Food and innovation are natural partners.
So it’s not surprising Little Caesars has joined the crowd of fast-food chains offering significantly different items on their menus.
The company will test pretzel crust pizzas in all of its markets beginning Monday.
Whether this innovation is a hit or miss remains to be seen. Here are some fast-food marvels that had success along with a few that would have been better off left in the deep fryer.
Bravo: Pizza Hut’s stuffed crust pizza
Pizza Hut made $300 million in 1995 alone when the chain introduced its stuffed crust pizza, according to Nation’s Restaurant News.
Stuffed crust remains a staple offering for Pizza Hut nearly 20 years later.
Bust: Pizza Hut’s Priazzo
Remember the Priazzo? Chances are you don’t. Back in the 1980s, Pizza Hut tried to market a deep dish pizza, but the pizzas never gained traction with consumers and became extinct shortly after.
Bravo: McDonald’s McGriddles
The what-exactly-is-it breakfast sandwich had people interested (and buying) from the outset.
More than a decade later, McDonald’s used the prominent menu item in its battle with Taco Bell after the latter chain launched its own breakfast menu earlier this year.
Bust: McDonald’s Pizza
McDonald’s pizza aspirations ended relatively quickly in the early 1990s after the mega-chain could not convince people accustomed to speedy service to wait in line for a personally crafted pizza.
Bravo: Taco Bell’s Doritos Locos Tacos
After launching in 2012, the taco wrapped in a Dorito-flavored shell spiced up the menu for the late-night giant.
Not every one of the flavors has performed well, but that hasn’t stopped Taco Bell from giving customers new choices every so often.
Bust: Wendy’s Frescata menu
Wendy’s made an ill-advised effort to get into a different kind of sandwich business with its Frescata offerings in 2006.
But the burger joint pulled back the Frescata sandwiches a year later and has since created its own pretzel offering with pretzel buns for its burgers and sandwiches.
Bravo: Kentucky Fried Chicken Double Down
KFC got a lot of buzz for creating a sandwich that replaced bread with chicken, and sold 10 million of those sandwiches in the first month.
One man even got a tattoo to help promote the meal.
Bust: Kentucky Fried Chicken Double Down
But some people weren’t so excited about the 540-calorie sandwich, which prompted critics to protest the offering.
It is bacon and cheese wrapped in two fried pieces of chicken after all.
