This is true of Sonic, for example. In July 2018, the brand launched its Real Fruit Berry Shakes in flavors like Strawberry, Blueberry, and Triple Berry with strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries.
Regional berries, like the huckleberry, are also expected to be featured more prominently on shake flavor selections. In the summer, 42-unit chain Burgerville offered a Marionberry Milkshake made with Oregon’s state berry, a plump, sweet blackberry-hybrid named after Marion County, Oregon.
Another popular fruit flavor is apple combined with spices like cinnamon to create a fresh fall spice offering. In fall 2018, Burgerville offered a Apple Spice Milkshake, describing it as “apple pie a la mode in a cup!”
“Washington’s apples are world-famous, and our shake was released at the peak of harvest season to make the most of the freshest Granny Smiths around,” says Becky McGrath, head chef.
A&W Restaurants also offered a seasonal Apple Crumble Polar Swirl following a very successful Peach Pie polar swirl and milkshake LTO that tasted very much like peach pie, Westby says.
And, diverging from the fruit path, one of Burgerville’s most favored milkshakes in sales during the cooler months and requests during the warmer months when it is not available is the Chocolate Hazelnut Milkshake featuring the Oregon state nut, hazelnuts, blended with chocolate for a flavor reminiscent of the candy Ferrero Rocher or Nutella. This seasonal delight is available at Burgerville’s locations until the end of February 2019.
