Chick-fil-A is seeing if the appetites of people in the CSRA will give them the go-ahead to try a new breakfast treat nationwide.
Beginning this week, Chick-fil-A launched its new breakfast, Chorizo Cheddar Egg Bites in several test markets. The test markets include nine stores in the Augusta-Aiken areas.
“We’ve sold more than we expected to,” said Adam Knight, operating partner of the Aiken Chick-fil-A in the Eastgate shopping center.
Chick-fil-A’s goal is to sell about 60 of the four-bite orders per day. Bobby Mussucco, the managing partner of the Chick-fil-A in the Augusta Exchange, said on the first day they sold 52 units.
At the Mullins Crossing Chick-fil-A in Evans, manager, Manny Willis said the first day sales were strong but tapered off some over the next two days.
The Chorizo Cheddar Egg Bites feature whole eggs, Mexican-style chorizo sausage, and a blend of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. Each order contains four egg bites and is available during breakfast hours, 6:30-10:30 a.m.
The new offering replaces the egg white offerings on the restaurant’s breakfast menu. The reason is simplicity.
“It’s reducing the complexity,” Mussucco said. “So far, it takes little time to prepare them and they hold longer from a quality standpoint. There’s less wasted movement. It’s a win operationally.”
Willis said the first day was rough operationally in trying to learn the preparation for the product, but things are smoother now.
“It’s not taking up too much time,” he said. “We like it so far.”
The test of the Chorizo Cheddar Egg Bites will run through the winter and then early next year, Chick-fil-A will decide whether to offer the product nationally, based on the response in the test markets. Other test market cities are Columbus, Ohio; Norfolk and Portsmouth, Va.; Miami; and New Orleans.
“Chick-fil-A looks at various demographics and different size markets, to gather as much information as they can,” Mussucco said. “We represent the small market.”
The representatives of the three stores surveyed all said it is an honor to have the area be part of the test market and to make a difference for the corporation as a whole.
“The test market isn’t just for how the customers like it, but also to see how it affects the rest of the operation,” Knight said. “It’s a fun thing to do because we get to help problem solve. (Corporate) relies on our feedback.”
