Zaxbys has announced the nationwide rollout of its co-branded NERDS Strawberry Milkshake across participating US locations, effective 31 August 2026.
The nationwide deployment follows a successful regional test-market phase conducted during the previous year. By combining its hand-spun milkshake platform with dual-textured confectionery inclusions, the chicken franchise aims to drive dessert attachment rates, capture late-summer afternoon dayparts, and leverage nostalgic brand equity across its restaurant footprint.
Multi-Textured Beverage Formulation
The product architecture translates Ferrara's popular sweet-and-tart candy profile into a hand-spun quick-service beverage format, combining creamy dairy elements with crunchy and chewy inclusions.
Key formulation specifications and beverage components include:
🍓 Hand-Spun Strawberry Base: A rich, creamy strawberry milkshake blended fresh to order.
🍬 Rainbow NERDS Inclusions: Infused with classic crunchy Rainbow NERDS to introduce a tangy, textural contrast throughout the shake.
🍇 NERDS Gummy Clusters Topping: Garnished with NERDS Gummy Clusters, combining gummy centres with crunchy outer shells for a multi-sensory bite.
🍒 Finishing Touches: Layered with whipped cream, an extra dusting of Rainbow NERDS candy, and a classic Maraschino cherry.
Patrick Schwing, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at Zaxbys, stated that pairing the crunchy sweet-and-tangy profile of NERDS with hand-spun milkshakes delivers an indulgent treat that resonated strongly during initial market testing, providing guests with a differentiated seasonal offering across physical and digital ordering channels.
QSR Dessert Drinks
The partnership reflects broader quick-service restaurant (QSR) operational strategies, where operators integrate recognisable confectionery intellectual property (IP) into core dessert platforms to stimulate impulse trial without introducing complex prep routines to kitchen lines.
By pairing crisp, fruit-forward confectionery profiles with savoury chicken combos and crinkle fries, Zaxbys positions its beverage platform to increase average ticket spend and attract multi-generational snacking traffic outside core lunch and dinner windows.
Availability and Ordering
The NERDS Strawberry Milkshake is available for a limited time across participating Zaxbys restaurant locations nationwide.
Commercial distribution is integrated across all primary ordering touchpoints:
In-Restaurant and Drive-Thru: Direct ordering across front counters and drive-thru lanes.
Digital Ecosystem: Available for order-ahead pick-up and delivery via Zaxbys.com and the official Zaxbys mobile application.
Promotional Window: Deployed as a short-run limited-time offering (LTO) while promotional confectionery stocks last.
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