How we’re helping food-service chains adapt to menu trends 

As food-service chains like McDonald’s, Subway and Domino’s continue to evolve their menus with seasonal specials, plant-based options, and limited time offers (LTOs), the need for flexible, efficient, and sustainable commercial refrigeration has never been greater.

According to research from Meaningful Vision, LTOs or seasonal items (available for less than 3 months) are increasingly prominent on menus, with their share growing by 12% in the last year.

The likes of McDonald’s in Australia have shown this with their Vegemite McShaker Fries, new burgers, and a limited-edition bundle deal featuring Grimace, Birdie, and the Hamburglar, featuring on the menu for 2025.

True Refrigeration provides a range of high-performance solutions designed to help fast-food chains adapt to these changes while maintaining food quality, safety, and operational efficiency.

Flexible storage for changing menus

As menu rotations and limited-time offerings remain a key strategy for food-service chains, flexible storage solutions are more essential than ever.

True’s FlexTemp units provide adaptable storage, allowing commercial kitchens to switch between refrigerator (0.5–3.3°C) and freezer (-23°C) settings at the flip of a switch.

Rather than being limited by a fixed number of refrigerators and freezers, kitchens can adjust storage configurations throughout the day – keeping ingredients chilled for breakfast, frozen for lunch, and whatever is needed for dinner.

Each unit operates independently, ensuring seasonal items and specialty ingredients are stored at ideal temperatures to maintain quality and extend shelf life.

Efficient food prep for high-speed service

Speed and efficiency are also essential in high-volume food-service environments, where adapting to menu trends means kitchens need reliable, well-organised prep stations to keep up with demand.

True’s counters, undercounters, and prep tables are designed to keep fresh ingredients within easy reach, ensuring smooth food preparation and assembly.

Our TSSU, TPP and TFP prep tables come equipped with configurable gastronorm pans, allowing kitchens to efficiently organise and access ingredients for fast-paced service.

Whether it’s fresh beetroot for a classic Aussie-style burger or crisp greens for a seasonal salad, these versatile prep solutions streamline operations and maintain consistency throughout busy shifts.

Promoting impulse buys with glass door displays

Grab-and-go sales are another major revenue driver for food-service chains, with a report by SNS Insider revealing that busy lifestyles and a desire for grab-and-go meals are fuelling the fast-food and quick service restaurant (QSR) market.

This means that maximising product visibility and accessibility is key to capturing impulse purchases. Customers are more likely to pick up a cold drink, snack, or seasonal special when it’s attractively displayed and easy to grab.

True’s glass door displays create an eye-catching showcase for beverages, snacks, and limited-time menu items, encouraging last-minute purchases and boosting profitability.

With bright LED lighting and brandable illuminated sign panels, True’s GDM’s keep products clearly visible and organised, ensuring customers can quickly spot new offerings or their favourite grab-and-go options.

By strategically placing glass door units near checkout counters or high-traffic areas, food-service chains can further increase sales of popular items, driving both revenue and customer satisfaction.

Food safety and consistency

It’s all well and good switching up your menu to keep up with the latest trends, but how do you ensure consistent and quality meals across every location?

Maintaining the right temperatures is not only essential for meeting health and safety regulations but also for preserving the quality and taste of ingredients, regardless of the season.

All of True’s commercial refrigeration, including their upright cabinets are built for precision temperature management, ensuring that ingredients are stored at safe temperatures and meet food safety compliance standards.

Their advanced cooling technology provides rapid temperature recovery, even during peak service times, reducing the risk of food spoilage and waste.

With a robust, durable design and energy-efficient operation, True’s refrigeration solutions give food-service chains the reliability they need to introduce new menu items with confidence – without compromising on food quality or safety.

Explore our solutions for the take-out sector

As food-service chains continue to innovate their menus, True Refrigeration is committed to providing reliable and flexible refrigeration solutions that keep up with evolving industry trends.

Discover how our prep tables, counters, undercounters, upright cabinets, and glass door refrigeration can help your business adapt.