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Nathan's Famous jumps into the meal kit business

Those hankering for a Nathan's Famous dog or other menu item will soon be able to get one hot and delivered through the chain's new host kitchen partnership.

Nathan's Famous is using host kitchens to extend its reach and get into the meal kit business (photo provided).

April 13, 2020

Nathan's Famous is getting into the meal kit business while working with host kitchen platform, Franklin Junction. Jericho, New York-based Nathan's Famous will launch six meal kits via several hundred host kitchens this spring, according to a company press release.

"Restaurant delivery sales have seen incredible growth during these unprecedented times," James Walker, Nathan's Famous SVP of Restaurants, said in the release. "The idea around delivery-only kitchens is something we began researching and implementing many months ago. When we came across this unique opportunity, we jumped at the chance to partner with Franklin Junction and collaborate on making New York favorites more accessible to Nathan's enthusiasts around the country."

The Franklin Junction platform has partnered with more than 20 brands to deploy their offerings across a network of about 550 host facilities already on the platform, which will include another 1,000 host facilities by year's end, the release said. 

The first six meal kits will feature Nathan's hot dogs, as well as new menu items like the NY Cheesesteak by Pat LaFrieda, hand-dipped chicken options and crinkle-cut fries. Each meal kit is available for on-demand ordering and delivery through various third-party aggregators like Grubhub, DoorDash and Postmates.

"What's unique about this opportunity in Phase I is that Nathan's fans will be able to place an order at any time and cook at their own convenience," Walker said. "With the new normal that many of us are living, mealtimes have shifted, and our customers are looking for easy ways to procure dinner safely and cook as their schedule permits."

The second phase of the initiative will offer items from Nathan's new menu, including a line of hand-dipped chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, onion rings, a hot honey half-chicken, a line of fresh Angus beef burgers, hero sandwiches and a premium line of milkshakes.