McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Arby’s are among a few of the major quick service restaurant (QSR) chains recently offering specials featuring Alaska pollock, as they and other restaurant chains are adding seafood specials for the Lenten season.
Notably missing, though, is 7-Eleven, which partnered with Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based Trident Seafoods and Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) last year on its limited-time pollock fish sandwich during Lent and has offered wild Alaska pollock fish sandwiches over the past four years, GAPP CEO Craig Morris told SeafoodSource.
“Like many food chains, they often vary their limited-time offerings from year to year. Hopefully, we see them bringing back a seafood limited-time offering again next year for Lent,” he said.
7-Eleven representatives did not respond to SeafoodSource’s request for comment.
While 7-Eleven has decided not to offer a Alaska pollock Lent special, most other QSRs and fast-casual chains have stuck with the species – and for good reason, Morris said.
“There is only one fish of our scale that is U.S. wild-caught, mild-tasting, and certified sustainable. Those four factors ... are why Alaska pollock is the overwhelming choice by large QSR chains as the fish they utilize in their seafood offerings,” Morris said.
A majority of Americans prefer their seafood to be of domestic origin and wild-caught, according to GAPP research, and research by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has shown Alaska is also a key marketing term.
“As seafood consumption overall has grown, so has the consumer preference for wild and sustainable seafood, with consumers preferring wild-caught four to one over farmed,” ASMI Domestic Marketing Manager Leah Krafft said. “Consumers are overwhelmingly more likely to buy seafood from Alaska over other sources – even more so than when seafood is just marked as wild – so it’s in restaurant chains’ best interest to feature Alaska seafood.”
The appeal of domestic seafood isn’t lost on U.S. restaurant chains, which have capitalized on Alaska pollock for promotions during the Lenten season.
McDonald’s is promoting its longstanding pollock fish sandwich – the filet-o-fish – by offering a second sandwich for USD 1.00 (EUR 0.93) when customers buy the first sandwich for around USD 5.29 (EUR 4.89), depending on location, Morris said.
Wendy's is bringing back its crispy panko fish sandwich, and White Castle includes pollock in its panko-breaded and regular fish sliders. Arby’s – a GAPP Partnership Program participant – has a two-for-USD 6.00 (EUR 5.55) mix-and-match deal that includes its King’s Hawaiian fish deluxe, fish ‘n cheddar sandwich, and crispy fish sandwich.
Burger King is promoting both its fiery and regular big fish pollock sandwiches at USD 2.00 (EUR 1.85) for reward members, as well as a buy-one-get-one offer on the big fish sandwich. Bojangles is bringing back its Bojangler fish sandwich as a limited-time offer, and Del Taco is offering its beer-battered crispy fish taco at two-for-USD 5.00 (EUR 4.63).
Other restaurant chains utilzing pollock include Jack in the Box, Dairy Queen, and Sonic, which are all sporting fish sandwiches, and Wienerschnitzel, which is promoting fish and chips.
Some restaurants are utilizing other species from Alaska, such as flounder and crab. Taco John’s, for instance, is sporting Alaska flounder fish tacos and Popeye’s features an Alaska flounder fish sandwich.
Other new Lenten seafood specials include:
- San Diego, California, U.S.A.-based Qdoba is bringing back its citrus lime shrimp, which can be added to a burrito, bowl, quesadilla, or salad, a Qdoba spokesperson told SeafoodSource.
- Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.-based Golden Chick is bringing back butterfly shrimp to its more than 220 restaurants. “Not only is the seasonal offering making a return, but the brand’s operations and purchasing teams worked in tandem to bring a product to consumers at a reduced, competitive price that is also 30 percent larger than previous iterations,” the company said in a press release.
- Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.-based O’Charley’s Restaurant + Bar is featuring two new lobster dishes and a rainbow trout entree as part of its Hook, Line & Southern limited-time menu.
- WaBa Grill added grilled salmon and jumbo shrimp boom boom veggie bowls, per QSR magazine.
