Wingstop Inc. is testing a new chicken sandwich in 60 restaurants over four markets, the company said Monday.
The announcement came a day before the chicken wing concept was scheduled to hold an investors’ day Tuesday at its headquarters in Dallas.
The 60 restaurants offering the new sandwich for a limited time were in: Columbus, Ohio; Fresno, Calif.; Las Vegas, Nev.; and Orlando, Fla.
The suggested price for the sandwich alone is $5.49. As combo, with fries, drink and a dip, the suggested price is $7.99.
The wing chain was using its selection of flavors to distinguish the chicken-breast sandwich from competitors, offering the protein with 11 options. It was being served on a toasted bun and with a pickle.
The company also suggested dunking the sandwich in the brand’s signature ranch dressing.
“The Wingstop Chicken Sandwich can be hand sauced-and-tossed in fans’ favorite flavors, ranging from sweet to super spicy, and everything in between,” a spokesperson said.
The company in the four test markets was offering a limited-time promotion of a free sandwich for delivery orders via its website or on the Wingstop smartphone app.
For the first quarter ended March 26, Wingstop’s net income fell to $8.7 million, or 29 cents per share, from $13.2 million, or 44 cents per share, in the prior-year period. Sales increased to $630 million from $558.9 million in the same quarter last year.
Wingstop’s domestic same-store sales increased 1.2% in the quarter.
As of March 26, Wingstop had 1,791 restaurants systemwide. That included 1,588 restaurants in the United States, of which 1,551 were franchised and 37 were company-owned, and 203 franchised restaurants in international markets.
Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless