Dive Brief:
- Noodles & Company launched three new dishes as part of its first multi-phase menu transformation Wednesday, the company said in a press release.
- The new dishes are Lemon Garlic Shrimp Scampi, Chipotle Chicken Cavatappi and Crispy Chicken Bacon Alfredo.
- Noodles & Company’s culinary transformation is expected to touch about two-thirds of the menu and fill in flavor gaps with items that are Latin- or Cajun-inspired, CEO Drew Madsen previously told Restaurant Dive. The chain already serves Italian, Asian and American noodle flavors.
Dive Insight:
In tests conducted earlier this year, the Crispy Chicken Bacon Alfredo sold 50% higher than the dish it is replacing, the Alfredo MontAmore, while the Lemon Garlic Shrimp Scampi and Chipotle Chicken Cavatappi sold well and had guest satisfaction scores above Noodle’s menu average. The next round of updates are expected to occur in the first quarter, after the holiday season.
The company has been working with The Culinary Edge to develop “bold and innovative flavors that elevate the dining experience,” the company said in the press release.
“This launch is a significant milestone in our journey to deliver more sophisticated, dynamic flavors to our guests, and we’re confident that our fans — new and old alike — will find something to love, said Scott Davis, chief concept officer at Noodles & Company, in a statement. “These three new dishes are only the beginning of what’s to come.”
New menu items are expected to drive Noodles and Company’s traffic and boost same-store sales, which were down during the last three quarters of 2023. Same-store sales improved in Q2 2024, increasing 2% systemwide, but that followed a 5.4% systemwide decrease during Q1 2024, according to earnings releases, leaving the company with significant sales ground to recover.
