The arrival of Pumpkin Spice flavoring in August, well before the official start of Fall, has caused some surprise among consumers. Despite the ongoing summer season, many brands have introduced Pumpkin Spice items on their menus, with the number of “pumpkin” menu items increasing by 1,000 in the last month alone. The Pumpkin Spice market is projected to grow to over $2.4 billion globally by 2031, driving companies to capitalize on its popularity by launching autumn-themed products early.
Starbucks is one of the prominent brands jumping on the Pumpkin Spice trend, with the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte set for August 22. Although Starbucks has not officially announced its fall menu launch date, leaks online suggest that along with the Pumpkin Spice Latte, other pumpkin offerings such as Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew and Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin will also be available.
For the first time ever, 7-Eleven has introduced Pumpkin Spice Slurpees at select locations in Texas, Ohio, California, and New York. Other pumpkin beverages, including Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew and Pumpkin Spice Latte, are also available for purchase in 7-Eleven stores. The early release of the fall menu is a response to the high demand for pumpkin-spiced products among 7-Eleven customers
International Delight has released Pumpkin Pie Spice Cold Foam Creamer and Pumpkin Pie Spice Creamer, joining the trend of early pumpkin-flavored product launches. Dunkin’ has brought back its Pumpkin Munchkin Creamer for the third year, while the release date for its fall menu has yet to be confirmed. Smoothie King is introducing a full Pumpkin Smoothie Line-up on August 27, giving Healthy Rewards members early access to the seasonal offerings starting on August 20.
In addition to these brands, Philadelphia Cream Cheese has already released its Pumpkin Spice cream cheese in July, ahead of the typical Fall launch. As the Pumpkin Spice trend continues to grow, companies are eager to cater to consumer demand by offering a wide range of pumpkin-flavored products earlier each year, celebrating the flavors of the autumn season well before it officially begins.
