Dive Brief:

• Publix deli departments will offer a limited edition Nashville hot chicken sandwich from the beginning of April until June 30, according to a Monday press release. 
• The sandwich is the grocer’s take on a Tennessee classic, and while the flavor still packs a punch, Publix mellowed down the spice level.
• Grocers are continuing to find ways to spice up their deli menus as they compete with restaurants for meal dollars and try to reach price-conscious shoppers.  

Dive Insight:

Publix’s deli department, which has gained considerable popularity with offerings like its Pub Subs, is looking to spur interest with a trending new chicken sandwich.

The limited-time hot chicken sandwich consists of chicken tenders marinated in spices, breaded and fried, and then glazed with a garlic, cayenne pepper and brown sugar sauce. The meat is placed between slices of King’s Hawaiian bread and includes a pickle. 

The spicy chicken sandwich is a Nashville staple, Publix said in the press release, and the grocer’s chefs traveled to the city to sample hot chicken recipes at local restaurants to ensure its version “hit the mark.”

“No one can say it isn’t spicy,” Audrey Peace, Publix’s hot prepared foods category manager, said in the announcement about the grocer’s sandwich. Publix decided to lean into a tangy flavor profile rather than matching Nashville’s traditional spice level, but noted that hot chicken fans will still like the taste. 

The announcement highlights other ways the Florida-based grocer has brought Nashville’s hot chicken to customers. At the end of last year, Publix offered an eight-piece fried chicken meal and, following that, had glazed chicken wings in a marinade. 

Last summer, Sprouts Farmers Market proved just how popular grocer’s meal offerings can become, after having its $4.99 sandwiches go viral on TikTok. The hashtag #sproutssandwich currently has more than 17 million views on the popular social media app. 

Heading into 2023, a number of industry experts have highlighted the growing importance of the store experience, and this includes grocers expanding their meal offerings. Dom’s Kitchen & Market, for example, features meal stations at the center of its store floor.