Dive Brief:
- Mod Pizza is testing oven-baked chicken wings in 28 locations in Dallas and Salt Lake City, the company anounced Wednesday.
- The wings are served in six- to 12-piece portions, with a choice of five flavors and seven dipping sauces.
- Mod Wings could become a permanent addition to the restaurant’s menu if the test goes well, a company spokesperson said in an email to Restaurant Dive.
Dive Insight:
Mod Wings have been in consideration for some time and are part of the chain’s strategy to expand beyond pizza through the addition of a variety of meal options, the spokesperson said. Mod Pizza has been innovating its menu with various items in recent years, adding plant-based Italian sausage and a new salad menu with proprietary dressings in 2021. Last year, it offered a series of limited-edition No Name Cakes.
“We’ll continue to lean into menu innovation in 2023, and have a number of exciting products to test and debut throughout the year,” Mark Shambura, Mod Pizza’s CMO, said in in a statement.
The wings, which are available in BBQ Hot Honey Buffalo, Sri-Rancha, Parmesan Garlic Rosemary and Original flavors, range from $8.97 to $9.47 for a six-piece and $16.47 to $16.97 for a 12-piece, depending on store location, the company said. Mod offers the following dipping sauces: ranch, hot buffalo, BBQ sauce, balsamic fig glaze, pesto, red sauce and sri-rancha. Mod Rewards members can receive half off an order of wings when they purchase a Mod-size pizza or salad from Jan. 30 to Feb. 5.
Several other pizza chains have pursued menu innovation to draw customer interest. Last Year, Pizza Hut added Melts, thin crust pizza folded over and baked, while Papa Johns added Papa Bowls, which are made out of pizza toppings. Pie Five rolled out its most significant menu transformation in its history in September with the addition of individual pizzas and the elimination of large pizzas from the menu.
