Chicken Craze Fuels Fast Food

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According to fast food chains, Americans appear to have an insatiable hunger for chicken.

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• Yum Brands, the parent company of Taco Bell, highlighted its Cantina Chicken as a key “growth driver” in Q3, contributing to a 4% year-over-year increase in U.S. same-store sales
• Chipotle credited its limited-time offerings, such as Chicken al Pastor, for attracting more customers and driving a 6% year-over-year rise in same-store sales
• Shake Shack reported a strong 4.4% growth in same-store sales, fueled in part by chicken-focused campaigns that encouraged repeat visits

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This trend is good news for fast food chains’ long-term outlook. Many chains, like McDonald’s and Burger King, charge the same prices for beef and chicken despite chicken’s dramatically lower cost, which allows them to bolster their profit margins.

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Chicken-heavy menus also help fast food chains simplify their operations. Unlike new beef or pork options that require restaurants to update workflows, chicken is much more versatile. It absorbs flavor better, and employees already know how to cook it.

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