How PepsiCo brands are turning up in unexpected ways on restaurant menus

PepsiCo food brands and flavors are no strangers to the snack aisle, but lately, they’ve been showing up in places consumers might not expect. Doritos are tucked under shawarma proteins at Osmow’s or piled high as nachos at Subway, and Flamin’ Hot seasoning is adding heat to boneless chicken wings at Kroger and Circle K. Familiar favorites are having a full-on menu moment, giving people new ways to experience the brands they already love.

Across restaurants, franchises, retailers and quick-service menus, PepsiCo foods and flavors, including Flamin’ Hot, Doritos and other portfolio favorites serve as a key element of surprising food experiences. They are being reimagined as enticing menu items built for real meal occasions.

The strategy starts with listening. PepsiCo teams look at consumer demand, social media chatter, search trends and food service insights to understand what people are already experimenting with. Then they work with their in-house chefs and restaurant partners to transform those insights into mouthwatering menu offerings and bring emerging flavor ideas to life. That’s how a flavor mashup or recipe remix that gains traction among fans can evolve into a menu item.

At about 1,000 Kroger stores across the country and at Circle K locations nationwide, Flamin’ Hot Boneless Chicken Wings bring the fiery heat of crowd-favorite Flamin' Hot flavor to the hot food section. This bold culinary innovation taps into a growing consumer interest in hot and spicy protein, making it a crowd-pleaser for summer get togethers and gameday gatherings. The Flamin’ Hot boneless wings will expand to other retail outlets in September.

“Flamin’ Hot fans have been loud and clear — they want more ways to turn up the heat. We’ve been listening, and that’s why we’re bringing Flamin’ Hot Boneless Chicken Wings to stores, and soon retailers nationwide, giving fans a bold new way to enjoy the iconic flavor they love,” said Janelle Rowe, senior vice president of Foodservice at PepsiCo. “Consumer insights like this are truly invaluable, providing us with fans’ endorsement for exciting menu items featuring PepsiCo brands at franchises, restaurants and retail partners."

In 2025, Doritos joined forces with Subway to offer the Doritos Footlong Nachos, which turned the classic tortilla chip into a limited-time, prepared to order menu item. Nacho Cheese Doritos were topped with Cheddar Cheese sauce, Monterey Cheddar cheese, jalapeños, tomatoes, red onions, Baja Chipotle sauce and choice of rotisserie-style chicken or steak.

Building on that momentum, Subway expanded the partnership in August 2026 with the launch of Doritos® Hot Honey Nachos. As sweet-and-spicy flavors continue to gain popularity on menus and across social media, the two brands put their own spin on the trend by combining the bold crunch of Doritos® Nacho Cheese Flavored Tortilla Chips with vegetables, melted cheese and Subway's signature Hot Honey sauce. Together, these collaborations demonstrate how PepsiCo brands can move beyond the snack aisle to inspire innovative restaurant experiences that resonate with consumers and keep them coming back for more.

This year, PepsiCo and KFC launched KFC x Doritos Loaded, a limited-edition menu item available in 27 European markets. The dish combines KFC's 100% chicken breast crispy tenders with Doritos corn tortilla chips, guacamole, pico de gallo, jalapeños and Mexican-inspired sauces. It’s assembled fresh to order and served in a specially adapted Doritos bag that opens horizontally to create a serving tray.

And in Canada, Osmow’s and Doritos reunited to bring back The Walking Shawarma, layering their signature shawarma, toppings and sauces into a bag of Doritos® Sweet Chili Heat!® for a portable, flavor-packed twist. The dish feeds into the growing demand for Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine.

For restaurant and retail partners, these ideas create excitement through the brands’ built-in fandoms, drive trial and add a ready-made story to the menu. For PepsiCo, the collaborations open the door to new eating occasions beyond the snack aisle, giving the company’s beloved brands and flavors more ways to show up where people shop, dine, and gather.

These unexpected menu appearances help demonstrate what’s possible when iconic brands and flavors move from the shelf to the plate, by creating conversations and new ways to delight consumers.