Fazoli’s Makes Move to All-Natural Chicken

Change solidifies Pioneer in quick-casual Italian as leader in offering better menu options

Lexington, Ky. (Aug. 23, 2005) – Call it a revolution. Call it change. Whatever you call it, it’s becoming big – very big. Chicken sales have skyrocketed over the last several years as American’s appetite for the tasty food has increased.

One of the fastest growing areas of interest is in natural chicken. Some experts predict demand for natural meat will grow by as much as 20 to 25 percent a year (Grant Ferrier, National Business Journal). Natural-meat industry sales topped $900 million last year alone.

Fazoli’s, the 371-unit Italian restaurant chain, recognizing this trend is now offering all-natural chicken system wide. All-natural means the chicken contains no antibiotics or hormones, and there are no additives, colors, or preservatives added.

Fazoli’s, the pioneer of Italian quick casual, is also one of the first chains in the Italian category to offer all-natural chicken on its menu. While the growth of interest in all-natural chicken was a factor in Fazoli’s decision, the company offers a deeper purpose for the introduction.

When Fazoli’s began looking for all-natural chicken, its goal was to find a product that met the changing face of restaurant dining. According to Kuni Toyoda, Fazoli’s President and CEO, today’s consumer not only wants food that tastes great, they want to feel good about the choices they make for themselves and their families.

“Using high quality ingredients like all-natural chicken in our food means we can give our Guests peace of mind about the choices they make when dining in our restaurant,” added Toyoda. “All-natural chicken is an important part of our ongoing commitment to health and wellness. Moreover, it’s about doing the right thing as a business and for our Guests.

The chain’s addition of all-natural chicken is available in Build Your Own Pasta and fresh-tossed salad menu lines, which make up over 25 percent of all orders. According to Julie Gondak, Brand Director, Fazoli’s is also looking to introduce an all-natural chicken breast for its Panini sandwich and chicken breast entrée orders.

All-natural chicken is part of an overall focus by Fazoli’s on health and wellness. The chain sees a shift in consumers’ focus toward more balanced-diet approaches as they look for both “healthy-for-you” options and the opportunity to indulge. In April, Fazoli’s announced its efforts to reduce and, in some cases, eliminate trans fat from its menu, which now contains more than 50 entrees with zero grams of trans fat.

Fazoli’s already benefits from the national persona given to Italian food, which is viewed by many as inherently healthier than typical fast food. Fazoli’s was one of the first restaurant chains to offer zero grams trans fat menu options. The chain also introduced a whole-wheat pasta option in April 2005, and is testing olive oil dipping stations. According to the FDA, Olive oil is high in monounsaturated fat, which may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

In May, Fazoli’s introduced its new Build Your Own Pasta menu line, which allows Guests to create their own combinations from a variety of pasta (including whole wheat), sauce, and topping options. The flexibility allows Guests to customize menu options to dietary needs and even indulgent wishes. “We now have more than 100 combinations of pasta dishes that are eight grams of fat or less,” Gondak said.

Fazoli’s operates 371 company and franchise restaurants in 32 states, serving faster, fresher, better Italian food for today’s on-the-go families and lifestyles.

About Fazoli’s

With 371 restaurants in 32 states, no one serves Italian fast and fresh each day in the same way as Fazoli’s. The Smart Italian Choices menu, with over 100 choices that are eight grams of fat or less, and Elizabeth Somer’s consultation on nutrition is an important element in Fazoli’s 2005 efforts to provide more options for customers who are interested in improving their nutritional habits in their busy lifestyle.

To find a Fazoli’s near you, log onto http://www.fazolis.com and search by state.

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