Chick-Fil-A Is Testing 4 Salad Dressing Flavors In Stores
One of the top-earning fast-food chains, Chick-fil-A, is entering the grocery retail space ... again. In 2020, Chick-fil-A decided to retail two of its signature sauces: Chick-fil-A and Polynesian. Starting in select Florida restaurants, the instant success had the chain rolling out its sauces nationwide within months of launching (via Nations Restaurant News).
Despite the pandemic, the chain has seen an increase in overall sales, bringing in $16.7 billion in 2021, according to QSR. While its success may have its customers believing its revenue stream increased — that wasn't necessarily the case. In fact, according to Forbes, when Chick-fil-A decided to launch its sauces, the brand put its profits directly into its scholarship fund. In addition to helping pay for its employee's college funds through its charity, Chick-fil-A saw the opportunity to expand its brand loyalty by offering packaged sauces for catering services options — leading to a 6% increase in the restaurant catering business. It's looking to capitalize again with its famous salad dressings at grocery stores. Well, in a limited number of cities and states to start.
Get a taste of Chick-fil-A dressings from the comfort of your own home.
With the intention to follow up on the success of its sauces, according to Chick-fil-A's website, the chain is testing some of "its most popular salad dressings" – Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing, Garden Herb Ranch, Creamy Salsa, and Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette – in select retailers across Cincinnati, Ohio, and Tennessee. Participating grocery stores like Walmarts, Meijer, and Kroger will sell each of the four dressings in 12-ounce bottles.
While dressings like Light Italian, Light Balsamic, and Fat-Free Honey Mustard will not be a part of the rollout, time will tell if these dressings eventually make their way to shelves. However, at the very least, the chain currently intends to release at least some of its dressings nationally next year during the spring. Just as sales of Chick-fil-A sauces were previously used to fund scholarships, dressing sales will be used the same way, according to Nation's Restaurant News. The chain announced in an April press release that its bottled sauces had generated over $6.4 million of the $24 million that went toward scholarships. However, it's currently unclear if the dressings will still be used in a similar way once they go national.