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Popeyes to launch Chicken Waffle Tenders - chicken strips deep-fried in waffle batter

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X

XiaNaphryz

LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
Popeyes Launches Chicken and Waffles Tenders

One of Popeyes' biggest product launches this year drew its inspiration from the West Coast -- a departure for the chain that likes to tout its Louisiana roots.

The limited-time Chicken Waffle Tenders -- boneless chicken strips with a waffle batter, served with a honey maple dipping sauce -- were inspired by the dietary habits of jazz musicians in Los Angeles during 1940s and 50s.

Dick Lynch, chief global brand officer at Popeyes, explained that players finished so late that if they wanted a meal, restaurants and diners would still have fried chicken available while prepping waffle batter. The combination of chicken and waffles has tough-to-trace origins, but this part of its history resonated with Popeyes. And the pairing is apparently experiencing a revival.

"Chicken and waffles is an incredibly trendy, popular and kind of unexpected [product] right now," Mr. Lynch said.

A campaign supporting the product launches July 29 and will include TV work by Popeyes' agency GSD&M, as well as a digital effort by Campbell Mithun that includes video of the chain's food truck offering the new product, and customer reactions. Mr. Lynch said food trucks, which are trendy in their own right, are common places to find chicken and waffles.

The new item is off-brand for Popeyes because its origins are not traced back to New Orleans or Louisiana. But Mr. Lynch said it isn't straying that far from its tradition. "Jazz is so embedded in the culture of New Orleans that we didn't have to look too hard to find" a connection. "We're looking to real culinary trends, no matter where they came from. The odder the better, frankly."

The product is the first in what will be a series of limited-time "flavor proliferations" of the chicken tenders the chain introduced last year. Mr. Lynch declined to name future offshoots, but said the success of the chicken tender waffles will help determine how many there will be.

The product gives Popeyes something that no other large chain is offering. "It just adds variety to Popeyes menu, and it's unique, which gives them a story to tell above and beyond what everyone else does," said restaurant marketing consultant Joel Cohen. "Whenever you have an opportunity to be the only one, it makes your message rise above the clutter."

Business has been good for Popeyes in recent years. The chain's U.S. sales increased 14.4% in 2012 to just over $2 billion, according to Technomic. It's the third-largest chicken chain in the U.S. with 10.9% market share, trailing only KFC and Chick-Fil-A.
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Popeye's Chicken Waffle Tenders to debut this coming Monday, July 29th:

Popeyes is rolling out a “new twist on a southern favorite” and bringing the masses limited-time Chicken Waffle Tenders. The new item features deep-fried, waffle-battered boneless chicken strips served with Cajun fries, a biscuit and honey maple dipping sauce. The whole lot rings in at $4.99.

The Chicken Waffle Tenders are set to make their debut at Popeyes this coming Monday, July 29th.
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I

InsaneZero

Member
They've been teasing this for a while now. I'm surprised that it hasn't actually been out yet considering how popular chicken + waffles are over here.
 
R

RibbedHero

Member
There's this amazing place I go to occasionally on late nights out near work who do duck and waffle. Essentially a posh version of chicken and waffle. It's godly.

656281_orig.jpg


Would love a more portable version, duck waffle tenders for me please.
 
LQX

LQX

Member
I had some Popeyes last Sunday, so much better than that greasy, soft, wet, yucky chicken KFC serves.
 
A

Andrew.

Banned
RibbedHero said:
There's this amazing place I go to occasionally on late nights out near work who do duck and waffle. Essentially a posh version of chicken and waffle. It's godly.

656281_orig.jpg


Would love a more portable version, duck waffle tenders for me please.
Click to expand...

Mother of god.

I want it. Now.
 
R

Rastafarian42

Member
RibbedHero said:
There's this amazing place I go to occasionally on late nights out near work who do duck and waffle. Essentially a posh version of chicken and waffle. It's godly.

656281_orig.jpg


Would love a more portable version, duck waffle tenders for me please.
Click to expand...

really should of put a NSFW on this food porn.
 
O

otapnam

Member
Went to popeyes a few weeks ago and was dissapointed by the small pieces of chicken I got. Kfc pieces seem a bit bigger - anyone else notice?
 
K

Kaladin

Member
RibbedHero said:
There's this amazing place I go to occasionally on late nights out near work who do duck and waffle. Essentially a posh version of chicken and waffle. It's godly.

656281_orig.jpg


Would love a more portable version, duck waffle tenders for me please.
Click to expand...

Why do you tease us with these things we cannot have?
 
highrider

highrider

Banned
Sounds like a great decadent treat. I generally have a cast iron stomach and I love popeyes but it doesn't love me back. :(
 
R

Ricko Suave

Member
RibbedHero said:
There's this amazing place I go to occasionally on late nights out near work who do duck and waffle. Essentially a posh version of chicken and waffle. It's godly.

656281_orig.jpg


Would love a more portable version, duck waffle tenders for me please.
Click to expand...
Why?!?! Why must you tease us with this?!?! You vile human being!!!!!
 
N

Niraj

I shot people I like more for less.
I'm gonna eat the FUCK out of this

Btw, only slightly related, but anyone near D.C., or going to the D.C. area, go check out Founding Farmers if you want some awesome chicken and waffles. Also get their cornbread, because it's god tier.
 
A

akira28

Member
not cised.

If they were offering better chicken tenders with actual spice instead of that milk fried bland stuff they currently offer, and actual waffles, I would be so in. But nah.
 
J

Jenga

Banned
Niraj said:
I'm gonna eat the FUCK out of this

Btw, only slightly related, but anyone near D.C., or going to the D.C. area, go check out Founding Farmers if you want some awesome chicken and waffles. Also get their cornbread, because it's god tier.
Click to expand...
Good cornbread makes a meal imo
 
N

Niraj

I shot people I like more for less.
Jenga said:
Good cornbread makes a meal imo
Click to expand...

Dude I almost cried it was so good. Honey butter to spread over it...god damn

Even better than the deep-fried cornbread with powdered sugar that I had at the Cincinnati Masters tennis tourney last year. Which was also amazing.
 
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