Since the release of Popeyes’ viral chicken sandwich in 2019, the so-called “chicken sandwich wars” prompted fast-food chains to scramble and launch their own versions.
However, after years of dominating drive-thru innovation, the chicken sandwich boom seems to be finally cooling off.
Chains are still rolling out new versions, albeit less frequently than in years past, but consumer interest may be shifting toward other crispy chicken formats — especially tenders and nuggets, which offer more versatility thanks to new lineups of craveable sauces.
The shift could also be tied to customers’ money-saving mindsets, and how tenders and nuggets could be viewed as a better value.
After all, five tenders or 10 nuggets can feel more substantial than one piece of chicken on a bun — especially if you want more than just a basic sandwich.
For example, you can get 10 chicken nuggets (with a dipping sauce) at Wendy’s for over $1 less than most chicken sandwiches on its menu. Or, at Chick-fil-A, you can snag eight nuggets for about a buck less than a spicy-deluxe chicken sandwich.
