Is it PSL Season Already?

4 Min Read By Barbara Castiglia

While the restaurant industry has been focused on value meals so far this summer, Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) season has snuck up on us with independent restaurants leading the orange-colored way. From May 15 to July 15, SpotOn saw 1,070 “pumpkin” items added to menus across the country, with a spike of 176 items added just between July 7 and 13 alone. They found interest in pumpkin knows no bounds, with all types of establishments adding it to their menus, including cafes, diners, pubs, bakeries, cider works, bars, and even restaurants catering to specific dietary preferences. With the pumpkin spice market forecast to be worth $2.4 billion by 2031, operators are hoping an early PSL season will drive additional revenue after a consumer pullback in spending.

"Call it whatever you want; there’s no denying the power in pumpkin," Kevin Bryla, SpotOn's Chief Marketing Officer, told Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine, when asked if we should flip from calling it…