This fall, Panera is mashing up two of its fan-favorite dishes, its Broccoli Cheddar Soup and Mac & Cheese, to create the delicious new Broccoli Cheddar Mac & Cheese.
Panera's warm and creamy new Broccoli Cheddar Mac & Cheese combines all the cheesiness of mac 'n cheese with a little bit of veg. To pull off this combo, Panera combes two distinct cheddar cheese sauce into one velvety cheese blend, and pairs it with seasoned broccoli florets and julienned carrots.
To celebrate the launch of the mash-up dish, Panera tapped the two-time Grammy Award-winning singer Michael Bolton to create a cheesy new digital short called “When Some Mac Loves Broccoli Cheddar.” The short even features the man behind Panera's newest dish, Chef Claes.
Image Credit: Panera
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Broccoli-infused Meals
- Creating dishes that incorporate broccoli as a main ingredient provides a healthier option for consumers while maintaining indulgent flavors.
- Merging Fan-favorite Dishes
- Combining popular dishes or flavors to create new menu items can attract attention and excitement from customers, driving sales and brand loyalty.
- Celebrity Collaborations
- Partnering with celebrities or influencers to promote and create unique content around new launches can generate buzz and increase visibility for brands.
Sectors Adopting This
- Fast Casual Dining
- Fast casual dining establishments can explore the concept of incorporating vegetables like broccoli in innovative ways to offer healthier and satisfying meal options.
- Food Manufacturing
- Food manufacturers can consider merging popular flavors or dishes in their product lines to cater to consumer demand for exciting and convenient options.
- Brand Partnerships
- Companies across various industries can explore collaborations with celebrities or influencers to create unique and attention-grabbing marketing campaigns around new product launches or promotions.
