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Pollo Tropical to debut grilled wingsPollo Tropical to debut grilled wings

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

June 26, 2009

1 Min Read
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Ron Ruggless

MIAMI Pollo Tropical, the 90-unit fast-casual chain, will begin a phased roll out of a new grilled wings entrée on Monday, June 29.

The new tropical wings will be $3.59 for five pieces or $6.59 for eight wings, which includes two side dishes.

The wings menu will be available Monday at Pollo Tropical’s Florida units and on Monday, July 6, at units in the Northeast.

The wings are coated with Caribbean spices, grilled and then served with either a pineapple-rum or a spicy Amazon sauce. Pollo Tropical said eight wings contain 400 calories and 38 grams of protein.

“Our initial in-store testing has exceeded our expectations,” said Jeff Webb, Pollo Tropical’s vice president of research and development. “We wanted a unique chicken wing product that was grilled instead of fried and had a tasty balance of Caribbean flavors.”

Pollo Tropical is owned by Syracuse, N.Y.-based Carrols Restaurant Group Inc. Most Pollo Tropical units are located in Florida, with four restaurants in New Jersey and one each in Hartford, Conn., and Staten Island, N.Y. The company also has franchised stores in Puerto Rico, Ecuador, the Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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