ATLANTA Chick-fil-A is planning the "most aggressive" new product rollout in its 40-year history, including a new entrée salad, bigger chicken strips and multigrain bread, company officials said Wednesday.
The company will kick off its menu expansion by offering a Coffee Caramel Hand-Spun Milkshake as a limited-time offer starting in April.
Later this spring, Chick-fil-A plans to roll out a Chargrilled and Fruit Salad with Harvest Nut Granola Topping. The entrŽe salad features the chainÕs signature chargrilled chicken along with the fruit.
The company also said it would improve the overall quality and packaging of its salad line.
The chicken specialist said it also was upgrading the breads for some of its sandwiches. The chicken salad sandwich will now be served on wheatberry bread, and the chain's Cool Wraps will be made with multigrain flat bread.
In August, Chick-fil-A will roll out chicken strips that are 50 percent larger than its current offering. The chain also will introduce a new dipping sauce, Chick-fil-A Dijon.
The company also said on Wednesday that it expects to open 88 units this year, including 70 standalone units, five mall/in-line locations and 13 licensed operations. The company opened 80 restaurants in 2007.
Chick-fil-A, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last year, said its same-store sales for 2007 topped the prior yearÕs mark by 8.5 percent. Systemwide sales hit $2.6 billion, a 16-percent increase over the 2006.
Based in Atlanta, Chick-fil-A has more than 1,365 restaurants in 37 states and the District of Columbia.
