KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Snack attacks are growing among American consumers. A Technomic study on consumer snacking habits found that, in 2014, 51 percent of Americans reported snacking twice a day, while 31 percent said they ate snacks more frequently compared to two years ago. With numbers like that, foodservice operators are quickly capitalizing on this trend.
The most important attributes of a snack include quality, freshness and portability. Arby’s and Church’s Chicken believe their new offerings fit consumers’ standards for snacks.
Arby’s recently launched its Mini Meat Marvels feature five mini sandwiches that included the chain’s high-quality meats. The new sliders include Roast Beef ‘n Cheese; Crispy Chicken ‘n Cheese; Corned Beef ‘n Cheese; Ham ‘n Cheese; and the Jalapeno Roast Beef ‘n Cheese.
“Big, delicious, meaty sandwiches are what Arby’s is known for, but we needed an offering for guests looking to grab a high-quality, quick snack,” said Rob Lynch, brand president and CMO of Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. “Our new Sliders fill that need with the same meats used to build our bigger sandwiches, so there’s no sacrifice in quality. Guests can also mix and match Sliders, or add them to an order in addition to their favorite sandwiches, to create a meal that includes a large variety of Arby’s meats.”
A limited-time offering at Church’s Chicken ties into Chicken and Biscuit Month in September. Beginning Aug. 31 through Sept. 27, Church’s restaurants will be offering Chicken & Biscuit Bites. The meal consists of the chain’s Tender Crunchers — deep-fried chicken breast chunks — and Biscuit Bites which are a bite-sized version of the company’s signature Honey Butter Biscuits. Honey dipping sauce comes on the side.
“There’s something deeply satisfying about pop-able portions,” noted Adam Tabachnikoff, vice president of activation and product marketing for Church’s. “That’s what Chicken & Biscuit Bites are all about.”
