Burger King....home of the hot dog? Yes that's right, the home of the Whopper is looking to add hot dogs to its menu in what would make it the largest restaurant seller of the faux sandwich once it starts selling them at locations across the U.S. later this month.
The launch of the Burger King wieners is slated for Feb. 23 and is an evident attempt to extend recent sales gains. It comes as rival restaurant chains like Chipotle emphasize healthier food, reported the Wall Street Journal. By contrast, Burger King says it's returning to its roots as a traditional fast-food outlet instead of trying to match other "fast-casual" chains with offerings such as popcorn and "Satisfries" which have failed in the past.
"In a moment when a lot of brands in quick service are trying to become more fast-casual, we're taking an opposite view," said Alex Macedo, president of Burger King North America.
It also comes as other traditional fast food outlets, like McDonald's and Wendy's, have made changes of their own to boost sales, reported the Associated Press. McDonald's all-day breakfast menu has been deemed a resounding success thus far, while Wendy's "4 for $4" deal has worked to get customers in the door and stick around for the bargain deal.
Now with B.K.'s next conquest ahead, all that is left for the chain is to execute what it spent the last year building upon. In a partnership with Oscar Mayer, the two tested the 100 percent beef franks made with "special seasoning" in five different markets. Burger King noted the tests yielded unspecified sales increases, while food reviewers gave the new offerings a generally positive review.
After testing out a variety of hot dogs, including a corn dog and a "rodeo" hot dog with barbecue sauce and crispy onion rings, the chain has settled on a classic grilled dog and a chili cheese dog, largely in part due to input from customers, according to Fox News.
"We made a bunch of mistakes and we learned a lot," Macedo said. "Guests told us to keep it basic."
The Classic will be priced for $1.99 while the Chili Cheese will sell for $2.29, or customers can get them in a combo meal with a small soda and fries for $4.49.
