CHICAGO, March 24, 2026 - What do you get when you combine easy access to AI design tools with the calendar flipping to April 1? A whole lot of April Fool’s shenanigans in the food-away-from-home industry.
Here’s a (by no means exhaustive) survey of some VERY limited-time offers and shocking developments we spotted in restaurants, retail foodservice, food brands and more. Did any of them fool you?
Casual-dining chain Red Lobster announced a new partnership with Pop-Tarts to launch the Cheddar Bay Biscuit Toaster Pastry, billed as the “buttery, garlicky, cheddar-filled seafood icon meets toaster pastry breakfast icon.” The “new product” was teased across social media for both brands. (TBH, we’d totally try this one if it was real.)
Several years ago, Culver’s turned an April Fool’s prank into an actual menu item and the limited-time CurderBurger (a hamburger topped with a giant breaded cheese curd) became a sold-out sensation. This year, the burger-and-frozen custard-chain is promising a “hole new way to enjoy Wisconsin Cheese Curds” via the Curdonut, which is exactly as it sounds. Culver’s helpfully suggests consumers might want to try Curdonut Holes (the chain’s real fried cheese curd bites).
Just like nobody puts Baby in a corner, Jack is apparently tired of being in the box. The fast-food chain on Wednesday claimed it’s changing its name after 75 years to Jack Out The Box. “The brand is bigger than any box we were ever put in, and it’s time the name reflected that,” the chain formerly known as Jack In The Box declared.
Retail foodservice brands also got into the April Fool’s action.
Convenience-store chain Sheetz proclaimed it’s “going back to our rootz” as solely a dairy-deli destination. Sheetz said it would stop selling gas, as well as its customizable, made-to-order sandwiches and more. “Starting today, we’ve only got dairy products, deli meats, and good vibez,” Sheetz said on social media. “(Sorry to all the vegan Sheetz Freakz out there)”
Convenience chain Kwik Trip trumpeted its Chicken Dunker Donuts on Wednesday, saying, “Chicken (with rizz) is so back. Shipping to stores this week.” Many Facebook commenters begged the chain to create a real version of the iced-and-fried treat, noting that chicken-and-waffles would be a solid flavor mashup. Will their dreams be realized? Stay tuned.
Florida-based grocery chain Publix made a bold announcement: An Anchorage, Alaska, outpost is opening soon. That’d be a huge departure for the Southeastern U.S. grocer. Would any of its executives even know how to manage a supply chain through blizzards? The Facebook post, though, generated hundreds of responses from people asking Publix to open in their towns.
Fast-growing discount grocer Aldi earlier this week claimed it was embracing its Midwest roots in a rebrand to “Aldi’s.” (IYKYK.) It went so far as to post a picture of the exterior of its HQ in Batavia, Illinois, with an Aldi’s sign out front. By April 1, though, the chain had come to its senses. “No way we would add an S,” Aldi said on Instagram. “We prefer leaving the ‘S’ in savings.”
Some April Fool’s mashups sound like they can’t possibly be real. But they are.
Casual-dining chain BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse offered up a one-day-only twist on its popular Pizookie dessert: the Sweet Heat Pepperoni Pizookie. The swicy treat features a warm chocolate chunk cookie base topped with vanilla bean ice cream, crispy pepperoni and a drizzle of Mike’s Hot Honey. It’s only available on April 1 and sells for just $4.01. The chain’s CMO called it “our most fearless creation yet.”
Hydration company Liquid I.V. joined forces with fast-growing pickle brand Grillo’s Pickles on a powdered dill pickle hydration multiplier that most folks might consider to be too far-fetched to be true. But pickle juice has some solid hydration cred. And, clicking on the link shared on social media takes incredulous buyers to an actual page to purchase the product. As Liquid I.V. posted on Instagram, “yes … we are being so fr rn.” (Cookie maker Otis Spunkmeyer, meanwhile, announced an Otis Spunkmeyer Dill Pickle Cookie, but we are dubious about the veracity of that product launch.)
Heather Lalley is the director of communications for IFMA The Food Away from Home Association. A lifelong journalist, Lalley has previously worked with industry publications including Restaurant Business, CSP Daily News, Supermarket News and Foodservice Director.