The sky is not falling, but prices are for those who cash in on the two for $5 sandwich deal at Burger King . And now the QSR operator says it “is out to ruffle feathers, yet again,” with the latest addition to the Big King sandwich family: the Chicken Big King.
The new product features two white-meat chicken patties, melted American cheese, lettuce, pickles, onions and a sweet thousand island-style dressing served between three stacked sesame seed buns.
“With the success of the original Big King sandwich and the growth in demand for chicken, we thought it was time to bring the two together,” said Alex Macedo, president of Burger King Worldwide, Inc. in North America.
Available for $3.59 at participating restaurants throughout the USA, the Chicken Big King sandwich is now a part of the two for $5 menu alongside the Big King sandwich, Original Chicken Sandwich and Big Fish Sandwich. The two for $5 special price allows guests to mix and match their favorite premium sandwiches.
The new offering, essentially a chicken version of the Big King hamburger, was tested in Indiana and other markets earlier this year, where it sold “extremely well,” according to Macedo. “As beef prices have increased significantly over the last 20 years or so, consumption has gone down. Chicken is growing in consumption quite a lot.”
Wholesale beef prices in the USA have risen 11% thus far in 2014, and 51% over the past five years, according to the US Department of Agriculture.
Meanwhile, the Miami, Florida-headquartered chain reported a 2% rise in global receipts during the first quarter of 2014. However, sales in the United States, where more than half of the company’s 13,600 units are located, were up only 0.1%.
Founded in 1954, Burger King is the second largest fast food hamburger chain on the planet. Burger King Worldwide Inc. has reportedly been cutting costs since investment firm 3G Capital acquired it in 2010.
