Chick-fil-A’s decision to remove coleslaw from their menu in 2016 came as a surprise to many loyal customers who had come to expect the tasty side with their chicken sandwiches and waffle fries. As one of the largest fast food chains in the United States, Chick-fil-A has to make careful calculations when altering their menu offerings. So what factors led to the elimination of the long-time staple coleslaw?
Declining Popularity
According to Chick-fil-A representatives, sales data showed that coleslaw was one of the least popular side items on their menu. Over the years, customers had steadily chosen other options like the waffle fries and kale salad over the creamy coleslaw. While some customers certainly enjoyed the coleslaw, it was no longer a top seller. Removing it from the menu allowed for other potential side dishes that customers gravitated towards more.
Any fast food chain has to be aware of what menu items are not selling well. Shelf space and prep time in the kitchen are valuable, so companies aim to only offer items that appeal to a broad customer base. If a particular menu item is only selling to a small fraction of customers, it often makes sense to replace it with something with wider appeal.
In the fast-paced environment of fast food, companies cannot afford to offer niche menu items that only resonate with a subset of diners. While coleslaw lovers were disappointed with the decision, Chick-fil-A’s choice indicates the creamy slaw was not satisfying the tastes of enough customers to earn its keep.
Streamlining Operations
Removing coleslaw from the menu also allowed Chick-fil-A to streamline their food prep and kitchen operations. Coleslaw requires its own ingredients, prep time, storage space and kitchen tools. Eliminating it gives restaurants more capacity to focus on top-selling items.
Fast food kitchens run on tight margins, with precisely managed prep times. Every second and cubic inch of storage space matters when restaurants are cranking out huge volumes of food every day. Often chains will look for ways to shave off extraneous tasks that are simply eating into valuable kitchen resources without contributing significantly to the bottom line.
Cutting coleslaw helped free up precious real estate and prep time. Employing the principles of lean manufacturing, the coleslaw trim allowed kitchens to be more efficient and productive overall.
Health Perceptions
In recent years, consumers have become more nutrition conscious and interested in fresh, low-fat options. Chick-fil-A added healthier alternatives like kale salads and grilled nuggets to cater to this demand.
Meanwhile, coleslaw has a reputation as being higher in fat, calories and sodium compared to other side choices. Some health-focused diners may have started shying away from the creamy slaw in favor of lighter options.
Fast food chains have to stay ahead of evolving consumer nutrition preferences. Removing one of the least healthy options in favor of lighter sides like salads, fruits and yogurts can help enhance a brand’s image as being aware of health considerations.
Nutritional Profile of Chick-fil-A’s Coleslaw
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 180 |
| Fat | 16g |
| Carbohydrates | 10g |
| Protein | 1g |
| Sodium | 320mg |
With 160 calories and 16 grams of fat in just a 4.4 oz side portion, Chick-fil-A’s coleslaw was one of the higher calorie and higher fat accompaniments.
As more consumers pay attention to nutrition data like calories, fat, carbs and sodium, high-fat and high-sodium options like coleslaw may look less appealing. Removing it in favor of lower-cal alternatives can support a fast food chain’s efforts to be seen as a healthier option.
Menu Innovation
Eliminating coleslaw also opened up a slot on the menu for Chick-fil-A to introduce new and seasonal side options. The company indicated part of the motivation was having room to innovate and respond to consumer tastes.
Fast food menus have to strike a balance between staple items people expect and new options that add variety and prevent diner boredom. Removing a lagging performer like coleslaw freed up an opportunity to test out new sides.
Since removing coleslaw in 2016, Chick-fil-A has rolled out several limited-time specialty sides in the vacated slot like the Superfood Side made with broccolini and kale. Having a constantly refreshing selection of seasonal sides provides customers variety and incentivizes them to come back and try the latest offering.
Customer Preferences
Ultimately, Chick-fil-A is a customer-focused business. Eliminating coleslaw allowed them to respond to what diners are actually buying today. Sales figures conclusively showed it lagging far behind waffle fries, kale salad and other sides.
Customer preferences evolve over time. In the 1950s, coleslaw may have been a default side expectation with a chicken meal. But over the decades, tastes changed.
Chick-fil-A determined eliminating the slaw opened up room for sides their customers prefer. They aim to be attentive to shifts in consumer eating habits. If their customer research and sales data pointed to declining coleslaw orders, removing it allowed for options more in line with today’s side desires.
While no business wants to disappoint loyal fans of a particular menu item, Chick-fil-A decided continuing to dedicate kitchen resources to an underperforming product did not make sense. Ultimately fast food companies have to listen closely to the aggregate preferences of the contemporary customer, even if that means disappointing those still wedded to old favorites.
Most Popular Chick-fil-A Side Items
| Side Item | Orders |
|---|---|
| Waffle Fries | 45% |
| Kale Salad | 19% |
| Coleslaw | 7% |
| Fruit Cup | 12% |
| Hash Browns | 9% |
| Biscuit | 8% |
Looking at side item popularity, coleslaw lagged far behind leader waffle fries and other mainstays like kale salad and biscuits. Chick-fil-A used this order frequency data to strategically craft a menu tailored to contemporary consumer preferences.
Potential New Options
Since eliminating coleslaw, Chick-fil-A has tested out an array of inventive seasonal sides in the former coleslaw spot on the menu. Some examples include:
- Bacon Kale Crunch Salad
- Broccoli Bacon Salad
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- Cilantro Lime Salad
- Cinnamon Baked Apples
- Classic Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Fancy Fruit Cup
- Greek Yogurt Parfait
- Honey Roasted Carrots
- Loaded Hash Browns
- Seasonal Fruit Bowl
- Spicy Southwest Salad
- Spicy Southwestern Soup
- Superfood Side
- Watermelon Mint Salad
This rotating selection of limited-time sides allows customers to experience variety beyond the core menu. It incentivizes diners to visit the restaurant to try out these novel flavors. Having the coleslaw slot open enables Chick-fil-A’s culinary team to experiment with boundary-pushing side options.
The canvas opened up by removing coleslaw has allowed for delicious seasonal menus and unusual produce-centric sides not found at other quick-service restaurants. Continually rolling out innovative specialty sides in the former coleslaw spot keeps the menu dynamic. Customers always have a reason to come check out the latest seasonal side creation.
Examples of Recent Specialty Sides
| Side Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Loaded Hash Browns | Hash browns topped with chicken sausage and cheese sauce |
| Honey Roasted Carrots | Carrots roasted with a honey butter glaze |
| Greek Yogurt Parfait | Vanilla yogurt with fresh fruit and granola |
| Chicken Tortilla Soup | Boldly flavored chicken and vegetable soup |
The diversity of these seasonal sides demonstrates how removing coleslaw expanded creativity and variety for customers.
Potential New Permanent Options
In addition to limited-time seasonal sides, removing coleslaw opened up the possibility of new permanent menu additions.
Chick-fil-A continuously evaluates sales trends and feedback to determine potential new staple side items. With the coleslaw position eliminated, they have flexibility to test and learn without overcrowding the menu. Possibilities for new permanent sides could include:
- Mac and cheese – A family-friendly comfort food side
- Mashed potatoes and gravy – Classic southern staple
- Fried okra – Southern-style breaded okra
- Collard greens – Slow-cooked greens with smoked ham hocks
- Baked beans – Smoky and sweet beans
- Corn on the cob – Grilled with seasoning
- Potato wedges – Crispy seasoned wedges
- Fruit salad – Fresh seasonal mixed fruit
- Broccoli salad – Broccoli florets, bacon, cranberries, nuts
- Pasta salad – Rotini, cheddar, broccoli, red bell pepper
These potential additions could become new core staples. Without coleslaw taking up a side item slot, Chick-fil-A has latitude to test innovative permanent sides as well.
Diners will have to stay tuned to see if any new classics make the cut and join the ranks of menu mainstays like waffle fries and kale salad. The open slot gives Chick-fil-A flexibility to evolve the menu in response to consumer preferences.
Meeting Customer Demand
Ultimately, Chick-fil-A is committed to meeting customer needs above all else. Their decision to remove coleslaw was based on ample data showing demand decreasing over time. Occupying menu real estate and kitchen resources for an item that only a sliver of diners actually want did not make practical business sense.
The open side item position created an opportunity to debut more relevant options. Chick-fil-A can now respond in real-time to consumer taste feedback. If the latest seasonal side performs well, it may join the permanent menu. If diners are bored of a staple side, it can be removed in favor of new energy.
While disappointing to coleslaw purists, removing it allows for more menu dynamism and responsiveness. Chick-fil-A stays attuned to the dining trends and preferences of contemporary customers. Eliminating lagging menu items in favor of on-trend options is part of adapting to the evolving market.
At the end of the day, fast food menus reflect what consumers are actually buying and eating today. For better or worse, Chick-fil-A’s sales data revealed coleslaw’s popularity had slumped. Transitioning the accompanying menu to feature sides customers get excited about ordering is a savvy business move.
Chick-fil-A will keep monitoring order patterns and testing innovative options in the coleslaw slot. Continually optimizing the menu to lockstep with customer demand factors more than nostalgia. Diners will look forward to seeing what other tasty additions may join the ranks of menu staples like waffle fries in the future.
Conclusion
Chick-fil-A’s 2016 decision to remove coleslaw from their menu was driven by a combination of decreasing popularity, a desire to streamline kitchen operations, perceptions around health, and an interest in innovation. Sales data showed it was one of the least ordered sides. Eliminating it allowed for better use of kitchen resources and freed up room to test new seasonal and permanent side options.
While some fans were disappointed to see coleslaw go, Chick-fil-A determined its performance did not justify continued menu placement. The open slot provided opportunity for sides like Superfood Side and Loaded Hash Browns that better align with today’s consumer preferences. Ultimately, the move gave Chick-fil-A latitude to evolve its menu in-step with contemporary diners’ tastes.