Meal Kits to Make Their Debut in QSR Market

ATLANTA — Quick-service restaurant Chick-fil-A Inc. is throwing its name into the ring of branded meal kits.

Chick-fil-A Inc. plans to introduce branded meal kits at 150 restaurants in the chain's home Atlanta market on Aug. 27, reported Convenience Store News sister publication Progressive Grocer. The Mealtime Kits are designed to make it easy for consumers to prepare their own meals at home from fresh, pre-measured ingredients available at its drive-thrus and front counters, as well as via the Chick-fil-A One app.

The company will be the first quick-service restaurant to offer a full meal kit, according to Chick-Fil-A. Customer reaction to the limited-time test will help determine whether to launch the concept nationally.

Each kit serves two people and costs $15.89. They can be refrigerated at home for several days, depending on the date of purchase.

Chick-fil-A Chef and Atlanta restauranteur Stuart Tracy helped create five recipes for the meal kits, all of which include the brand's famous chicken, including: chicken parmesan, chicken enchiladas, crispy dijon chicken, pan roasted chicken and chicken flatbread.

Chick-fil-A will rotate the five recipes during the test period, offering two at a time.

The Mealtime Kit recipes use "No Antibiotics Ever" chicken, keeping in line with Chick-fil-A's commitment to using only this chicken in all of its restaurants by 2019. The chicken also comes trimmed and marinated to allow home cooks to make a quick meal in just a few simple steps.

"We know our guests are busier than ever and need a variety of convenient dinner options," said Michael Patrick, innovation program lead at Chick-fil-A. "We're excited to offer Mealtime Kits as a new way for us to serve our guests by providing fresh ingredients to enjoy a delicious meal at home.

"We designed our offering so our guests don't have to order ahead, subscribe to a service or make an extra stop at the grocery store. They simply pick up a Mealtime Kit at one of our restaurants at their convenience — for example, when they're already at a Chick-fil-A restaurant grabbing breakfast or lunch, or in the drive-thru on their way home," he added.

The kits will be available at participating Atlanta stores until Nov. 17. Customers in other areas can express interest in trying the kits by filling out an online form.

Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A Inc. operates more than 2,300 restaurants in 47 states and Washington, D.C.

Convenience Store News and Progressive Grocer are properties of EnsembleIQ.