Chicken Chain Invests $50M to Develop Recipe, Grill Technology to Create Backyard Grilled Taste
Chick-fil-A is introducing a new lineup of grilled chicken entrees that will give the chain one of the most nutritious and expansive grilled menus across the quick-service industry. On April 14, the Atlanta-based restaurant chain will officially roll-out three new entrees – the Chick-fil-AGrilled Chicken Sandwich, Chick-fil-AGrilled Chicken Club Sandwich and Chick-fil-AGrilled Nuggets – in an ongoing effort to provide more flavorful and “craveable” grilled options for its nutrition-minded customers.
Chick-fil-A’s new recipe features an unmatched backyard grilled taste. Each grilled chicken breast is freshly marinated with a blend of sea salt, lemon, garlic and savory herbs, and cooked on a state-of-the-art, proprietary grill developed by Chick-fil-A. The technique creates a tender, juicy filet with just the right amount of smoky flavor.
To make this menu enhancement possible, Chick-fil-A invested seven years of testing and more than $50 million to reinvent its grilled chicken recipe. The largest portion of the investment came as the company worked with Garland Grills to create a proprietary grill. This grill sears chicken perfectly on cast-iron grates like it was cooked on a backyard grill, only faster.
“We started with a mission to create a best-in-class grilled sandwich, and after testing 1,200-plus recipes, we landed on a taste so remarkable that we decided to extend the flavor into a full grilled line,” said David Farmer, Chick-fil-A’s vice president of product strategy and development. “Our previous grilled entrees were good, but not remarkable. We wanted a grilled chicken recipe that is just as ‘craveable’ as our original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich.”
Following is more information on Chick-fil-A’s new grilled lineup:
Chick-fil-A Grilled Chicken Sandwich: The Grilled Chicken Sandwich is a boneless, 100 percent pure breast meat chicken, marinated with a special blend of seasonings and grilled for a tender and juicy backyard-grilled taste. It is served on a new toasted, multigrain bun with green leaf lettuce and tomato and served with a side of Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce. It is priced starting at $4.29 with just 320 calories and 5 grams of fat, making it one of the most nutritious grilled entrees in the quick-service industry.
Chick-fil-A Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich: Building on the improvements of the Grilled Chicken Sandwich, the Club adds a kick of flavor with Colby-Jack Cheese and Applewood smoked bacon. It is priced starting at $5.49 and has 440 calories and 14 grams of fat.
Chick-fil-A Grilled Nuggets: Chick-fil-A Grilled Nuggets, which were first introduced in 2012 as a Kid’s Meal entrée, have been reinvented and offer the new grilled flavor in bite-sized pieces of pure boneless breast of chicken that are great as a meal or a snack. Customers can order Grilled Nuggets in 8-count (140 calories, 3 fat grams) or 12-count (200 calories, 4.5 fat grams) with their choice of dipping sauce. Grilled Nuggets are made without gluten-containing ingredients and are free of trans fats, with prices starting at $3.79 and $5.59, respectively.
Chick-fil-A’s new grilled chicken recipe also enhances the chain’s line of other grilled chicken entrees, including the Chick-fil-A Grilled Market Salad, Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap and Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Sandwich.
“Chick-fil-A is more committed than ever to providing our customers with a ‘menu of choice’ that not only tastes great, but is great for them,” Farmer added. “Whether our customers are counting carbs, fat or calories, or eating food made without gluten-containing ingredients, we offer a number of menu options to suit their dietary needs and preferences. To keep them informed, we make our nutritional information easily accessible for all guests, including an online meal calculator, calorie counts posted on our menu boards, nutrition panels and pamphlets in our dining rooms, and order-specific nutrition information printed on receipts by request.”
On Feb. 11, Chick-fil-A announced that it will serve chicken raised without antibiotics in all its restaurants nationwide within five years. The move marked the first time a quick service restaurant has committed to a 100 percent “raised without antibiotics” standard for poultry. In late 2013, the company removed yellow dye from its chicken soup, and is testing the removal of high fructose corn syrup from all dressings and sauces, artificial ingredients from its bun, and TBHQ from its peanut oil. Also in 2013,
Chick-fil-A overhauled its salad line by introducing three new premium salads, as well as a new wrap, touting locally sourced greens and premium fruits and vegetables. Chick-fil-A is actively working to reduce sodium across its menu, including a 25 percent sodium reduction in breads and 10 percent sodium reduction in dressings and sauces.
For more information on Chick-fil-A’s latest grilled menu additions, visit GrilledLove.com.
Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is a family owned and privately held restaurant company dedicated to serving the communities in which its restaurants operate. Known for its original chicken sandwich, Chick-fil-A serves nutritious, freshly prepared food in nearly 1,800 restaurants in 39 states and Washington, D.C.
Founded by S. Truett Cathy in 1967, Chick-fil-A produced sales of $5 billion in 2013. Chick-fil-A was recognized in 2013 as one of America’s “Most Inspiring Companies” by Forbes Magazine and “Best Places to Work” by Glassdoor, among other honors. More information on Chick-fil-A is available on the chain’s website, located at www.chick-fil-a.com.
