Contest-winning flavor becomes brand’s No. 1 Flavor of the Month by sales

KATY, Texas, Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Kolache Factory, the Katy-based bakery-café franchise known for its fresh-baked kolaches, is giving customers what they asked for. After a record-breaking limited-time run, the brand’s Birria Kolache has officially earned a permanent spot on the menu at all Kolache Factory locations.

The Birria Kolache was inspired by Erin Hargett of Greenville, South Carolina, who submitted the idea as part of Kolache Factory’s annual Create a Kolache Contest. The customer-created flavor was introduced systemwide as the brand’s April 2026 Flavor of the Month and quickly became Kolache Factory’s No. 1 Flavor of the Month by sales.

During its 30-day limited-time run, the Birria Kolache delivered strong systemwide results, including:

• 43,523 Birria Kolaches sold across all 60 stores

• 1.8 times the average Flavor of the Month sales per store per day

• More than 10,000 Birria Kolaches sold per week on average

The results made the Birria Kolache Kolache Factory’s No. 1 Flavor of the Month by sales and helped drive the decision to add it to the permanent menu.

“The Birria Kolache is exactly what our Create a Kolache Contest is all about,” said Dawn Nielsen, COO of Kolache Factory. “A customer brought us a bold idea and our team brought it to life, and guests responded in a big way. When a limited-time flavor performs like this and customers keep asking for it, we listen.”

Priced at $4.98*, the Birria Kolache is filled with slow-braised birria beef, onions, cilantro, lime and a flavorful consommé, all wrapped in Kolache Factory’s signature dough. Unlike traditional birria dishes that are often served with consommé on the side for dipping, Kolache Factory bakes the consommé inside the kolache, creating a portable, flavor-packed version of the popular dish.

The permanent menu addition reflects Kolache Factory’s approach to menu innovation, blending global flavors with the brand’s Czech-inspired roots while staying close to what customers want. The brand’s annual Create a Kolache Contest, now in its 8^th year, invites fans to submit original flavor ideas, giving customers a direct role in shaping future menu items. Winning submissions usually get a place on the menu as a limited-time offering. This is the first time a submission has been added to the permanent menu.

“Kolache Factory has always been built around approachable, craveable flavors that fit into everyday routines,” Nielsen said. “The Birria Kolache brings something bold and unexpected to the menu, while still staying true to what people love about our kolaches.”

The Birria Kolache is now available at all Kolache Factory locations.

To learn more or find a location, visit www.kolachefactory.com.

Media assets can be found HERE.

*Prices may vary in certain states.

About the Kolache Factory

Kolache Factory was founded in 1982 in Houston, Texas, by John and Jerri Banks, who saw a need for a fresh, high-quality breakfast that could be eaten “on the run.” Serving sweet and savory pastries filled with fruit, meat, and cheese, Kolache Factory has become a go-to for business meetings, family breakfasts, on-the-go lunches, and afternoon snacks. Today, the brand operates 60 stores nationwide and has been recognized by Food Network as one of the Top 5 Drive-Thrus in America, by Modern Baking Magazine as one of the top 50 foodservice bakeries in the U.S., and by Entrepreneur magazine as one of the top 200+ food-based franchises.

Kolache Factory is privately owned and operated and headquartered in Katy, Texas.
For more information, please visit https://kolachefactory.com/. 
For more information about Kolache Factory franchise opportunities, please visit https://kolachefactory.com/franchise.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Tammy Delgado
tdelgado@tidehouseagency.com
954-829-9189

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SOURCE Kolache Factory