Panera has officially entered the chicken sandwich chat — three years after Popeyes first made fast food a viral sensation when it launched its infamous version in the summer of 2019.
Clearly looking to hit the ground running or cluck, Panera is bringing not one, but two varieties of chicken sandwich to the table: a “signature version” and a “spicy version,” both of which will sell for $11 each when they go on sale. cafes across the country on March 30th.
While its sandwiches are certainly more expensive than the options offered by many of the country’s big fast food chains, Panera said the company insists their offerings are “worth” the extra money.
However, chicken sandwiches will face stiff competition from much-loved fast food alternatives found at restaurants such as Popeyes, KFC, Burger King, McDonald’s and even Taco Bell – all of which are involved in the “chicken sandwich war” . ‘ for months.
Panera entered the chicken sandwich wars very late, releasing two versions of its much-loved menu item three years after Popeyes released its viral version.
On March 30, Panera cafes across the country will begin selling the “signature” and “spicy” chicken sandwich for $11 each.
The first of the sandwiches, called “Signature Take”, is for those who are “hunting for a new and improved version of the chicken sandwich they know and love.”
It is made with chicken fillet, garlic aioli sauce, Parmesan chips “for flavor and crunch” and leafy greens wrapped in a brioche bun.
Meanwhile, for those who want an extra treat on their sandwich, there’s the “Spicy Take”, which includes spicy cucumber chips instead of Parmesan, which can be found in a milder branded version, as well as spicy buffalo sauce for extra spiciness. .
“Panera’s chefs have been striving to redefine the chicken sandwich we’ve all grown accustomed to from the ground up,” the brand said in a statement.
“Panera marinates a quarter-pound 100 percent all-white chicken breast in a rich, savory chicken broth, then seasons the fillets with Panera’s signature spice blend.
“Each fillet is topped with a tangy, crunchy topping, whether it be cucumber pickle chips or parmesan chips, all cleverly nestled between a buttery brioche bun sealed with high umami, patented garlic aioli sauce, designed to deliver the chef’s kiss with every bite. “.
Panera’s announcement comes more than 24 months after Popeyes launched an all-out fast food war with its first chicken sandwich in the summer of 2019.
In the months since, a slew of fast food chains have tried to join the chicken sandwich trend, and even Taco Bell joined the fray last February when it released a taco version of the menu item.
The Popeyes sandwich first hit stores in early August 2019, marking the first time in the company’s 45-year history that it has added a chicken sandwich to a nationwide menu.
Flashback: In the summer of 2019, Popeyes caused havoc in the US with their first fried chicken sandwich.
A must: The sandwich sold out in a matter of weeks and only came back in November of that year (pictured: New York location, August 2019).
Since Popeyes launched their chicken sandwich, a host of other fast food chains have joined the fray by launching their own versions, including KFC (pictured).
The sandwich attracted such attention that other fast food chains, including Wendy’s, Chick-fil-A and Shake Shack, immediately began arguing on Twitter over whose version of the restaurant was better.
The Popeyes Sandwich caused more hype when the restaurants couldn’t keep up with demand and sold out in less than a month, causing some customers to throw tantrums, attack employees and even sue the chain.
Angry food fans have taken to social media to complain that they can’t get their hands on the menu item, begging Popeye to restock.
In late August 2019, an irate Popeyes customer climbed out of a car service window before getting into a fight with three employees when he found out the sandwich was sold out.
And Craig Barr of East Ridge, Tennessee, filed a $5,000 lawsuit against a fast food chain, alleging the company was false advertising and “deceptive business practices” because he couldn’t get their famous chicken sandwich.
By early November 2019, the Popeyes sandwich returned to stores and remained a staple on the chain’s menu.
Meanwhile, other fast food chains have struggled to revamp their own fried chicken sandwiches to get in on the action.
In January 2021, KFC introduced its “Best Chicken Sandwich,” Double-Breaded, 1/4-pound Extra Crispy Chicken Breast Fillet on Brioche Bun with Pickles and Mayonnaise or Hot Sauce.
“We tested the new KFC Chicken Sandwich in Orlando last spring and we nearly doubled our sales expectations so we knew we had a winner,” Andrea Zahumensky, director of marketing for KFC US, said in a press release at the time. .
Eat! McDonald’s joined the chicken sandwich war in January 2021 with three versions of the popular fast food dish – classic (right), deluxe (left), and spicy.
Yum! In February 2021, Burger King announced that it would be introducing a breaded chicken sandwich, showing that it has been working on perfecting the recipe since 2019.
Yum! In February 2021, Taco Bell announced that it was testing its own version of the Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco.
“Many customers didn’t see KFC as part of the chicken sandwich conversation, but anyone who tries this sandwich will no doubt understand that we’re playing to win.”
That same week, McDonald’s confirmed its plans to release three flavors of the new Crispy Chicken Sandwich on February 24, 2021 – “Classic”, “Luxury” and “Spicy”.
All three feature fresh crispy white meat chicken served with pickled cucumbers on a toasted buttered potato roll.
However, at that point, McDonald’s had already taken a dip into fried chicken when it added a different type of fried chicken sandwich to the menu in January 2020: breakfast sandwiches.
Among them were Chicken McGriddles – crispy chicken served between two sweet tortillas – and McChicken Biscuit sandwiches – the same chicken between two halves of cookies.
Burger King finally threw its hat into the ring in February 2021 when it unveiled its own new fried chicken sandwich that it promised is “as good as the one you could get from the big chicken guys” .
“What if hand-breading was to chicken what grilling was to hamburgers? This has been our guiding filter to offer guests a delicious chicken sandwich in a way that only BK can do,” said Ellie Doty, director of marketing at Burger King North America.
“We’ll take the time to get it right and our guests will definitely feel the difference.”
The network said the sandwich has been in development since 2019.
It’s made with hand-breaded white chicken, potato bun, pickles and signature sauce, and can be ordered plain or spicy.