today’s consumer craves what’s new, unique, and different, which is a big reason why limited-time offers (LTOs) have grown over the years. Despite a dip in these timed specials during the early pandemic, LTOs show steady growth with no signs of stopping. In fact, LTOs grew 4% in just the last year, and are expected to surpass pre-COVID numbers in the next year or so.1
LTOs are a proven way to build brand loyalty and inspire new and existing customers to visit a restaurant. They can even create friendly competition that benefits everyone. Take the “which is better” debates between Popeyes and Chick-fil-A chicken sandwiches in 2019. Since then, dozens of quick-service restaurants (QSR) have added upgraded chicken sandwiches and related add-ons. And diners are biting: they prefer away-from-home (AFH) chicken sandwiches 15% more in 2025 than they did in 2020.2
Making an LTO
Before creating an LTO, consider the time, operational requirements, and costs to pull it off. While some operations run LTOs every month, others offer them far less frequently. And depending on their success, some LTOs are one-and-done, while others return year after year, to bring back fans. Consider teaming up with other foodservice organizations, artists, or charities to bring more excitement to the promotion. And always reach out to local media and social media to spread the word.
See our tips to get your limited-time offers started below:
1. Research existing and upcoming trends to determine which could be a fit for your menu.
2. Choose a popular menu item and put a new, unique spin on it.
3. Take a standard sandwich and upgrade its ingredients, like the popular chicken sandwich.
4. Mention a recognized brand name in beverages, appetizers, entrées, or desserts, and watch sales increase.
5. Offer a plant-based version of a favorite menu item. Popular opportunities: spaghetti and meatballs, or egg and sausage muffin.
6. Host a monthly food/beverage event that allows customers to engage with the chef, bartender, and/or management. This also provides direct feedback!
7. Make each day of the week special with promotions — and use alliteration for inspiration: Spaghetti Sunday, Margarita Monday, Taco Tuesday, Flavored Water Wednesday, Three-Course Thursday, and Farm-Fresh Friday.
8. Pick slower nights of the week to offer family bundles that include a beverage, salad, family-size entrée, and dessert.
9. Run a contest that invites customers to submit ideas for a new mocktail, sandwich, dessert, appetizer, and more.
10. Offer a BOGO (buy one get one) deal, but space out the reward. The patron’s purchases this month can mean a free beverage or even meal next month.
11. When describing items on the menu and social media, be as descriptive as possible. If customers can envision your smooth roasted coffee, creamy bacon and potato soup, or the loaded meat pizza oozing with hand-pulled mozzarella and finished with cupped pepperoni, they are much more likely to place an order.
12. Offer pre-meal drink samples, and desserts to go, to increase add-on purchases.
Sources: 1. Datassential State of the LTO (February 2025); Datassential Daily Habit Shifts – Elevate Huddle (June 2025)
