Chicken gets high marks across the board! It’s on nearly every restaurant menu and still gaining menu share with operators adding more and more chicken items to their menus. Plus, with nearly 9 out of 10 consumers liking or loving chicken, chicken is a triple threat for familiarity, versatility, and appeal!
Power Pairing: Chicken & Fries!
Capitalize on Chicken & Fries
Chicken is in a unique position where it’s both a staple on menus and consistently part of major trends, from Nashville hot chicken and the Chicken Sandwich Wars, to global fried chicken and chicken-topped loaded fries. And, because chicken is the top accompaniment to fries (Datassential MenuTrends, YE March 2023), fries are a perfect pairing to amplify chicken trends. See how chicken shines on menus and how fries boost both the appeal and value of chicken dishes!
Datassential MenuTrends, YE March 2023
Chicken is a Triple Threat
Datassential MenuTrends, YE March 2023
Datassential Trend Watch: Make a Splash with Indian Chicken, March 2023
Chicken Draws Consumers Away-from-Home
Consumers prefer to purchase chicken dishes with specialized prep (like rotisserie or fried chicken dishes) away from home; however, even chicken strips and nuggets give operators the upper hand, with consumers preferring these to be made at restaurants over at-home prep.
Datassential FLAVOR Recovery, July 2020
Chicken & Fries – Better Together!
Like a Hollywood power couple, fries and chicken are great on their own, but greater together! According to Datassential’s Consumer Preferences platform*, chicken introductions and limited-time offers score higher with consumers in terms of both appeal and value when they include fries. See below for examples of how top chains pair fries and chicken to garner high scores for consumer purchase interest, and check out Lamb Weston’s recipe for Mango Habanero Crispy Chicken Fries for sweet-and-spicy inspiration.
Datassential MenuTrends, YE March 2023
*Datassential Consumer Preferences (SCORES) concepts featuring chicken vs. chicken with fries, May 2022 – April 2023
Datassential Consumer Preferences (SCORES)
top performer for item type (>90th percentile)
above average for item type (70th to 90th percentile)
Fries + Chicken = Bigger Checks
Did you know that adding fries boosts chicken sandwich entrée prices? Chicken sandwiches with fries have a median price that is more than two dollars greater than chicken sandwiches without fries. Add a side of fries to sandwiches to grow check sizes while adding value for customers, creating higher margins!
MEDIAN PRICE of chicken sandwiches w/o fries vs. chicken sandwiches menued with fries, Datassential MenuTrends, YE March 2023
Chicken commands a premium price for loaded fries, too. For QSRs in particular, loaded fries with chicken garner a median price of nearly three dollars greater than that of loaded fries without chicken. Operators that already offer chicken and fries separately have an opportunity for easy innovation through loaded chicken fries.
MEDIAN PRICE of app/entrée fry dishes labeled “loaded” w/o chicken vs. fries topped with chicken, Datassential MenuTrends, YE March 2023
Fried Chicken, Evolved
Because fried chicken is both well known and well loved, it makes an ideal base for innovation. Consider Southern fried chicken trends for approachable inspiration, either paired with fries or topping a Southern-themed loaded fry dish. For earlier stage global trends, Asian-inspired sandwiches or loaded fries are a great way to anchor unique flavors with familiar formats.
Growth on menus over the past 4 years in Datassential MenuTrends, YE March 2023
Win Together with Chicken & Fries!
Amplify the strengths of chicken through the addition of fries. A natural pairing, fries boost the appeal and value of chicken dishes, whether offered in the form of chicken-focused entrees with a side of fries or chicken-topped loaded fry dishes. With so many chicken trends to choose from, chicken-and-fries innovation can be as simple as bundling craveable fried chicken with fries, or as trend-forward as topping loaded fries with globally-inspired chicken – choose the trends that work for you!
