Burger King Introduces New Drinks Nationwide
Burger King has launched six new beverages across the United States. The company confirmed the expansion on Friday, highlighting four Iced Coffee Cold Foam options and two Real Juice Lemonades. These additions are now available at participating locations, according to a spokesperson.
The new Iced Coffee Cold Foam range includes Vanilla, Mocha, Plain and Black varieties. The plain version is limited to select outlets. The coffee drinks feature brewed iced coffee blended with cream and topped with cold foam. Prices start from $2.99 depending on location.
Burger King adds new beverages in the United States
Fruit-Based Lemonades Join the Menu
Alongside coffee, Burger King has added Strawberry Lemonade and Mango Peach Lemonade. The Strawberry version includes lemonade, sugar and strawberry puree. The Mango Peach Lemonade combines lemonade with mango and peach juices.
Burger King confirmed these drinks contain real fruit juice and natural flavours. A small serving costs $3.39 for Strawberry and $2.99 for Mango Peach, though prices vary.
Burger King Seeks Competitive Edge
The new drinks mark a broader move by Burger King to tap into the high-margin beverage segment. CEO of 9i Capital Group Kevin Thompson said, “Burger King launched these new drinks to gain a portion of the market share that has exploded over the past few years.”
The company aims to compete with McDonald’s, Starbucks and Dutch Bros. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol has also prioritised beverages in recent brand developments. McDonald’s has invested heavily in drink innovation, launching the CosMc’s spinoff concept in 2024.
Driving Growth Through Drink Sales
Burger King’s new range targets non-meal time visits and attempts to offset tighter margins caused by value meals. Beverages provide profit margins of 80–90% according to Toast, a restaurant services company.
Cold and specialty drinks sit lower on the margin range, while customer-served soda sits higher. This explains the strategic value of drinks for fast-food operators.
New Menu Builds on Recent Launches
Burger King recently introduced the BBQ Brisket Whopper through its new “Whopper by You” platform. The program allows customers to submit sandwich ideas online. The brisket burger includes slow-cooked meat, crispy onions, cheese and barbecue sauce. It is also available in Whopper Jr. size for a limited time.
These menu changes form part of Burger King’s Reclaim the Flame strategy. The company has allocated $400 million to the initiative, which focuses on remodelling, marketing, and menu updates.
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Experts See Broader Industry Impact
Alex Beene, financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, said, “Burger King is the latest to offer new menu options in the form of coffee cold foams and lemonades in the hopes of luring back customers.”
Beene added that inflation has pushed more customers to cook at home. New drink options could help reverse declining revenue and restore traffic to outlets.
Nutritional Overview of the Drinks
Burger King shared nutrition data for its new drinks. The Vanilla Iced Coffee Cold Foam contains 270 calories and 28 grams of sugar per small cup. Mocha Cold Foam has 280 calories and 26 grams of sugar. The Plain version includes 280 calories and 29 grams of sugar. The Black Cold Foam has 120 calories and 8 grams of sugar.
Strawberry Lemonade contains 300 calories and 73 grams of sugar. The Mango Peach Lemonade carries 300 calories and 72 grams of sugar. All drinks have minimal protein content and no fat.
Sales Figures Reflect Turnaround Strategy
Restaurant Brands International, Burger King’s parent, reported a 1.5% rise in U.S. same-store sales in Q4 2024. This followed a 6.4% increase in the previous year. CEO Josh Kobza called this a “solid achievement” during the company’s quarterly earnings call.
With beverages making up over 40% of some QSR revenue, the move reflects a high-return growth strategy. Burger King plans to continue updating its menu to attract customers seeking more variety.
