OAKWOOD, GA. – Wayne Farms LLC, an established supplier of chicken products to the foodservice segment, announced the expansion of its retail products with the availability of the Chef’s Craft line of fully cooked chicken at Walmart stores throughout the country beginning in September.
The new line supplements its Naked Truth Premium Chicken that was initially sold at warehouse stores and now are available at Harris Teeter and Whole Foods Markets in addition to being sold to foodservice customers. Like the Naked Truth products, the Chef’s Craft products are cooked using sous vide technology and are flame grilled. The products are sourced from chicken raised on vegetarian feed and without antibiotics and they are free of gluten, nitrates, preservatives and artificial ingredients.
Chef’s Craft products that will be available at Walmart include: Flame Grilled Chicken Breast Fillet, Gluten Free Breaded Chicken Breast Chunks and Grilled Chicken Breast Chunks. The fully cooked products are sold frozen and are prepared using a stovetop, microwave or conventional oven.
Megan Ernst, senior marketing manager, said this is the first time the Chef’s Craft products have been offered at retail.
“Chef’s Craft chicken has previously only been offered to the foodservice industry,” she said. “This is the first time these gourmet products will be sold in grocery stores. We are excited to partner with Walmart to offer this all-natural line of products directly to consumers and present high-protein meal options families can feel good about eating.”
She added that the availability of premium products at an affordable price point makes it a good fit for Walmart, especially as consumers are eating away from home less as a result of the pandemic.
“As shoppers cook at home more than ever before, we want to bring them the same high-quality chicken they would expect in a restaurant,” Ernst added. “We also want to provide products that are nutritious, yet easy to quickly prepare. We know how busy consumers are, so we want to be able to provide them with a feel-good-meal in less than 30 minutes.”