Chicken sandwiches are a popular food choice among consumers. They are available most everywhere for purchase—from quick service and casual dining restaurants, to convenience stores, to noncommercial foodservice establishments and grocery store hot food departments. With so many options for consumers to choose from, chicken sandwiches should continually be improved upon to stand out. Offering innovative sandwiches with high quality ingredients, unique toppings and flavorful sauces can boost sales at c-stores and offer consumers a product that will keep them returning for more.
Chicken consumption stats
According to Technomic’s 2023 Center of the Plate: Poultry & Seafood Consumer TrendReport, 84% of consumers eat chicken at least once a week. Additionally, 84% of consumers purchase chicken from foodservice at least once a month. The Center of the Plate: Poultry & Seafood report also found that, of the chicken dishes consumers are likely to order at least once every 90 days, 46% said they would order grilled chicken sandwiches, and 41% said fried chicken sandwiches.
Preparation and flavor preferences
Consumers consider a lot of things when choosing where they will purchase their chicken dishes, and flavor options make a big difference. Thirty-nine percent of consumers said they consider which sauces and condiments will be available when deciding where to order chicken, according to Technomic’s 2023 Center of the Plate: Poultry & Seafood Consumer TrendReport. And when it comes to how they prefer their chicken be flavored, 68% of consumers said they prefer seasonings and spices. Other preferred methods for adding flavor included preparation style (63%), marinades (54%) and sauces, spreads or condiments (52%). Beyond flavor and preparation, 45% of consumers said they are more likely to order fried chicken if it’s hand-breaded or hand-battered, so for retailers who want to boost sales, highlighting that can help.
Innovative chicken sandwich ideas
Chicken sandwiches from Chester’s are a great choice for c-store retailers who are interested in expanding and improving their menus with unique offerings. Chester’s has reinvented its breaded chicken sandwich, introducing a new bun, new sauce and more. The New Everything Fried Chicken Sandwich features Chester’s specially marinated and double-breaded whole breast fillet, topped with the brand’s signature sauce and crunchy crinkle cut dill pickles, all piled high on a Martin’s® potato roll.
Chester’s chicken sandwiches are made with hand-breaded, freshly prepared chicken that is seasoned and breaded using an old family recipe. They are a great choice for grab-and-go sections, and provide consumers with a meal that is quick, portable and flavorful. In addition to the New Everything Fried Chicken Sandwich, many Chester’s operators serve a variety of chicken sandwiches to appeal to a wider audience, including Chester’s Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and Honey Stung Chicken Sandwich.
Add signature food items to the menu with Chester’s fresh fried chicken sandwiches. For information about franchising, visit.
This post is sponsored by Chester’s Chicken