Top Chick is a popular brand of chicken tenders sold in stores across the United States. With their crispy breading and juicy white chicken meat, Top Chick chicken tenders have become a favorite appetizer and snack for many. But who actually makes these delicious chicken tenders? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the company behind Top Chick to find out who is responsible for this tasty product.
The History of Top Chick
Top Chick chicken tenders first appeared on store shelves in 1995. The brand was created by Winston Poultry, a chicken processing company located in Winston, North Carolina. Founded in 1965 by Herman Winston, Winston Poultry specialized in preparing fully cooked chicken products for consumers.
In the early 1990s, as chicken tenders were growing in popularity across America, Herman’s son Mack Winston decided it was time for the family business to get in on this new product trend. He led the development of the Top Chick brand, creating a line of chicken tenders that were breaded and pre-cooked for convenience.
The first Top Chick chicken tenders were sold in supermarkets in the Southeast United States. Thanks to their crunchy coating and juicy taste, the new tenders were an instant hit. Over the next decade, Top Chick expanded distribution nationwide. Today it is one of the largest selling brands of chicken tenders and a household name across the country.
Winston Poultry Company
The Winston Poultry Company is still the sole manufacturer of Top Chick chicken tenders today. The company’s processing plant and headquarters are still located in Winston, NC, where they carefully monitor every step of the tender-making process.
Winston Poultry starts with fresh, high-quality boneless chicken breast meat. After trimming and inspection, the chicken is segmented into strips that will become tenders. A special marinade is injected into the meat to help it stay juicy when cooked. The tenders are then coated in Top Chick’s signature breading, designed to perfectly adhere to the meat and become perfectly crispy.
Cooking Process
Next, the breaded strips are cooked through a convection oven system that Winston Poultry specially designed to churn out high volumes of juicy, crunchy tenders. The conveyor belts precisely control the timing and temperature to achieve the ideal texture. Cooking the tenders fully at the plant enables them to be sold pre-cooked in grocery stores.
After cooking, the Top Chick tenders are inspected, chilled, and packaged. Winston Poultry has stringent food safety procedures in place throughout the whole process. The tenders are flash frozen and shipped out to stores across the country.
The Top Chick Lineup
Over the years, Winston Poultry has expanded the Top Chick product lineup:
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| Original Chicken Tenders | The classic crispy tenders that made Top Chick famous. The perfect bite-sized tenders to dip or eat on their own. |
| Chicken Tender Strips | Extra long strips of breaded and fried chicken breast. Often used to make chicken finger sandwiches or wraps. |
| Popcorn Chicken | Bite-sized tender chunks with a light crispy breading. Makes for an easy snack or salad topper. |
| Chicken Tender Fritters | Boneless tenders coated in a sweet honey-cornflake breading. A tasty twist on the original. |
In addition to the core chicken tender lineup, Top Chick also offers convenient meal options like chicken tenders with sides and dipping sauces. These include fan favorites like Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders and Chicken Bacon Ranch Tenders.
Where to Buy Top Chick
When Top Chick first launched, it was only available in supermarkets in the Southeast. Today, you can find Top Chick chicken tenders in grocery stores across the United States. Top retailers like Walmart, Costco, Kroger, and Publix all carry various Top Chick products in the frozen food section.
Many smaller regional grocery chains also stock Top Chick chicken tenders. So no matter where you live in the country, you shouldn’t have trouble finding Top Chick tenders in a store near you. Just check the freezer aisle for their signature sky blue packaging.
You may also be able to find Top Chick chicken tenders at certain food service or institutional locations like college campuses. For example, Winston Poultry supplies Top Chick products to many schools for serving in cafeterias and dorms. The tenders are a hit with college students due to their delicious taste and fun flavors.
Why Top Chick Stands Out
So why have Top Chick chicken tenders become so popular, rising to be one of the top selling frozen chicken tender brands? There are a few key reasons these tenders stand out from the competition:
Focus on Quality
Winston Poultry only uses high-quality chicken breast meat for Top Chick tenders. Many competitors mix in rib meat or chicken trim, but Top Chick keeps it 100% breast meat for premium quality. They also inject the tenders with a marinade solution to lock in juiciness.
Signature Breading
Through years of experimenting and tweaking, Winston Poultry perfected Top Chick’s crispy breading formula. It provides just the right crunch without being overly thick or bready. The breading adheres well to the chicken so it doesn’t fall off after cooking or when dipping sauces.
Cooking Process
The innovative cooking conveyor system Winston Poultry custom built for Top Chick allows them to churn out extremely high volumes of cooked tenders per day. But more importantly, it ensures each tender gets cooked thoroughly and consistently with the ideal crispiness. Many competitors struggle to achieve this consistent quality when cooking large batches.
Fun Flavors
Beyond the classic crispy tenders, Top Chick offers exciting flavors like Nashville Hot Chicken, Bacon Ranch, and Honey BBQ. These creative options cater towards younger consumers looking for bolder, more adventurous flavors.
Customer-Focused Approach
Even as Top Chick has grown into a nationally distributed brand, Winston Poultry maintains a strong focus on the customer. They listen to feedback and work to deliver the tastes, textures, and convenience features that chicken tender fans desire. This customer-focused approach is a key reason for the brand’s continued success and popularity.
Top Chick’s Future
From its humble beginnings in a small North Carolina town, Top Chick has certainly come a long way. The brand can now be found in thousands of grocery stores across all 50 states. And thanks to their high-quality ingredients, innovative cooking methods, and fun flavors, Top Chick chicken tenders have achieved widespread consumer appeal.
Looking ahead, Top Chick appears well positioned to continue thriving in the frozen appetizer and chicken segment. With the resources and capabilities of Winston Poultry supporting the brand, we can likely expect ongoing innovation and strong emphasis on delivering the best product possible for chicken tender lovers.
Conclusion
So when you pick up a bag of those delicious Top Chick chicken tenders, you can thank the hardworking folks at Winston Poultry in North Carolina. Their commitment to quality and flavor has made Top Chick into one of America’s favorite chicken tender brands. Next time you’re in the mood for some crispy, juicy tenders, look for the Top Chick logo in the frozen aisle.