News

Church's Chicken takes global approach to menu innovation

July 3, 2018

Sister brands, Church's Chicken (primarily in the U.S.) and Texas Chicken (global) recently held their first worldwide innovation sessions in a trio of cities stationed in the brands' main regions of global business. The forums in Dubai, Mexico City and Singapore were established to draw an array of players connected to the brands into the process of menu innovation, by exploring guest preferences and trends, a news release said. 

"Our international footprint has been expanding rapidly," Church's Senior Vice President of Global Research & Development Kirk Waisner, said in the release. "The Middle East, the Americas, and Asia are our biggest International markets, each with their own unique consumer profile. 

"As an iconic brand with global reach and recognition, regionalizing the product idea forums is the right thing to do strategically."
International Research & Development Director Ada Duque led the interactive sessions that began in April in Dubai. "With our expansion into international markets and the unique flavors each region brings, these forums provide continued support of the innovation pipeline. This process has helped us build a great line-up of consumer-approved products that we are ready to launch regionally and globally. These products also have input and involvement from our franchisees."

Each forum featured collaboration with chefs within the region followed by testing of concepts with consumers in the region. Top-performing concepts then begin the 12-month to 18-month journey to becoming a regional menu item.

"Our 'market basket' approach is a key feature of these innovation forums," Duque said. "We use local ingredients a competitive style cook-off format to fuel ideation. This format ensures our products are both representative of the local flavor and easy to commercialize." 

Supply chain concerns were also given attention during the sessions to ensure adequate product inventory to all Texas Chicken and Church's Chicken restaurants in a specific region.

"As we maintain our focus on becoming the global franchisor of choice, these hands-on sessions with franchisees and partners are essential," Waisner said. "Innovation thrives on varying viewpoints and perspectives. Involving a broad cross-functional team in the innovation process helps ensure buy-in, and, once launched, success with guests. On a strategic level, it helps us deliver a global brand experience of quality, innovation, and culinary excellence."

The 66-year-old brands began with Church's Chicken in the U.S. in 1952, followed by Texas Chicken outside of the Americas. Today there are more than 1,500 locations in 23 with more than $1 billion in sales.