LTOs are a proven strategy for driving sales and creating excitement. When operators incorporate premium ingredients, they can elevate their menus, create buzzworthy experiences, and differentiate themselves from competitors. This approach not only boosts customer loyalty but also enhances brand perception. Partnering with well-established brands like Ghirardelli™ guarantees success and has a strong track record of quality.
LTOs give operators a chance to stand out, but not all LTOs deliver the same impact. Featuring premium ingredients can transform a regular offer into something extraordinary. “Ghirardelli’s product elevates our offerings and gives guests satisfaction knowing they’re enjoying a well-known, great-tasting chocolate,” says Peyton Geyser, director of marketing at Wetzel’s Pretzels®.
Studies support this approach. According to Datassential, the majority of operators say LTOs are a core part of their business strategy, especially in today’s restaurant environment. Premium ingredients not only enhance quality perception but also drive return visits and positive word-of-mouth, engaging both new and returning customers.
An independent study found that 81 percent of consumers see a restaurant as offering higher-quality products when featuring Ghirardelli chocolate, and 71 percent said they’d return more often if the restaurant offered Ghirardelli items. Using Ghirardelli’s premium ingredients allows operators to enhance both taste and perception, ensuring repeat visits.
LTOs drive traffic and increase revenue, but when premium ingredients are involved, the numbers soar. Wetzel’s Pretzels® experienced massive success with its Choco Churro Bitz LTO featuring Ghirardelli chocolate. “Choco Churro Bitz was one of our most successful promotions,” Geyser says. “Guests keep asking for our LTOs with Ghirardelli to return.”
Wetzel’s stores are gearing up for the holidays with two exciting seasonal LTOs: Frozen Hot Chocolate and Peppermint Frozen Hot Chocolate, launching October 14th. Both drinks feature Ghirardelli’s Frozen Hot Cocoa mix, used in their frozen beverage machines to deliver the perfect holiday indulgence. These treats are expected to be a hit with customers throughout the holiday season, offering operators yet another opportunity to leverage premium ingredients to drive traffic and increase sales.
Consumers today, especially millennials, are willing to pay more for premium offerings, valuing quality over price. This gives operators a significant advantage when planning new menu additions. The study on Ghirardelli found consumers are twice as likely to purchase beverages like mochas and hot chocolates made with premium ingredients, and desserts like brownies see similar boosts. Using real, high-quality ingredients ensures consistency and delivers indulgent experiences customers crave.
Flavor innovation is critical for the success of LTOs, and premium ingredients like Ghirardelli provide the perfect foundation for creating exciting menu items. “We definitely look at creating products using Ghirardelli including sauces, chips, or mixes when expanding our menu, since we have a proven partnership that our fans know and love,” Geyser says.
But flavor innovation isn’t just about seasonal offerings—it’s also about focusing on freshness and uniqueness. Datassential reports fresh ingredients, premium quality, and new flavors are more important to consumers than just seasonal options. By adding unique twists with premium products, operators can create LTOs that stand out and maintain customer interest year-round.
Premium ingredients offer flexibility, allowing operators to add a unique twist to each creation. Ghirardelli’s products, such as hot cocoa mixes, chips and wafers, and versatile frappe mixes, provide operators with a solid base for developing seasonal specialties or custom creations like mochas or chocolate-based desserts. As fresh ingredients and quality rank higher in consumer preferences than even seasonal offerings, operators can experiment with Ghirardelli’s range of quality products to create LTOs that set their menu apart from competitors.
Wetzel’s Pretzels®’ partnership with Ghirardelli resulted in the top-performing Choco Churro Bitz LTO. “Ghirardelli’s premium chocolate is the perfect match for our pretzels, and our guests love it,” Geyser says. “It was such a hit that they kept asking for it to return.”
Premium ingredients can turn a simple menu item into a standout performer, but operators don’t need to reinvent the wheel. An LTO can be as simple as adding a premium topping or sauce to an existing product. For Wetzel’s, this approach led to repeat visits and brand loyalty, while helping the operator stand out from competitors.
According to a Ghirardelli study, purchase intent for chocolate desserts more than doubles when made with Ghirardelli. This collaboration allowed Wetzel’s to meet customer demand for indulgent treats. Ghirardelli’s wide range of sauces, chips, and cocoa powders makes it easy for operators to consistently create impressive LTOs.
The future of LTOs lies in premium ingredients. As supply chain and labor challenges persist, operators need easy-to-use ingredients that deliver on flavor and quality. Ghirardelli’s versatile products streamline preparation while still offering indulgence and customer satisfaction. Their comprehensive range, from chocolate sauces to frappe mixes, helps operators create standout offerings without compromise.
Explore Ghirardelli’s professional product range and see how you can transform your LTOs into standout, sales-driving offerings by visiting their website.
By Drew Filipski
