News

3 QSR brands announce changes to chicken menus

June 23, 2016

Carl's Jr.,  Hardees and Church's all have apparently had chicken on the mind lately, as all are introducing menu items based on the beloved bird of diners everywhere. 

At Carl's Jr. and Hardees, the chicken-based news is all about the chian's response to the growing call for more responsibly sourced food. In fact, the two brands today said they are now the first major QSRs to introduce "all-natural" chicken to their customers. In this case, the chicken is a charbroiled breast without additives or preservatives and minimally processed. 

The brands were already frontrunners in this sustainable meat initiative, having already started serving steroid-, antibiotic- and hormone-free grass-fed beef burgers two years ago. Then, last year the brands introduced a similarly sourced turkey burger. The offerings remain the only ones of their kind among the major QSR chains, according to a news release. 

"We have long been providing our target of ‘Young, Hungry Guys' with what they want," said the brands' Chief Marketing Officer Brad Haley. "And what they want more than ever these days is food they can feel better about putting in their bodies." 

The brands report that the chicken breasts will be used for all charbroiled chicken sandwiches, including the club and Sante Fe sandwiches. 

Meanwhile, Church's Chicken is taking a stripped-down and smokey approach to its chicken offering — a smokehouse half-chicken. The smoked half-birds will — rather uncharacteristically for QSR offerings — be prepared without batter or breading, according to a news release. 

"When a fried chicken brand like Church's says they're going to offer an unbattered and unbreaded option, it's a big deal," said the chain's Senior Director of Brand and Product Strategy Jennifer Chasteen. "Delivering a simplified preparation method on a half-chicken is something we're able to do because of our long-standing tradition of quality and innovation."

The so-called "naked" smokehouse half-chicken is an LTO, available from June 27 through July 31. The offering is served with a honey-butter biscuit for $3.99.