As inflation continues to strain household budgets, more Americans are rethinking how often they dine out and even whether they eat breakfast at all.

Rising grocery and restaurant prices are reshaping consumer behavior nationwide, with 27% of Americans admitting they have skipped meals to save money, according to a Credit Karma survey.

That shift is creating new opportunities for restaurant chains competing for budget-conscious consumers, particularly during breakfast hours, where value and convenience increasingly drive traffic.

Caribou Coffee is the latest chain to betting on the trend.

Caribou Coffee launches new Everyday Value Menu

Caribou Coffee has introduced a new Everyday Value Menu featuring breakfast and beverage items priced at $4 or less, according to a company press release.

The new lineup includes:

  • $2 small brewed coffee
  • $3 Blueberry Muffin
  • $3.50 small Cold Press coffee
  • $4 Bacon Breakfast Sandwich: A new bacon, scrambled egg, and melted cheddar cheese on a toasted English muffin

The Everyday Value Menu is now available at participating Caribou Coffee locations nationwide and can be ordered in-store, at the drive-thru, and through the company’s app for pickup and delivery. 

“At Caribou, we’re committed to creating a consistent, high-quality experience every time someone walks into one of our coffeehouses, with a range of options that fit into their day,” said Caribou Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer Matt Reiter in a statement. “The Everyday Value Menu expands the ways we do that and creates even more flexibility and value for guests.”

Caribou Coffee launches a new Everyday Value Menu.

Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images

Why value menus are becoming more important

Restaurant chains across the industry are increasingly leaning on discounts, bundles, and lower-priced offerings as inflation continues to pressure consumer spending.

Prices for food away from home increased 3.8% in the 12 months ending March 2026, according to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

At the same time, restaurant traffic has softened as consumers become more selective about where and how often they spend money.

Foodservice traffic declined 1% in the quarter ending June 2025, as diners cut back on restaurant visits, according to Circana. However, value-menu traffic rose 1%, marking the first positive growth for the category in the last three years.

“Value buyers are 33% more likely than non-value buyers to purchase value menu items when visiting other restaurant chains, indicating they actively seek out deals across various brands,” said Circana Senior Vice President and Industry Advisor Food and Foodservice David Portalatin.

Breakfast remains one of the most competitive dayparts in the restaurant industry because it generates habitual weekday traffic and often delivers higher-margin beverage sales.

Coffee and breakfast items also tend to carry stronger profit margins than many lunch and dinner offerings, making value-focused breakfast promotions particularly attractive to restaurant operators trying to balance affordability and profitability.

That profitability dynamic explains why breakfast has become increasingly important for restaurant chains.

More coverage by Fernanda Tronco on food industry news:

  • Fast-growing breakfast chain sees sales jump after menu revamp
  • McDonald’s drops 6 new drinks and a surprising fashion collab
  • 76-year-old burger chain takes on McDonald’s Happy Meal
  • McDonald’s is eliminating a popular customer perk nationwide

Restaurants typically operate on thin net margins of around 3% to 6% according to industry data from Toast, 

Drinks, however, can deliver significantly higher margins, often between 60% and 80%, while food generally delivers lower gross margins of approximately 65 to 70%, according to KitchenNmbrs.

Fast-food chains expand breakfast value deals

Caribou Coffee joins several major chains that have recently expanded low-cost breakfast promotions amid intensifying competition for value-focused diners.

Between 2020 and 2025, menu prices at 16 major restaurant chains, including IHOP (DIN), Denny’s, Cracker Barrel (CBRL), and Waffle House, increased by an average of 39%, according to FinanceBuzz. That compares with a national inflation rate of roughly 22% during the same period.

In response, restaurant chains across the industry have introduced competitive breakfast deals to attract cost-conscious consumers:

  • McDonald’s: Launched its McValue menu with $4 Breakfast Meal Deals and Under $3 Menu, according to The Street and the McDonald’s website.
  • Wendy’s: Offers Breakfast Biggie Deals and Meal Deals, according to the Wendy’s website.
  • Taco Bell: Introduced a Breakfast Crunchwrap Combo, according to the Taco Bell website.
  • Dunkin’: Promotes the $6 meal deal, according to the Dunkin’ website.

Still, expanding breakfast service comes with operational risks for restaurant chains already navigating weaker traffic and tight margins.

Fast-casual chain Portillo’s recently slowed its restaurant expansion plans and ended its breakfast pilot after testing the program in additional Chicago-area locations.

“There’s plenty of restaurant companies out there that have tried to expand to breakfast, and it hasn’t worked,” said Portillo’s CEO Michael Osanloo in an earnings call.

As inflation continues reshaping consumer spending habits, restaurant chains are expected to keep competing aggressively on value, especially during breakfast hours, where affordability and convenience remain key drivers of consumer traffic.

Related: McDonald’s is eliminating a popular customer perk nationwide