How restaurants are reaching cooped-up consumers
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, foodservice operators offer family meal bundles, meal kits and more.
KFC
KFC is offering the new $30 Fill Up, designed to provide enough food for two meals. Each meal comes with two orders of chicken, a large coleslaw, four biscuits and two large mashed potatoes with gravy. Consumers may choose from six chicken combinations: 8-piece Original Recipe plus 12 tenders, 8-piece Extra Crispy plus 12 tenders, 8-piece Original Recipe plus 8-piece Extra Crispy, two orders of 12-piece tenders, two orders of 8-piece Original Recipe or two orders of 8-piece Extra Crispy.
Noodles & Co.
Noodles & Co. is offering Noodles Family Meals, which serve four people and include four entrees and two sides. For every family meal purchased, the restaurant will donate a regular-sized bowl back to healthcare workers, Noodles & Co. said. Consumers may choose from one of the following options: Italian Classics, Mac Pack, Asian Bowls and World Flavors.
The Italian Classics meal includes Penne Rosa with Parmesan-Crusted Chicken, Pesto Cavatappi with Pork, Zucchini Shrimp Scampi, Alfredo MontAmoré with Parmesan-Crusted Chicken, Caesar salad and cheesy garlic bread.
The Mac Pack contains Wisconsin Mac & Cheese, Buffalo Chicken Mac, BBQ Pork Mac, Zucchini Truffle Mac, Caesar salad and cheesy garlic bread.
The Asian Bowls meal features Japanese Pan Noodles, Grilled Orange Chicken Lo Mein, Spicy Korean Beef Noodles, Pad Thai with Grilled Chicken, Potstickers and Korean BBQ Meatballs with a side of tofu.
The World Flavors meal offers Penne Rosa with Grilled Chicken, Pad Thai with Shrimp, Cauliflower Rigatoni in Light Onion Cream Sauce, Wisconsin Mac & Cheese, Caesar salad and Korean BBQ Meatballs.
"Staying at home doesn't mean we can't connect with others; in fact, maintaining a strong human connection is more important than ever in these unprecedented times, and while we've always been about noodles, right now, we're about company," said Stacey Pool, chief marketing officer of Noodles & Co. "The importance of shared connections with our guests, team members, and the communities we serve – even virtually – is what comes first."
Einstein Bros. Bagels
Einstein Bros. Bagels is looking to relieve some of the stress of meal preparation during a time when families are stuck at home. The bagel chain is encouraging families to come together with the launch of its Family Meals.
Available now through takeout, these meal kits help feed large groups for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Among the options are a brunch kit, a pizza bagel kit and a bagel deli kit.
The Hot & Ready Brunch Box, feeding six to eight people, includes six fresh-baked bagels, one tub of shmear, three egg sandwiches cut in half (one Farmhouse, two Bacon & Cheddar), four blueberry muffins and four twice-baked hash browns.
The Take & Make Pizza Bagel Kit, feeding six people, includes all of the ingredients needed to make six Cheese Pizza Bagel slices and six Pepperoni Pizza Bagel slices, giving families a fun activity.
The Take & Make Bagel Deli Kit, feeding six people, includes six fresh-baked bagels, plenty of turkey and ham, cheddar cheese, fresh-cut tomato, onion and lettuce, and comes complete with mayonnaise and mustard packets.
Chick-fil-A
New from Chick-fil-A are Family Meals meal solutions designed to serve four people. Customers may build their own bundles by mixing and matching eight different menu items. For entrees, consumers may choose from 30-count nuggets, four chicken sandwiches or four spicy chicken sandwiches. They may then choose one of three sides: four medium waffle fries, four medium macaroni and cheese bowls or four chocolate chunk cookies. Lastly, customers have the option of ordering one gallon of sweetened or unsweetened iced tea.
Friendly’s Restaurants
New from Friendly’s is the Family Ice Cream Sundae Kit, available through takeout and delivery. The kit, which Friendly’s said is a response to “families’ needs for hands-on activities as well as a rise in demand for ice cream,” includes a carton of ice cream in the customer’s choice of flavor, three toppings, whipped toppings and cups and cones for serving.
Denny’s
Denny’s is debuting Shareable Family Packs that serve 4-5 people and are available with contact-less delivery or by pick up.
The Grand Slam Pack includes eight buttermilk pancakes, eight scrambled eggs, four slices of bacon, four sausage links and hash browns.
The Build Your Own Cheeseburger Pack features four cheeseburgers stacked with 100% beef patties, American cheese and custom toppings including lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, pickles, mayo, ketchup and mustard served on brioche buns with four sides of wavy-cut fries.
The Premium Chicken Tenders Pack contains 16 fried chicken tenderloins served with wavy-cut fries and barbecue and honey mustard sauces for dipping.
The Side Packs include savory sides to round out meal packs such as red-skinned mashed potatoes with or without gravy, broccoli or sweet petite corn.
The Beverage Packs allow customers to choose four of the following beverages: coffee, decaf coffee, tea, lemonade, mango lemonade, strawberry lemonade, soft drinks including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite, Dr Pepper, Root Beer, Fanta and Hi-C.
Zaxby’s
Zaxby’s is offering new Zax Family Packs created to feed four people and “specifically designed to meet the needs of families sheltering at home,” the restaurant said. The packs include 20 chicken fingers or 30 boneless wings with crinkle fries, Texas toast and dipping sauces.
On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina
At On the Border, consumers may order one of seven new Family Meals that serve four to five people and are available for takeout only. Each meal comes with chips and salsa, Mexican rice and a choice of beans.
The Classic Fajita Combo Family Meal includes mesquite-grilled chicken and steak with onions and peppers, flour tortillas, pico de gallo, sour cream and cheese or guacamole.
The Taco & Cheese Enchilada meal features five soft or crispy seasoned ground beef or chicken tinga tacos topped with lettuce, mixed cheese and tomato, and five cheese and onion enchiladas.
The Taco Family Meal contains 10 soft or crispy seasoned ground beef or chicken tinga tacos topped with lettuce, mixed cheese and tomato.
The Enchilada meal includes 10 rolled enchiladas in either seasoned ground beef, chicken tinga, or cheese and onion varieties.
The King Ranch Enchilasagna Family Meal features layers of white corn tortillas, sour cream sauce, chicken tinga, poblano, onion, queso and melted mixed cheese served with a house salad and choice of dressing.
The Green Chile Carnitas Enchilasagna meal is made with layers of white corn tortillas, green chile, sour cream sauce, carnitas and melted jack cheese served with a house salad and choice of dressing.
The Veggie Enchilasagna Family Meal includes layers of white corn tortillas, ranchero or tomatillo sauce, sauteed vegetables, black beans, poblano, onion, queso and melted mixed cheese served with a house salad and choice of dressing.
Insomnia Cookies
Insomnia Cookies is offering a new way for customers to have fun while stuck at home during the coronavirus outbreak. The warm cookie delivery chain has introduced DIY Cookie’wiches, available for local delivery.
Customers can choose from two Do-It- Yourself (DIY) kits:
DIY Cookie’wich Kit ($18) – six traditional cookies, one pint of ice cream and four toppings (choice of traditional cookies, ice cream flavor and toppings)
Large DIY Cookie’wich Kit ($32) – 12 traditional cookies, one quart of ice cream and six toppings (choice of traditional cookies, ice cream flavors and toppings).
Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s
Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants are launching a new Family Bundles Menu, including items such as charbroiled burgers, chicken tenders and biscuits.
The Hardee’s Breakfast Bundles come in three options: four sausage and egg biscuits plus four small hash rounds; four bacon, egg and cheese biscuits plus four small hash rounds; and four bacon, egg and cheese biscuits plus two small hash rounds and two cinnamon and raisin biscuits.
The Hardee’s Lunch/Dinner Bundles are available in three varieties: 12 chicken tenders and two medium fries; four big cheeseburgers and four small fries; and six chicken tenders, two double cheeseburgers and four small fries.
The Carl’s Jr. Lunch/Dinner Bundles come in three options: 12 chicken tenders and two medium fries; four big cheeseburgers and four small fries; and two big cheeseburgers, 12 chicken stars and four small fries.
Shake Shack
Shake Shack is partnering with online marketplace Goldbelly to launch ShackBurger meal kits.
The ready-to-cook boxes will be available for nationwide shipping and contain all the ingredients needed to recreate the chain’s signature burger at home, including cheese, buns and Shake Shack sauce.
The company also is expanding its list of third-party delivery partners to include Postmates, DoorDash, Caviar and Uber Eats, along with Grubhub.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.
Cracker Barrel is introducing Family Meal Baskets To-Go, including a family-size entree, choice of two sides and buttermilk biscuits. The bundles are available in five varieties: All-Day Pancake Breakfast, Chicken n’ Dumplins, Scratch-Made Meatloaf, Sunday Homestyle Chicken and Homemade Roast Beef. For a limited time, when consumers order a Family Meal Basket for dinner, Cracker Barrel is adding its Four-Layer Bacon Breakfast Bowls for free, packaged cold to reheat for breakfast the next day.
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is debuting Classic Family Packs, meant to feed a family of four. The pack includes one lb of pulled pork, one lb of brisket, barbecue beans, cabbage slaw, potato salad, six rolls, barbecue sauce, pickles and onions.
California Pizza Kitchen
California Pizza Kitchen is launching CPK Market, a new platform that provides specialty meal kit solutions and individual pantry, fruit, vegetable and meat items to customers from its restaurant locations nationwide. The meal kits are packaged with recipe cards and come in six varieties.
The Chef’s Board meal kit features a baguette, two cured meats, two premium cheeses, dried fruit and mixed nuts.
The Raw Fruit & Veggie Box includes 20 lbs of apples, broccolini, carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, fingerling potatoes, grapes, onions, oranges, pineapple and tomatoes.
The Lettuce Wrap Kit contains lettuce cups, Asian-inspired lettuce wrap sauce, green onions, shiitake mushrooms, water chestnuts and chicken.
The Taco Kit includes cilantro, limes, roma tomatoes, serrano peppers, yellow onion, vegetarian black beans, shredded cheese, tortillas and a choice of flap steak, mahi or chicken.
The Kids Build-Your-Own Cheese Pizza bundle features par-baked dough, pizza sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese.
The Kids Build-Your-Own Pepperoni Pizza kit contains par-baked dough, pizza sauce, pepperoni and shredded mozzarella cheese.
Subway
More than 200 Subway restaurants in five states are selling sandwich ingredients, including bread, meat, cheese and vegetables, as well as chips, cookies and soups to consumers seeking to avoid crowded grocery stores. The initiative, dubbed Subway Grocery, is available in California, Connecticut, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington.
Participating restaurants offer contact-free curbside pickup, inside pickup and delivery at select locations. Most groceries are sealed in packaging, and vegetables and bread are bagged or wrapped, according to the company.
“With most Subway dining rooms closed due to COVID-19, we're using our access to food distribution to offer Subway ingredients to our local communities during this difficult time,” the company said.
Many items offered through Subway Grocery are priced competitively compared to regular grocery stores, according to the company. A 12-inch loaf of bread, available in varieties such as wheat, jalapeño cheddar and Italian herbs and cheese, costs $1.50. A pack of 150 pre-cooked bacon strips costs $35.75. A 16-oz bag of spinach is $3.50.
“The new Subway Grocery offering is essential as government restrictions and recommendations become more stringent, even advising against going inside grocery stores,” a company spokesperson said. “Consumers who are at high risk or trying to follow the strictest social distancing guidelines now have an easy and quick way to get grocery essentials to their door.”
Jimmy John’s
To help consumers struggling to buy bread at the grocery store, Jimmy John’s is introducing Freaky Fresh Bread on Demand. The platform allows consumers to purchase loaves of French bread for delivery or pickup.
Panera Bread Co.
Panera Grocery is a new service from Panera Bread Co. offering customers milk, bread, fresh produce as well as soups, salads or sandwiches. Products may be ordered through the chain’s app or website and may be collected via contactless delivery, pickup or drive-thru.
"From limited choices on grocery shelves to the growing need to limit the number of trips outside of the home, it is an incredibly stressful time when it comes to putting wholesome food on the table, and we knew Panera could help," said Niren Chaudhary, chief executive officer of Panera. "With this new service we can help deliver good food and fresh ingredients from our pantry to yours, helping provide better access to essential items that are increasingly harder to come by."
The Panera program is available at participating stores nationwide.
Moe’s Southwest Grill
Moe’s Southwest Grill is launching a new Build-Your-Own Taco Kit, designed to feed up to six people. The kit includes 12 soft flour tortillas, a choice of two proteins, lettuce, shredded cheese, pico de gallo, rice, beans, sour cream, a bowl of queso, chips and salsa.
The restaurant also is introducing Moe’s Market, a new platform where consumers may purchase pantry staples for pickup or delivery. Moe’s Market offers: three to five pounds of white meat chicken, adobo chicken, steak, pork or ground beef; and a la carte dishes such as rice, beans, salsa, queso, guacamole, cheese, chips, chipotle ranch sauce and tortillas.
Texas Roadhouse
Texas Roadhouse is getting its steaks to more people while simultaneously filling in where grocery stores may be out of stock or experiencing meat shortages. The steak chain is selling ready-to-grill steaks to the public, including ribeyes, strips, sirloins, medallions, T-bones and filets.
Additionally, Texas Roadhouse is offering Family Packs for order online. Each bundle serves four and includes a family-size salad, four individual sides and bread. Choices include Chicken Critters, featuring 24 chicken tenders; BBQ Chicken, featuring four marinated chicken breasts basted in barbecue sauce; Pulled Pork, featuring two lbs of pork covered in barbecue sauce; Beef Tips, featuring two lbs of steak with sauteed mushrooms, onions, brown gravy and sour cream; Sirloins, featuring two 8-oz sirloins and two 6-oz sirloins; and Ribs, featuring four half slabs of ribs covered in a blend of seasonings and barbecue sauce.
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