Fast Feeders Jump on Fresh Fruit Bandwagon
By George Anderson
Your kid wants fries with those chicken nuggets. You wish there were another choice.
Surprise, there is!
Fast food restaurants, including McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and others, are now serving up fruit sides, cups and salads all aimed at giving consumers healthier menu options and driving sales.
Chik-fil-A has already seen a difference since it began offering fruit sides. Woody Faulk, brand development chief for the chain told USA Today, “It’s bringing in customers who never came before.”
Fast food restaurants have jumped on the fruit bandwagon in an effort to distance themselves from accusations that their role is to “super size” America. The industry has also noticed that fresh-cut fruit sales in supermarkets has become a $3.8 billion a year business.
Moderator’s Comment: What are your thoughts on the fresh fruit business opportunity for fast food restaurants? What
must fast food operators do to be successful?
The USA Today report correctly pointed out the perishable nature of fruit poses unique challenges for operators not used to handling it. –
George Anderson – Moderator