While balanced offerings matter across the menu, they may just be most effective on kids’ menus. According to QSR magazine, families with kids under 12 have ticket averages twice as high as those without. In addition, brands that offer high-quality, balanced options appealing to kids and parents often have better value and brand perception.
This was the case for Ono Hawaiian BBQ, a rapidly expanding fast-casual brand with more than 100 locations and 15 more stores planned for 2026. “At Ono Hawaiian Barbecue, we pride ourselves on everything being freshly prepared in-store and grilled to order,” says Christine Jan, Marketing Director for Ono Hawaiian BBQ. “When we developed our Keiki Meal, we wanted to make sure it was truly well balanced. Bringing in Tree Top juice and fruit pouches helped us add that extra nutritional value for kids.”
While quality and brand perception are always important for success, for growing brands, each offering carries greater weight and the potential to reinforce customers’ impressions. “We try to use the freshest ingredients possible and cook everything to order,” Jan says. “Tree Top’s brand values align with that approach. It made them a natural fit for our kids’ meal offering.”
The rollout was even more successful for Ono because it was planned in conjunction with the release and promotion of Moana 2, which helped increase excitement for families. “Adding both a juice and a fruit pouch made the kids’ meal feel like a more complete offering. Customers immediately saw the value,” Jan says. Research backs this up, showing more than half of parents believe a kids’ meal should include a kids’ beverage, according to C3. While grab-and-go refrigerator offerings may seem like a small part of communicating brand identity, they are still vital and can boost or detract from profits.
Operators also know that choosing a great product is only half of the solution. Finding a foodservice partner that will work with a brand’s goals and make supply seamless is key to success. “Beyond the product itself, Tree Top has been a great partner,” Jan says. “Communication has been strong, and the rollout process was easy to manage. That kind of partnership makes a big difference operationally.”
This operational ease was evident in how Ono bypassed the traditional pilot phase and implemented the new menu items across its entire corporate-owned footprint simultaneously. “The rollout was very smooth for us. We tested different products, made our selection, and then launched it across all stores at once. Strong communication with Tree Top made that process seamless,” Jan explains.
Ultimately, the partnership has allowed Ono to provide a more thoughtful nutritional profile that resonates with modern parents while maintaining the speed and convenience of the fast-casual environment. For operators looking to replicate this success, Jan’s advice is straightforward: “For operators looking to enhance their kids’ menu, I would recommend considering Tree Top. They offer strong product options and bring a lot of brand equity. That combination is really valuable.”
For more information on Tree Top, Inc. offerings, visit foodservice.treetop.com/who-we-serve/restaurants.
