Wrap Up 2023 With Festive Fast Food Finds And Other Merry Merch
Holiday merch has become a tradition for fast-food chains and other brands. With this year’s collections, fans can feel festive while sporting and supporting their favorites. Many of the items sold out within days, proving that these marketing programs are on point. Here are a few of the best branded items and holiday collections out there this season:
1. Chipotle Car Napkin Holder & ‘Extra’ Jewelry
The burrito broker’s merch game is always strong, and a couple new pieces take it to a whole new level.
With a nod to customers’ social media posts about stashing extra Chipotle napkins in their cars, Chipotle Goods released a custom car napkin holder made of vegan cactus leather and designed to clip on the sun visor. The quirky items, which were produced with the help of Los Angeles-based BAMKO, the PPAI 100 No. 4 distributor, sold out within days.
IMAGE: Chipotle
That’s not the only new item celebrating something “extra.” With the tagline, “Guac is EXTRA and so are you,” Chipotle captures the zeitgeist with a sterling silver necklace and stud earrings for people who want more, whether it’s in their burrito order or in life.
IMAGE: Chipotle
2. Raising Cane’s Raises Money For Canines
Fast-food mascots make fan-favorite merch, and Raising Cane’s is using its namesake pooch to raise money for animal shelters and charities nationwide. Its Plush Puppy program started in 2004, and since 2009, the chain has donated nearly $1 million to local pet welfare organizations.
This year’s pups, inspired by New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza Christmas Tree and New Year’s Eve in Times Square, raise money for Canine Companions for Independence, a nonprofit that provides trained assistance dogs to people with disabilities. Fans can choose a regular or oversized version.
IMAGE: Raising Cane’s
The chicken finger chain’s 2023 holiday collection also includes a holiday lawn inflatable with an oversized Cane resting on a red box emblazoned with the Cane’s logo, plus red-and-white holiday sweaters and matching knit scarves, gloves and hats, as well as a range of products from pajamas to wrapping paper that feature a new, Keith Haring-style holiday pattern.
IMAGE: Raising Cane’s
3. ALDI Gear Sells Out, Then Sells Out Again (And Again)
Budget grocer ALDI released its first fan gear collection in spring 2022 and followed up with two more launches in spring and summer 2023. All three sold out quickly.
Now, just in time for the holidays, an eagerly awaited fourth collection – this time with a festive Fair Isle flair – has hit store shelves. ALDI’s 2023 holiday finds include an assortment of sweaters (both human and pet), child and adult onesies, knit beanies and fuzzy slippers. True to the brand’s affordable reputation, the most expensive item in the collection is just $12.99 plus tax.
Thought about getting all dolled up the night of my 20th hs reunion to prove to myself I still got it
— Most Mid 𓅷 (@OnlyALilGotten2) November 25, 2023
But instead we went grocery shopping and I got matching Aldi Xmas sweaters for me and the smol dog pic.twitter.com/zmdJu2l7I5
4. Jimmy John’s ‘Pickle’ Pieces
The “freaky fast” sandwich shop is also known for its jumbo kosher dill pickles, and new merch includes a crewneck sweatshirt emblazoned with “PICKLE” across the chest in pickle green, a “Don’t forget your pickle” keychain, a pickle ornament, pickle bucket hat, pickle socks and – of course – a JJ-branded pickleball set.
IMAGE: Jimmy John’s
5. White Castle’s White Christmas
Fans of White Castle (or those looking for the perfect gift for one) can visit the slider chain’s House of Crave online store for a White Castle holiday snow globe featuring a miniature restaurant, Christmas trees and swirling, sparkly snow.
IMAGE: White Castle
Other holiday items include mugs, a slider ornament, a stocking and ugly sweaters, as well as a more subtle and on trend white knit scarf and hat set with the White Castle logo embossed on faux leather patches. For shoppers thinking ahead, there’s also a “Love Castle” Valentine’s Day collection.
IMAGE: White Castle
6. Rao’s Merch Gets Even Saucier
In addition to matching “Saucy” tees for pets and their people, pasta powerhouse Rao’s Homemade has added a holiday sweater and limited-edition red velour tracksuit (featuring a bedazzled Rao’s logo on the back) to its online gift shop. These new items follow a pricey purse dubbed “The Marinara” that dropped a few months ago and quickly sold out, despite an eye-popping $1,000 price tag.
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Otherwise, the Rao’s online store stocks plenty of pasta, sauce and kitchen tools like a branded spoon, pasta ladle or pizza stone, as well as a red-and-white striped apron and oven mitt.
7. Texas-Sized ‘Tortillas’ From Grocer H-E-B
Texans love their H-E-B, and the family-owned grocer launched its first brand shop in select stores last year. This holiday season, the company has expanded its retail locations and product offerings, which now include a 70-inch round flour tortilla plush blanket and ornaments celebrating the grocer’s iconic supply trucks and other Texana. (Full disclosure: This Texas-based writer ran right out and bought one for an expat friend. Looks like I was lucky to find them in stock!)
@heb_obsessed HEB Bakery Flour Tortilla Blanket is back! 😍😍 You’ll be the snuggliest burrito in this cutie. #heb #hebfinds #texan #hebtortillas #hebtortillablanket #texasaf ♬ original sound - HEB_obsessed