Does Cauliflower work for a Chicken Sandwich let’s ask Chick-Fil-A

 

So, Chick-fil-A announced that it will begin testing its first plant-forward entrée, the Chick-fil-A Cauliflower Sandwich, at restaurants in three markets. Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® what’s to hear from you if you have tired it. It sound like a good idea according to the team at Foodservice Solutions®.

Now while the sandwich is not considered vegetarian (egg and milk product is included in the preparation process), it is made with a tender filet cut from a whole, real cauliflower and embraces the plant-forward style that places vegetables at the center of the entrée. The preparation is similar to the original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich—it is marinated, breaded with a signature seasoning, pressure-cooked, and served on a toasted buttery bun with two dill pickle chips.   

It all stated Monday, February 13, that Chick-fil-A began testing the cauliflower sandwich in these three markets: Denver, Charleston, South Carolina, and North Carolina’s Greensboro-Triad region.  

Leslie Neslage, director of menu and packaging at Chick-fil-A, stated, “Cauliflower is the hero of our new sandwich, and it was inspired by our original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich”. …. “Guests told us they wanted to add more vegetables into their diets, and they wanted a plant-forward entrée that tasted uniquely Chick-fil-A. Our new sandwich is made with the highest quality ingredients and whole vegetables, and we hope it offers customers another reason to dine at Chick-fil-A." 

In case you had not noticed, Chick-fil-A is the latest of several big-time fast-food chains experimenting with plant-based products. Last year, McDonald's piloted the McPlant in about 600 restaurants, although the response was reportedly underwhelming. KFC rolled out plant-based chicken nationwide for a limited time at the start of 2022, while Burger King launched its Impossible Whopper nationwide in August 2019. 

The Chick-fil-A Cauliflower Sandwich was created, developed, and tested in-house by Chick-fil-A chefs who worked diligently for nearly four years finding the right ingredients and perfecting the recipe for the new sandwich. 

 

Stuart Tracy, culinary developer of the Chick-fil-A Cauliflower Sandwich, stated, "We explored every corner of the plant-based space in search of the perfect centerpiece for our plant-forward entrée” ... “Time and time again, we kept returning to cauliflower as the base of our sandwich. After a significant amount of development, we knew we had a one-of-a-kind entrée; one that puts a delicious spin on what we’re known for—great tasting food with ingredients you can trust.”  

Invite Foodservice Solutions® to complete a Grocerant ScoreCard, or for product positioning or placement assistance, or call our Grocerant Guru®.  Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche. Contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or 253-759-7869

Donatos Halo of ‘Better for You’ Wings

 

Americans love their pizza. Very few ask what’s better than pizza? If there were to ask the most common answer is wings according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Donatos fast, fresh, premium pizza with toppings Edge to Edge on its famous thin crust pizzas, Donatos is edifying its relationship with customer looking for that ‘one more thing’ but with the halo of ‘better for you’.  They are on the cutting edge of menu trends by pizza companies when it comes to offering options to fit various dietary needs elevating choice empowering interactive and participatory meal bundles.

With 261 locations coast to coast, Donatos made news in 2013 when it successfully launched gluten free crust system-wide in response to the growing demand from customers. Then, a year ago, Donatos answered the bell again by adding cauliflower crust to rave reviews and with it four new signature pizzas featuring plant-based sausage, becoming the first pizza delivery brand to market the new launch.

Grocerant niche mix & match meal component bundling drives top line sales and bottom-line profits and to build on that trend Donatos has added cauliflower wings to its menu lineup that already includes traditional and boneless wings. These wings, which utilize cauliflower florets, are oven roasted to perfection. They are served with a choice of four different dry rubs or three different sauces.

Donatos CEO Tom Krouse stated, "We are thrilled about the addition of cauliflower wings to our menu," ... "Plant-based foods are more in demand now than ever, and our menu innovation team continues to develop great products to meet our customers' needs."

Wings fit right in as they are hand held food for immediate consumption with added bold flavors consumers are looking for today. The extension of the wing category adds new variety to the Donatos menu, which includes oven-baked subs, fresh salads, appetizers, and desserts in addition to the brand's featured product – pizza. As an added convenience, all menu items are available for pick-up and delivery. Have you added the ‘halo’ of better for you to your menu?

Looking for success clues of your own? Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced food marketing and business development ideations. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities, technology, or a new menu product segment.  Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit us on our social media sites by clicking one of the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter