U.S. quick-service restaurant chains increasingly offering bite-sized chicken items that can be dipped in sauce
Nevin Barich
LOS ANGELES
,
June 13, 2012
(Industry Intelligence)
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U.S. quick-service restaurant chains are increasingly offering bite-sized chicken items that can be dipped in sauce, The Wall Street Journal reported June 12.
Consumers are interested in convenient, small and easy-to-consume food items that can be eaten in their cars or without the use of two hands, fast food restaurants say.
Seventeen percent of all domestic restaurant meal orders are consumed in cars, said consumer research group NPD Group Inc.
Roughly 70% of McDonald’s Corp.’s sales are drive-thru orders, said McDonald's U.S.A. menu innovation team vice president Wade Thoma. Americans are more likely to eat while on the go than people in any other country on earth, he added.
Restaurant chains that have unveiled this type of chicken meal option include:
• McDonald’s Corp. unveiled its Chicken McBites, which are small fried chicken pieces, in the U.S. during the first half of 2012. They come in three sizes, “snack,” “regular,” and “shareable,” and in containers that are designed to fit into the cup holder of a car. During the week of June 18, the company plans to unveil a spicy version nationwide.
• Yum Brands Inc.’s unveiled the P'Zolo, a hot and rolled sandwich, during the week of June 4. It comes with either ranch or marinara dip, and is designed to be held in one hand.
• AFC Enterprises’ Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen introduced Dip'n Chick'n and Rip'n Chick'n in 2011 and May 2012, respectively. The former consists of small pieces of chicken that can be dipped, while the latter is a fried chicken breast that is deliberately sliced in such a way so as to make it easy to tear apart.
• Whataburger launched its bite-sized Whatachick'n Bites in April.
The primary source of this article is The Wall Street Journal, New York, New York, on June 12, 2012.
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