McDonald’s may FINALLY be joining the chicken sandwich wars

McDonald’s may finally have plans to join the fried chicken sandwich wars.

Fast foodies were sent into a meltdown last summer when Popeyes debuted a new crispy fried chicken sandwich, a first for the chain — and soon, it was sparring with Chick-fil-A, Wendy’s, and other restaurant brands for the title of ‘best chicken sandwich’. 

And now Business Insider reports that Micky D’s is working on some new menu items for later this year — with heavy speculation that one will be a new fried chicken sandwich.

McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski revealed on a McDonald’s earnings call on Tuesday that the chain would be expanding its menu.

‘I do know that there is innovation that is planned for later this year that’s going to bring some menu items on,’ he said. 

‘And then what US operators have talked about with our team has been, let’s just make sure every item that we add earns its way back onto the menu.’

While he didn’t specifically say there would be a new chicken sandwich, the item has been the most buzz-worthy fast food meal since the Popeyes launch. 

Research firm Gordon Haskett, in particular, speculated in a report obtained by Business Insider that the sandwich is forthcoming. 

‘We expect to see the new line of chicken sandwiches introduced in the fourth quarter of 2020,’ the report reads.

It seems that franchisees have been begging the chain to add a chicken sandwich to the menu that could compete with those introduced at other fast food chains.

Several urged McDonald’s to ‘stay focused’ on developing one in a leaked email from January. 

They certainly seem to be planning to join the competition, and tested two new chicken sandwiches in December 2019 and January 2020 in Houston, Texas, and Knoxville, Tennessee. 

The crispy chicken sandwich featured a potato roll and was topped with butter and pickles. The deluxe version also had tomatoes, lettuce and mayo. 

Both were made with a new chicken filet that was different from the chicken in a McChicken sandwich and the buttermilk crispy chicken sandwich. 

It has not been confirmed whether this formulation of the sandwich will be the one hitting menus later this year, or if the recipe had been further tweaked since testing.

Neither is it known whether the new sandwich will be available in addition to the options already on the menu, or if it will be a replacement. 

In January, McDonald’s did add new chicken sandwiches to all of its US stores — but for breakfast.

Chicken McGriddles — crispy chicken served between two sweet griddle cakes — and McChicken Biscuit sandwiches — the same chicken between two biscuit halves — launched on breakfast menus at the fast food giant.

‘We’re giving our customers more of what they crave: mouthwatering chicken and breakfast options,’ the company’s vice president of menu innovation, Linda VanGosen, said in a statement.

‘Our owner operators are looking forward to introducing new chicken offerings to the menu,’ VanGosen told CNN Business at the time.

‘They have seen firsthand the demand for more chicken offerings and more breakfast offerings, and we’re able to satisfy both of these cravings with Chicken McGriddles and McChicken Biscuits.’ 

The new sandwich will join the competition against Popeyes’ chicken sandwich, which debuted last August to much fanfare.

Diners went wild for the sandwich when it was first released, marking the first time in 45 years that the restaurant offered a sandwich. 

Restaurants almost immediately sold out of the in-demand sandwich, leaving furious customers complaining on social media.

In late August, an irate Popeyes customer climbed through a drive-thru window before brawling with three employees when he learned the sandwich was sold out. 

And Craig Barr, of East Ridge, Tennessee filed a $5,000 lawsuit against the fast food chain alleging false advertising’ and ‘deceptive business practices’ by the company because he couldn’t get his hands on their famous chicken sandwich. 

The sandwich was such a phenomenon that it went on to inspire a Halloween costume from Yandy. 

It also kicked off a war with other fast food chains who all claimed that they had better chicken sandwiches.

Among them were Chick-fil-A, Wendy’s, KFC, and even Shake Shack.

Popeyes’ sandwich came back to stores in October, this time with more availability to meet demand.

Source: Food Recipes and News