Steak ‘n Shake offers $2.50 Patriot Milkshake promotion in January

Steak ‘n Shake is offering a $2.50 “Patriot Milkshake” throughout January, promoting the discount as an early nod to America’s 250th anniversary, according to the company’s X account.

“Steak n Shake starts on the 250th anniversary of America’s founding,” Steak ‘n Shake wrote on X’s website.

The promotion comes as fast food chains take very different approaches to pricing and cost pressures, with some leaning toward discounts and others cutting sites or wary of relying on promotions to drive traffic.

Steak ‘n Shake said in its post that the Patriot Milkshake will be available for $2.50 “throughout the month of January.”

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The company did not provide additional details about the product beyond its promotional price, but an image of the milkshake shows patriotic red, white and blue sprinkles and a small American flag atop the frozen dessert.

On Steak ‘n Shake’s ordering platform, a plain vanilla shake is offered at $4.99 per adult or regular size.

The company has not yet said whether the Patriot Milkshake is comparable in size or ingredients to its regular shakes.

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A screenshot from Steak ‘n Shake’s online ordering platform shows the regular vanilla shake at $4.99, and the kids’ size at $3.29. (Steak and Shake)

Some chains have chosen to downsize as fast food prices have risen recently.

Jack in the Box has closed 72 locations so far as part of a broader turnaround plan, and previously said it would close 150 to 200 underperforming restaurants by 2026, including 80 to 120 locations by the end of this year, FOX Business previously reported.

The company cited multiple challenges, including fewer customers, higher beef prices and higher debt levels, and reported a net loss of $80.7 million for the fiscal year ending in September.

Other restaurant operators have argued against deep cuts. Brett Shulman, co-founder and CEO of Cava, told FOX Business that relying on promotions can become a “short-term trap,” adding, “You can’t discount your way to prosperity.”

Steak ‘n Shake framed its $2.50 milkshake as part of its early acknowledgment of the nation’s upcoming semicentennial rather than a broader shift in prices.

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Biglari Holdings, which owns Steak ‘n Shake, did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ questions about the Patriot Milkshake promotion.