Dive Brief:
- Hooters is launching its first line of frozen appetizers and snacks, the restaurant chain said in a statement.
- The four offerings — BBQ Smoked Wings, Dry Rub Smoked Wings, Buffalo Style Boneless Wingz and Buffalo Style Popcorn Chicken — will initially be sold at Publix Super Markets.
- Hooters said additional retail chains are expected to distribute its frozen products later this year. The company also plans to launch four other branded licensed products by the end of 2024.
Dive Insight:
As consumers spend more time at home, many people haven’t given up their love of restaurant foods or the convenience that comes with preparing them in their own kitchens. Hooters is known partly for its chicken wings, and the launch of these frozen offerings gives the restaurant operator another way to reach the public. This is especially valuable now as inflation forces many consumers to curtail eating out to save money.
Hooters said the wings and popcorn chicken can be heated in home ovens or air fryers to replicate several favorite dishes of the restaurant experience. The suggested retail price of each product, ranging from 12 ounces to 16 ounces, is $7.49 to $8.99.
“Whether it’s an easy meal at home, or planning food on the go, consumers now have another way to enjoy the world-famous taste of Hooters,” said Bruce Skala, chief marketing officer with Hooters of America.
Other chains also have a store presence including Arby’s, Sonic, Chick-fil-A, Bob Evans and Chuck E. Cheese. Several restaurants have chosen to partner with large packaged food companies in the supermarket. Kraft Heinz has products from TGI Fridays, Taco Bell and Benihana; Conagra Brands offers Wendy’s chili in a can and P.F. Chang’s meals; and Nestlé sells California Pizza Kitchen’s signature pies.
