Nearly four years after Popeyes set off what in the industry is known as the "chicken sandwich wars," it can feel like there are no more ways to reinvent chicken between two pieces of bread.
In an effort to replicate the Restaurant Brands International Restaurant (QSR)-owned chain's lines-out-the-door and internet success, everyone from Wendy's (WEN) to Starbucks (SBUX) and Taco Bell have tried to do their own spin and oversaturated the market.
DON'T MISS: Popeyes Menu Brings Back a 'Hot' Seller
Even Popeyes itself once told TheStreet that it did not want to be associated exclusively with the fried chicken sandwich even as the chain experimented with new takes on the classic.
Popeyes
Iconic Chicken Sandwich (But Make It Bacon)
In the last year, Popeyes tried launching the Blackened Cajun version as well as a buffalo ranch version. Both were LTOs that did not make the permanent menu.
Some fans reported seeing yet another new version pop up at some restaurants. The Popeyes Bacon & Cheese Chicken Sandwich features a piece of the chain's breaded chicken fillet with two new toppings: Havarti cheese and two slices of applewood-smoked bacon.
As with the original, customers will also get a choice between classic and spicy mayonnaise but the new sandwich will not have the two pickle slices that some fans consider the key to its success.
Popeyes will also sell a "blackened" (un-breaded chicken breast marinated in spices) version of the Bacon & Cheese Chicken Sandwich; both will reportedly hit restaurant menus in the week of June 5 and cost $4.99.
'Multiple Years To Go From Ideation To Actually Being In Restaurants'
As the sandwiches were leaked by fans and have not yet been confirmed by Popeyes, it is unknown whether this will be an LTO or permanent item.
While nothing can rival the original's popularity, bacon has long been a way for fast-food chains to reach customers — the crispy meat product comes with its own cult following and has the potential to attract people who may have otherwise forgotten about or grown bored with the fried chicken sandwich.
"Something like the chicken sandwich took multiple years to go from ideation to actually being in our restaurants," Siddiqui told TheStreet in an exclusive interview in May 2022. "[...] Once [our recipe developers] come up with things, it goes to sensory testing and eventually market testing and operational testing to see what kind of impact it will have on our franchisees and profitability."
