Fast-food chain Zaxbys has introduced two seasonal menu items ahead of the holiday travel period, launching a spicy sauce and a holiday-themed dessert across its restaurant network. The rollout accompanies ongoing efforts by the Georgia-founded chain to broaden its footprint in competitive urban markets, including recent expansion steps in New York City.
The newly introduced savory option is a Honey Chipotle Sauce formulated with honey, brown sugar, red chili, and chipotle peppers, which the company characterizes as balancing sweet and spicy notes. On the dessert menu, the chain has added a hand-spun Peppermint Cookies & Cream Shake garnished with cookie pieces.
Loyalty program participants enrolled in Zax Rewardz gained early access to both items starting October 26 via the mobile application and third-party delivery services. General availability across more than 1,000 restaurants operating in 24 states officially opened on November 2.
The seasonal additions arrive amid intensified competition within the chicken restaurant sector, where brands like Zaxbys, Raising Cane’s, Popeyes, and Chick-fil-A contend for market share. Food writer Kenn C. Bivens observed that the new peppermint beverage resembles the seasonal peppermint milkshakes traditionally offered by Chick-fil-A, prompting online discussion and complaints from some rival employees on social media platforms.
At the same time, the broader rivalry between Zaxbys and Raising Cane’s—frequently characterized by industry observers as the chicken tender war—continues to draw attention from online content creators and consumers. The competition has occasionally manifested in direct promotional moves. Earlier this month, Zaxbys placed its automated sauce vending machine, known as the Zax Machine, directly outside a Manhattan Raising Cane’s location on Astor Place.
Concurrently, Zaxbys has continued building its physical presence in New York City. The company opened its second local outpost on the Upper East Side at 1267 First Avenue, following the launch of a Bronx location earlier in the summer.
