Schreiber Foods partnered with Datassential to conduct qualitative and quantitative research on the role that cheese plays in chicken sandwiches.
Cheese on chicken sandwiches is preferred over those without cheese.
When tasting grilled and crispy chicken sandwiches side by side, cheese is considered more flavorful and favored over no cheese. The absence of cheese is noticed more often with grilled chicken sandwiches than with crispy chicken sandwiches.
Consumers prefer white cheese on chicken sandwiches.
When asked in a survey prior to tasting chicken sandwiches, white cheeses like mozzarella, provolone, Swiss, and pepper jack are preferred. Consumers said this is driven by the strong association of yellow cheeses with cheeseburgers. They also stated that flavor is the key role that cheese plays on chicken sandwiches. Once tasted, consumers overwhelmingly prefer cheeses that carry strong flavors like pepper jack on chicken sandwiches.
Melt matters on chicken sandwiches.
Consumers commented heavily not only on how cheese added flavor, but how melted cheese made the sandwich more visually appealing and appetizing. American cheese remained popular for its unbeatable meltability and visual appeal. Consumers rated it higher for flavor, texture, and overall appearance, making it the preferred choice for both crispy and grilled versions. Notably, processed pepper jack also ranked among the top three favorite cheeses before trial, suggesting it aligned well with pre-existing consumer preferences and has a strong opportunity to perform well on menus.
Opportunity to drive trial and awareness of cheese on chicken sandwiches.
Cheese is not always top of mind when it comes to chicken sandwiches, but consumers love and appreciate it once they try it. This means there is an opportunity for operators who use it to create a point of differentiation and promote it.