SHEBOYGAN FALLS, Wisc. – Johnsonville is entering the chicken arena with its latest new product innovation. The company, famous for its bratwursts, will be introducing flame-grilled chicken breasts in grocery stores this spring.
The chicken breasts will be available in five varieties: Garlic & Herb, Teriyaki, Black Pepper & Sea Salt, Southwestern and Honey Mustard.
“Consumers are hungry for convenient and high quality protein options and currently there are limited options that deliver. We’re very proud of the Johnsonville team who really hit the target on this one and created a product that raises the bar,” said Andria Long, Johnsonville’s vice president of innovation. “Our consumer testing tells us that this new Flame Grilled Chicken will be an early hit in the fully cooked meat category that hasn’t seen much change. This product hits three priorities for consumers: convenience, lean protein and unmatched flavor.”
The chicken breasts will be packaged in three, 3-oz. portions. Retailers will merchandise the product in refrigerated meatcases, priced at $5.99.
The new Johnsonville product offers the following features and benefits:
- Free of fillers, MSG, artificial preservatives, flavors and colors
- Fully cooked, whole-muscle, chicken breast (no rib meat)
- Seasoned with dry rubs
- Each portion is flame-grilled over open flame to sear the meat
- Individually wrapped portions (3 oz.) ensure freshness and offer convenient preparation (requires less than two minutes in the microwave)
- Each chicken breast is 80-130 calories and offers 18 grams or more of protein
- Chicken is sourced from US-based poultry farms with the product manufactured in the Midwest
Johnsonville Senior Product Development Scientist Steve Pylypiw said the bar was set high to deliver a quality, flavorful chicken product after excelling for seven decades in sausage. “Just as we do with our sausage products, a million details go into what we produce for our consumers, so we weren’t willing to go to market with this unless we could get it just right,” he said.
