Pumpkin Spice Economy: Seasonal Flavors and LTO Drive Business this fall for Restaurants and CStores

2025 Seasonal Pumpkin Spice Offerings at Kim’s Convenience Stores

As the leaves turn and temperatures drop, one flavor rises to dominate menus and minds alike: pumpkin spice. The iconic fall flavor delights guests who are eager for their Pumpkin Spice seasonal indulgence. Fall flavors have proven to be a powerful marketing tool for coffee shops, restaurants, and convenience stores. Limited-Time Offers (LTOs) centered around pumpkin spice and other autumn flavors not only tap into nostalgia but also create urgency, boost foot traffic, and deepen customer loyalty.

International Coffee Day was October 1st this year, and it was the kick-off for fall promotions for many Paytronix customers – launching bold pumpkin spice flavors and special offerings. Yet it’s not just coffee shops featuring the spice this fall… quick-service restaurants and convenience stores are featuring pumpkin spice as much as anyone else. We asked several brands to share how they’re leveraging fall flavors to engage customers this year.

Why Pumpkin Spice Works

Pumpkin spice isn’t just a flavor—it’s a cultural moment. Consumers eagerly anticipate its return each year, making it a prime candidate for seasonal LTOs. Seasonal promotions like pumpkin spice can:

• Create urgency: The limited-time nature of fall flavors encourages customers to act quickly.
• Drive repeat visits: Customers return to try different variations or to enjoy their favorite seasonal treat again.
• Boost average spend: Pairing pumpkin spice drinks with themed baked goods or combo deals increases ticket size.
• Strengthen brand identity: Seasonal offerings show that a brand is in tune with customer preferences and cultural trends.

Autumn themes, fall recipes, and holiday meals are great. Yet how can restaurants and c-stores that run these promotions make them stand out? If you can customize your fall marketing ideas to fit the unique personalities and habits of your guests, you'll be more successful. Integrate your seasonal offerings and LTOs with your loyalty, rewards, and online ordering programs in order to tap that data and target the right guest segment with customized offers.

Coffee Shops: Brewing Loyalty with Fall Flavors

Coffee shops are the natural habitat of pumpkin spice. From lattes to cold brews, these beverages become fall staples. The coffee shop industry is perhaps the furthest along in leveraging loyalty programs to amplify the impact of their fall flavor offerings.

Coffee brands are increasingly personalizing promotions, using data from loyalty engagement tailor offers and discounts on pumpkin spice items. Brands with mobile apps are engaging their customers with push notifications and in-app ordering that makes it easy for customers to indulge on the go. Creative brands are even gamifying the experience, challenging guests to make multiple visits to or try multiple LTO flavors to earn a reward.

Fall promotions aren’t ALL just pumpkin spice, but it’s clear the flavor leads fall lineups. Foxtail Coffee Co. unveiled a new seasonal lineup of pumpkin, spice and maple flavors just for fall. Guests can warm up (or cool down) with four new lattes: Pumpkin Spice, Maple Pancake, Spiced Capplecinno, and a Maple-Berry latte.

CC’s Coffee House announced three exciting LTO’s this fall, featuring a French Toast flavor to excite guests, and of course, Pumpkin Pie. “As for why Pumpkin does so well, I think it’s multi-faceted. There’s the limited-time nature of the flavor. And the nostalgia tied to the season, similar to holiday flavors,” said David Hooper, Marketing Manager, CC’s Coffee House. “For us here in the South, I think people also like the fall flavors because we imagine it bringing in some cooler weather.”

But the real excitement is the new Birthday Cake Latte that brings together creamy white chocolate and buttery vanilla cake with rich espresso and steamed milk… finished with whipped cream and vibrant rainbow sprinkles – so guests can join in celebrating with CC’s Coffee House as the brand turned 30 in September!

Restaurants: Turning Seasonal Menus into Marketing Gold

Pumpkin spice has a home in any restaurant for the fall season, and special offerings can go far beyond beverages. Restaurants are incorporating pumpkin spice into desserts, entrees, and even cocktails. Quick-service and breakfast-serving restaurants benefit most – as they feature coffee brands in addition to food offerings. IHOP introduced a new Pumpkin Spice Cold Foam Cold Brew along with the return of its famous Pumpkin Spice Pancakes August 28, with more than 1 million pumpkin pancakes per year Since 2008.

Increasingly, full-service restaurants are seeing success with pumpkin spice too, particularly those that promote their fall menus with integrated marketing campaigns. Leverage pumpkin spice offerings across email, SMS, and social media to reach diners wherever they are, and make sure your business isn’t left out by regular customers who are unaware you can fulfill their pumpkin spice cravings.

Even Mexican restaurants can leverage the fall season. Amigo’s/Kings Classic invited guests to sip into the season this fall with new Pumpkin & Maple Pecan shakes.

Restaurants should consider adding exclusive pumpkin spice items for takeout or delivery to boost digital sales. Work pumpkin spice offerings into catering promotions. And be sure to analyze customer behavior and menu preferences to identify which fall items resonate most, then adjust menus accordingly.

Convenience Stores: Capturing Impulse Buys with Seasonal Treats

LTOs can transform routine stops into memorable experiences, and convenience stores may have the greatest opportunity for a pumpkin-spice business boost. With the ability to promote coffee, food, and limitless other seasonal packaged products, C-stores can bundle promotions, pairing pumpkin spice coffee with seasonal pastries or snacks.

QuickChek is all about leveraging the opportunity, and made a point to be first to market with Pumpkin Spice… as QuickChek dropped their pumpkin-infused coffee across stores on Aug. 11th this year, because waiting even 10 months for the return was just too long.

“Some people may argue it is too early for pumpkin-flavored food and drinks, but we wanted to be the first to market for true fans of the official start of fall,” said Blake Segal, SVP of QuickChek in the announcement. “Launching our Pumpkin Spice Coffee has become a tradition at QuickChek and we are excited to offer our loyal customers an early taste of their seasonal favorite.”

Kim’s Convenience Stores went all-in with pumpkin spice offerings this year. They’re offering Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Cups – a fall twist on their year-round cheesecake cups, available right in Kim’s Grab-n-Go coolers. Fresh-baked Pumpkin Bread is available for the fall season, and Pumpkin Spice Coffee Syrup is available at all self-serve coffee stations so customers can add a pump or two of spice to their morning coffee.

“Pumpkin spice always gets people excited, and we love being able to bring in those flavors to celebrate the season with our customers,” said Michaela Ashley, Marketing Administrator at Kim’s Convenience Stores.

However, brands don’t need to go all-in to take part in seasonal offerings to benefit. Pump & Pantry first tried seasonally-flavored coffees but found the sweet spot for their customers is the simple addition of pumpkin spice flavored coffee creamer. Customers can add a splash of pumpkin spice to their coffee, or Pump & Pantry also has a Pumpkin Spice Cappuccino for customers to try this year, said Brandon Beck, senior director of marketing at Bosselman Enterprises, parent of Pump & Pantry.

Customers can leverage visual cues and in-store signage, and some offer sampling to let customers taste new flavors. More Paytronix customers are leveraging subscription programs this year as well, offering fall-themed beverage subscriptions to encourage daily visits.

By embracing the power of pumpkin spice and fall flavors, operators can turn seasonal trends into strategic wins. With the right tools—like those offered by Paytronix—brands can create memorable experiences that keep customers coming back long after the leaves have fallen.