New Items at Burger King, Jack in the Box, & Wendy's

Burger King Minibons

After rolling out 10 new items, Burger King has teamed up with Cinnabon this week to start selling Minibon rolls nationwide.  Having been test marketed in select cities for awhile now, the company hopes to have every one of their over 7000 U.S. locations selling the Minibons by September.  With a suggested selling price of $1.79 - $1.99, some Minibon information is provided by the press release:

Served in Cinnabon^® bakeries since 1987, the Minibon^® roll is a smaller version of the Cinnabon^® classic roll, featuring the same Makara^® cinnamon and signature cream cheese frosting that is served in Cinnabon^® bakeries today.

Jack in the Box Java Cookie Shake

Next up is Jack in the Box, which has introduced a new shake that is a tad more traditional than their previous Bacon Shake.  The new Java Cookie Shake is available in regular (16oz.) and large (24oz.) and is made with "...real vanilla ice cream, coffee-flavored syrup and Oreo® cookie pieces...and features whipped topping and a Maraschino cherry on top."

In addition the to new shake, Jack in the Box began selling their new Chipotle Chicken Club Sandwich last week.  According to the press release, the new sandwich "features a spicy chicken fillet topped with American cheese, hickory-smoked bacon, tomato, lettuce and chipotle sauce and (is) served on Sourdough bread."  The Chipotle Chicken Club Sandwich can also be ordered as part of a $4.99 combo that comes with small fries and a 20oz. drink.

Finally, Wendy's is trying to kick up their side dish selections with three new choices for $2.49 each.  Two of the new Signature side items are only around for a limited time.  This includes the new Macaroni & Cheese and the Baked Sweet Potato.  The Macaroni & Cheese is described as:

featuring large cavatappi spiral noodles smothered with a cheese sauce made with fresh milk, fresh cream and real white Vermont Cheddar and American cheeses. Wendy's Macaroni & Cheese is topped with real shredded Cheddar to add even more cheesy flavor.

Wendy's Signature Sides

Meanwhile, the Baked Sweet Potatoes "are prepared fresh to order and served with a Buttery Cinnamon Spread on the side."

Lastly, the new Signature side that Wendy's plans to keep around indefinitely is their new Chili Cheese Fries.  The Chili Cheese Fries are described as "...Wendy's natural cut fries with sea salt covered in a sauce made with Cheddar cheese and real milk, Wendy's famous rich and meaty chili, and then topped with real shredded Cheddar cheese."

Burger King Introduces 10 New Menu Items

Since officially falling behind Wendy's for the first time and becoming the nation's #3 burger chain, Burger King is hoping stem the tide and reverse course.  In what's described as the chain's biggest expansion since it began in 1953, Burger King is now offering 10 new menu items.  The new items include the following:

• Garden Fresh Salads: BLT, Apple and Cranberry or classic Caesar Salad varieties are made fresh to-order, premium ingredients and topped with a choice of TENDERCRISP^® or TENDERGRILL^® chicken (suggested retail price starts at $4.99).
• Chicken Snack Wraps: Honey Mustard Crispy Chicken Snack Wrap and the Ranch Crispy Chicken Snack Wrap are flavorful snack options with less than 400 calories each (suggested retail price of $1.59).
• Real Fruit Smoothies: Tropical Mango and Strawberry Banana smoothies are made with low-fat yogurt, real fruit and juices, providing a full serving of fruit (suggested retail price of $2.29).
• Frappés: Mocha and Caramel flavors are made-to-order with a hint of coffee and ice, topped with whipped topping and a swirl of fudge or caramel (suggested retail price of $2.29).
• Crispy Chicken Strips: Premium Crispy Chicken Strips are made with white meat tenderloin chicken, marinated and lightly battered in seasoned home-style breading, served in three- or five-piece servings and perfect for dipping in one of our classic or bold new sauces, such as new Kung Pao and Roasted Jalapeño Barbecue sauces (suggested retail price starts at $2.99).

Many of you are probably thinking a lot of the new items above sound very similar to offerings at McDonald's, but Burger King has addressed that:

"Burger King doesn’t deny that its new chicken strips, caramel frappe coffees, Caesar salads and strawberry-banana smoothies sound pretty close to those on McDonald’s popular menu. But executives say the company came up with them through its research...'Consumers wanted more choices,' said Steve Wiborg, president of Burger King’s North America operations. 'Not just healthy choices, but choices they could get at the competition.'"

The AZFoodDude's only question is, did Burger King's research go a little something like this?

Wendy Takes Down The King - Wendy's to Become #2 U.S. Burger Chain

Could it be that Princess Wendy is about to overthrow Burger King?  A story that was in the Orange County Register last month was the first mention of Wendy's overtaking Burger King in terms of market-share:

The debut of contemporary prototype restaurants along with a continued focus on food quality are giving Wendy's the edge it needs to bump Burger King from its No. 2 spot, Kalinowski said during a phone interview Tuesday...In 2010, Burger King's market share in the limited-service burger segment was 13.3 percent, while Wendy's share was 12.8 percent.  McDonald's dominates the segment with a 49.5 percent share, according to the latest figures by Technomic, a market research firm in Chicago.

Now, for the first time since 1969, when Wendy's was founded, the rankings of the the top 3 are changing with Wendy's sales, according to the Wall Street Journal, expected to top Burger King's by $53 million for the year, even as Wendy's has 5,800 restaurants to Burger King's 7,200.

One of the big keys for Wendy's besides more customer visits and restaurant remodels is the higher prices they've been charging since their menu revamp:

...Out went the traditional iceberg lettuce topped with tomatoes and onions, and in came four new salad varieties featuring 11 different greens and new ingredients like apples, pecans and asiago cheese.  Wendy's then turned its attention to French fries, switching from a mixture of potato varieties to only Russet potatoes, sliced with the skin still on, and sprinkled with sea salt.  More recently, Wendy's beefed up its burgers, switching to a looser grind of beef to make its burgers thicker and juicier. The company also refashioned its trademark square burgers with softer edges after customers said those burgers looked processed, even though they were fresh.

How is Burger King responding? From the Wall Street Journal:

Burger King spokesman Miguel Piedra said speculation about market rankings in the U.S. "highlight[s] the degree of competition" in the sector, but that such projections "do not illustrate a complete picture of the industry's competitive landscape, globally." He said Burger King has nearly 12,400 restaurants world-wide, almost double the number of Wendy's around the world. Burger King is "focused on driving strong expansion in its many markets around the world," and that "will strongly position the brand" to remain the No. 2 burger chain world-wide, he said.

What do you think about that response by Burger King?  It came across as weak to the AZFoodDude.  Where is the pride in holding onto the #2 spot in your home country or at least saying you'll fight to get it back.  Unless the quote was cut and there is more to it, the spokesman's response is hardly worthy of a King.

With more restaurants in the U.S. than Wendy's and Burger King combined and nearly half the entire share of the market, what does McDonald's have to say about all this?

"As the leader in the [fast food] industry, we remain focused on our customers and our business," a McDonald's spokeswoman said.

I guess as Emperor, the fight between the new Queen and the King way below you doesn't really matter much.

Update (3-19-12): It's official, AP reports: Wendy's Takes #2 Spot From Burger King

Burger King Debuting New Fries

By Monday, December 5, all U.S. Burger King locations will be serving up their new thicker fries.  The current recipe has been around since 1998, but due to strong competition from chains like Wendy's and Five Guys, Burger King felt a change was necessary.  According to Reuters:

Burger King said it made the new fries thicker, reduced sodium and added a coating that makes them crisper and keeps them hotter longer...The fries are cooked in trans fat-free vegetable oil and do not contain animal products

There will be no change in price for the fries on the menu and in fact, on Friday, December 16, Burger King will be offering the "value" size for free on what the chain is calling "Free Fries Friday" with no purchase required.  All this really means is that you have a choice to make, do you wait until December 16 or do you just go out and try them as soon as you can?

Wendy's Introduces The 'W'

Yesterday, Wendy's announced their newest menu addition, the 'W.'  Wendy's describes the 'W' this way:

The "W" – with emphasis on the DOUBLE – serves up two 2.25-ounce patties of sizzling, fresh, never-frozen North American* beef, with double the cheese, too. Topped with our zesty signature sauce, the "W" – like our recently-launched Dave's Hot 'N Juicy Cheeseburgers -- is made-to-order the right way with fresh, quality ingredients: sweet red onions, hand-leafed lettuce and crinkle-cut pickles, all on a buttered, toasted bun.

The suggested price of the 'W' is $2.99 and comes in at 580 calories, 33 grams of fat and 32 grams of protein.

White Castle Beats Some Big Name Burger Chains

A Consumer Reports magazine survey, just out this month, found that more folks preferred White Castle in terms of taste and value over some of the biggest names in the industry, including McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's.

Overall scores in the Consumer Reports survey were based on food quality, value, staff and speed of service. White Castle scored a 78, putting it in the "very well satisfied" category. The Consumers Report survey ratings are based on responses from 36,733 magazine subscribers. The ratings come from over 98,000 dining experiences during April 2009 to June 2010. The survey appeared in the August 2011 edition of Consumer Reports magazine.

My question is, would it really kill White Castle, which began in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas, to open up some locations out west? We've all heard, "Where's the beef?" However, the AZFoodDude would say to White Castle, "What's the beef?" I've been hearing about their restaurants in the Midwest and back east for as long as I can remember and after 90 years, they have barely moved west of the Mississippi.

Wendy's (and Wendy) Set to Debut Premium Burgers in October

Coming on October 3, Wendy's will be rolling out some new burgers. Known as Dave's Hot 'n Juicy Cheeseburgers, One of the new burgers will have a butter-toasted bun, thicker patties, cheese, pickles, red onions, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. The other, called the "D.T. Double" has two burger patties, two slices of cheese, pickles, lettuce, tomato, onions and a special sauce.

You might notice these are called "Dave's Hot 'n Juicy Cheeseburgers" in honor of the late founder, Dave Thomas, and what better way to roll out the new items than by having:

...another member of the Thomas family in commercials. This time, it’s Thomas’ daughter, Wendy, who was the source of the chain’s name and was the model for its logo.

You'll notice this is a bit more sentimental than the way Wendy's itself was introduced in Russia back in June. The commercial has been on the air in the test markets of Las Vegas, NV; Mobile, AL; Virginia Beach, VA; Providence, RI; and Austin, TX for a few months now and will soon go nationwide as the burgers go across the country.

On another note, for those of you interested in chicken, according to one report, Wendy's will begin testing an upgraded version of its chicken sandwiches in the early part of 2012.

Chandler Among Top Spending Cities On Fast Food

According to a report by the Business Insider, Chandler, AZ is #7 on the list of "The Top 10 Cities That Spend The Most On Fast Food." For the analysis, Business Insider states:

We looked at spending data for the largest 100 cities in the U.S. by population and determined which cities spent the most and ate the most often at the following national fast food chains: McDonald's, Wendy's, KFC, Taco Bell, Subway, Pizza Hut, Arby's, and Burger King.

From the analysis, we find that Chandler spends money on fast food at 1.51X the national average and has 1.51X the number of transactions on fast food. In case you are wondering, the top city was Plano, TX.

Related: Coincidence? The Habit opens restaurant in Chandler today.

Risqué Wendy Greets Customers of Russia's First Wendy's

Just a few days ago, folks in Russia got their first Wendy's in the Arbat district of Moscow. With Russia now being such a large emerging market where the people are known to love meat, Wendy's has been jumping at the chance to open up in the nation they formerly poked fun at during its Soviet days.

With McDonald's having opened in Russia back in 1990 and Burger King back in January of 2010, it only makes sense that Wendy's would want to make a splash as they start competing with their American counterparts in Russia. So, in kicking off their plans for 192 Russian restaurants over the next decade, the local franchisee decided to market Wendy to a "younger demographic" in the first opening:

Igor Tabakov - Moscow Times

Instead of the wholesome freckle-faced redhead in old-fashioned pantaloons, these long-legged women wore short dresses, bright red-striped stockings and stilettos....

Photographers clustered around the women to take photos, but a visiting U.S. executive, Andrew Skehan, was decidedly less impressed.

Skehan, the chain's chief operating officer, said by phone that he had not been aware of franchisee Wenrus Restaurant Group's decision to sex up the chain's icon. He said he would probably have to deal with a flood of phone calls from Wendy's/Arby's headquarters in Atlanta once his associates saw the photos.

Wendy was, after all, the daughter of the chain's late founder and chief executive, Dave Thomas.

The full Moscow Times article has a lot more information about the opening and includes a slideshow of other pictures.

Also, there is a second Wendy's commercial poking fun at Soviet Russia.

New Wendy's Location Opens Tomorrow & More New Menu Items

While The Foothills Focus reported Anthem was to get their first Wendy's late last week, according to an AZFoodDude source, the new Wendy's will be opening tomorrow (5/27) at 3422 W. Anthem Way Anthem, AZ 85086. Found at this new Wendy's will be the special Coca-Cola Free-Style touchscreen drink dispenser, where customers can come up with roughly 153 different beverage combinations and mixtures.

Yesterday, the AZFoodDude reported on the new Berry Almond Chicken Salad at Wendy's, but in keeping up with the berry craze, they've also come out with a Wild Berry Tea made up of raspberries, blackberries and strawberries. In addition, a Crispy Chicken Caesar Wrap composed of romaine and iceberg lettuce, Asiago cheese, Caesar dressing and half a crispy chicken filet is new to the 99 cent menu.

Wendy's New Berry Almond Chicken Salad

With a wide variety of 11 different greens, the new Berry Almond Chicken Salad is described this way in the Wendy's press release:

"The Berry Almond Chicken Salad features fresh, tangy, plump blueberries; fresh California strawberries; California almonds roasted with sea salt; shaved Asiago cheese; and a warm grilled chicken breast. Topping it off is delicious yet fat-free raspberry vinaigrette dressing, including the nutrient-rich juice of the acai berry." 

Coming in at 450 calories, including the 100 calories from the dressing, the Berry Almond Chicken Salad, with all of its fruit and grilled chicken, looks to be one of the more healthy items you can find on fast food menus.