DUBLIN Ohio Wendy’s recently performed consumer taste tests on numerous breakfast items, including sandwiches, warm breakfast bars and kids’ dishes, according to a participant in the taste test.
Among the made-to-order sandwich tests were an artisan bread fried egg sandwich with Asiago cheese, applewood-smoked bacon and hollandaise sauce. A second breakfast sandwich featured grilled sourdough bread, a fried egg, mozzarella cheese and bacon.
The participant, who asked not to be identified, attended a tasting panel in New Jersey.
Bob Bertini, a Wendy's spokesman, said: "We are developing our breakfast and hope to introduce it nationally in a couple years, and we don't discuss the details for competitive reasons."
Other items tested by this participant included a warm multi-grain breakfast bar with an apple-cinnamon flavor. It was soft and similar to a muffin-top. Specifically for kids were multi-grain pancakes. Fresh fruit smoothies with and without yogurt also are in development.
Wendy’s, which operates or franchises about 6,600 locations, had retreated from its planned breakfast rollout early this year because menu items were not getting enough customer traction. The chain pulled back on test markets and the number of restaurants offering breakfast, and planned for a new nationwide breakfast debut in 2011.
McDonald’s has had a lock on quick-service breakfast, but it has been a growing daypart for many in the burger business, and even others, like fast-casual chain Panera Bread.
Wendy’s is owned by Atlanta-based Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc.
Contact Pamela Parseghian at [email protected].