Del Taco is selling a plush reindeer ornament online. (Photo courtesy of Del Taco)
Restaurant chains that sell branded merchandise are a reliable source for ideas when the gift-giving season rolls around, at least for white elephant exchanges, gag gifts and ugly sweater contests.
This year’s crop includes tiki loungewear, seafood tree ornaments and a burrito blanket.
Be aware these kinds of novelties tend to sell out fast, which is what happened to Dunkin’s ugly sweater, according to its website.
The following items were available from restaurants at press time. If they sell out, it might be possible to find them on a secondary marketplace such as eBay.
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: This chain’s seasonal collection includes a 16-ounce bag of Cookie Butter Medium Roast Ground Coffee, currently on sale for $8.99. store.coffeebean.com/collections/seasonal
Del Taco: Del Taco sold out of its wrapping paper but introduced a new holiday collection on Dec. 1. Items include a reindeer tree ornament, a pom-pom stocking and tin of hot sauce with prices at $15-$39.99. Another new item is a burrito blanket that resembles a 60-inch flour tortilla. It costs $25.99. deltacowebstore.com
Dunkin’: Although the ultra-pink sweater is sold out, Dunkin’ has orange, pink and white fuzzy slippers for $33. shopdunkin.com
In-N-Out Burger: In-N-Out has added a new ugly sweater to its holiday collection. It celebrates Animal-Style french fries, an off-the-menu way to order them. The cost is $69.95 shop.in-n-out.com
Jack in the Box: Here’s a virtual stocking stuffer, a digital comic book called “The Return of Mark Hamill.” It claims to tell the “mostly true story” of the actor’s brief career in fast food before “Star Wars” stardom. It’s free, so the price is right. shopjackinthebox.com
Red Lobster: The seafood chain’s 2022 holiday collection includes the latest edition of its ugly sweater honoring its cheesy biscuits, which goes for $45, as well a snow globe and lobster ornaments to hang on the tree, both $20. redlobstershop.com
Starbucks: Gingerbread Flavored Coffee is new this year, available roast, ground or in K-Cups at retail stores, according to a news release. athome.starbucks.com/product-overview
Taco Bell: No new holiday items this year, according to the company, but here’s a 6-foot inflatable hot sauce packet on the “last chance” page of the fast food chain’s Taco Shop, suitable to put on your lawn next to your inflatable Grinch, Rudolph and yeti. It’s priced at $180, down from $200.tacobelltacoshop.com
Originally published at Fielding Buck