The fast-casual Italian chain readies for warmer weather with new Wildberry and Peach flavors
Fazoli’s has added two new flavors to its Lemon Ice beverage lineup, marking another extension to a menu that has been revamped over the course of two years and has driven 20 consecutive months of same-store sales increases.
The two new flavors, Wildberry Lemon Ice and Peach Lemon Ice, join the original and strawberry flavors already on the menu. The beverages include real fruit purees.
All company-owned Fazoli’s restaurants are serving the full Lemon Ice lineup, and the brand will finish the rollout to its franchised locations in the near future.
“Our Italian Lemon Ice and Strawberry Lemon Ice have been signature items for years, and we know our guests will go wild over the new flavors made with real fruit,” said Cathy Hull, the Lexington, Ky.-based chain’s chief marketing officer, in a statement. “These on-trend beverage additions are the latest in a series of significant enhancements that make Fazoli’s menu much more relevant to today’s guests.”
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Blended-ice beverages have been prominent across the quick-service segment, as several chains have turned to such drinks for their favorable margins and ability to drive traffic between traditional dayparts.
McDonald’s, for instance, debuted Frozen Strawberry Lemonade in May 2011 to round out its sales-driving McCafé lineup that also includes Frappes and Real Fruit Smoothies. The company will begin selling the Cherry Berry Chiller at some point this year, officials have indicated. Burger King also included frappes and smoothies in its relaunched menu this year.
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Fazoli’s will reinforce marketing for its new Lemon Ice flavors this summer with the “Real Food Gone Wild” promotion, which will advertise Wildberry Tea and Wildberry Cheesecake, made with the same fruit puree as the Wildberry Lemon Ice.
The fast-casual Italian chain of 217 restaurants is one of several foodservice brands owned by Boca Raton, Fla.-based Sun Capital Partners, which acquired Fazoli’s in 2006.
Watch a commercial for Fazoli’s new look
Contact Mark Brandau at mark.brandau@penton.com.
Follow him on Twitter: @Mark_from_NRN