# Dutch Bros brings hot food to eligible franchise shops

> Source: https://qsr.pro/articles/dutch-bros-hot-food-franchise-shops
> Publisher: QSR Pro
> Last content update: 2026-11-08T20:04:12.302105+00:00


Some customers told Dutch Bros they went elsewhere for a breakfast sandwich.

Published: 2026-11-08T20:04:12.302105+00:00

By QSR Pro Staff

![Dutch Bros brings hot food to eligible franchise shops](https://gadzwjyojqpwmxtgebnh.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/daily-20261108-dutch-hot-food-90b6fbe38c35.webp)

*AI-generated illustration: QSR.pro, using Dutch Bros filings.*

Dutch Bros is bringing hot food to eligible franchise shops in the second half of 2026 after completing the company-shop phase in the second quarter. On November 4, CEO Christine Barone said the chain was testing more hot items this fall. It installed the ovens with a broader menu in mind. [November earnings call](https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/11/05/dutch-bros-bros-q3-2026-earnings-call-transcript/)

About 750 shops across the system had the new food program by June’s end, Barone said in August. Some franchisees tested it early. Dutch Bros wanted others to see how food performed in company shops first. Shops unable to serve hot food were disproportionately franchised, she said. [August earnings call](https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/08/13/dutch-bros-bros-q2-2026-earnings-call-transcript/)

Dutch Bros counted 313 franchised shops among 1,273 on September 30, without specifying eligibility. [Shop count](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1866581/000186658126000180/bros-20260930.htm)

## The morning drink order

Some customers told Dutch Bros they preferred its drinks but went elsewhere for a breakfast sandwich, Barone said. Adding food to a regular coffee order raises the check. Winning that breakfast stop could bring in the drink sale, too. [August call](https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/08/13/dutch-bros-bros-q2-2026-earnings-call-transcript/)

Customers started adding food to their orders soon after shops introduced it, Barone said in August. In November she said the add-on rate was steady compared with earlier quarters. Staff promoted food to existing customers and paid ads focused on drinks. [August call](https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/08/13/dutch-bros-bros-q2-2026-earnings-call-transcript/) · [November call](https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/11/05/dutch-bros-bros-q3-2026-earnings-call-transcript/)

On November 8, the chain’s bakery menu listed banana bread slices, a chocolate chip muffin top and a cookie dough cake pop. Barone saw room for more hot breakfast options. She did not identify the test items. [Bakery menu](https://www.dutchbros.com/menu/eats-sweets-bakery/bakery-bites/) · [Fall tests](https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/11/05/dutch-bros-bros-q3-2026-earnings-call-transcript/)

At 1,012 comparable shops systemwide, third-quarter sales rose 4.4% and visits rose 0.4% year over year. Those full-menu figures cannot isolate extra breakfast visits. [Quarterly results](https://investors.dutchbros.com/news-releases/news-release-details/dutch-bros-inc-reports-third-quarter-2026-financial-results)

## Taking an order before the window

In its 2025 annual report, Dutch Bros put drive-through business at roughly 85% of the total and walk-up windows at 15%. At busy shops, a runner can meet customers in the drive-through line, explain the menu and send orders inside by tablet. [Annual report](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1866581/000186658126000006/bros-20251231.htm)

Customers who order ahead in the Dutch Rewards app can pick up at a drive-through or walk-up window. The ordering system connects to the shop’s point-of-sale and kitchen displays, and shops can limit production at peak times. Dutch Bros saw a chance to reach morning customers who had little time to wait. About 17% of third-quarter visits came through order-ahead, Barone said. [Order-ahead operations](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1866581/000186658126000006/bros-20251231.htm) · [November call](https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/11/05/dutch-bros-bros-q3-2026-earnings-call-transcript/)

The company expanded food safety training before the wider rollout. Franchisees must use approved vendors for equipment and supplies. Both company and franchise shops receive regular quality inspections. [Quality and safety](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1866581/000186658126000006/bros-20251231.htm)

## Costs at company shops

QSR.pro covered coffee and food costs in its [first-quarter analysis](https://qsr.pro/articles/dutch-bros-q1-2026-transactions-food-occupancy-gross-margin). In the second quarter, beverage, food and packaging costs reached 26.1% of company-shop revenue, up 0.8 percentage points from a year earlier. CFO Joshua Guenser attributed most of that increase to higher coffee costs and the food rollout. [Second-quarter call](https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/08/13/dutch-bros-bros-q2-2026-earnings-call-transcript/)

Third-quarter costs rose from $101.9 million to $132.1 million year over year. Food typically costs more per sales dollar than drinks, the company said. The cost share fell from 25.9% to 25.6%, mainly because of tariff refunds totaling about $4 million. [Quarterly filing](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1866581/000186658126000180/bros-20260930.htm) · [November call](https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/11/05/dutch-bros-bros-q3-2026-earnings-call-transcript/)

The nine-month ratio through September reached 26.0%, up from 25.4% a year earlier. Coffee and rollout costs outweighed refunds. The filing does not disclose franchisees’ margins on hot food. [Nine-month comparison](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1866581/000186658126000180/bros-20260930.htm)

Category: [Operations & Management](https://qsr.pro/categories/operations)