Will Wendy’s Chili Have a Long Shelf Life in Grocery Stores?

Wendy’s has at least one thing McDonald’s does not: chili. Fans of Wendy’s signature product will now be able to pick up a can of it at the grocery store as the fast food retailer makes a major foray into consumer packaged goods.

Conagra Brands recently said it would bring Wendy’s-branded canned chili to store shelves, according to The Takeout. The product already has an Instacart listing and should be widely available this spring. Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas developed the chain’s famous chili in the earliest days of the restaurant when he used remaining hamburger meat in an effort to reduce waste.

Wendy’s has tested its brand on grocery store shelves a few times in recent years with limited-edition product launches. It partnered with Kellogg’s in June 2020 to release a “Wendy’s Baconator”-flavored Pringles potato chip, followed by a Wendy’s Chicken Sandwich Pringles flavor in 2021.

The Kellogg’s collaboration also yielded a limited-edition cereal in 2021 based on the fast-food chain’s popular Frosty shake. It was called Wendy’s Frosty Chocolatey Cereal.

Wendy’s is not the only major quick-serve restaurant to place its products on grocery store shelves. Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A and Arby’s have also brought flagship products once only available in their restaurants to the grocery store, The Takeout reports.

McDonald’s in 2015 brought its McCafé coffee line to supermarket shelves in partnership with Kraft Foods.

The increased prominence of Wendy’s brand in CPG comes as the chain is also making moves to improve its in-restaurant experience, catching up to others that have undertaken “store of the future” redesigns.

Wendy’s last year said it was beginning the redesign of its restaurants, according to CNN. The new stores will feature a new pickup window, a more efficient galley-style kitchen and a new interior layout.

• Wendy’s Chili Is Heading to Grocery Stores – The Takeout

• 2022 Top 500 Countdown – Nation’s Restaurant News

• Wendy’s is turning its Frosty into a cereal – CNN

• Limited-Edition Pringles® Flavor Packs The Juicy Layers Of A Wendy's Baconator Into One Crunchy Bite – PR Newswire

• New Limited-Edition Pringles® Flavor Gives Wendy's® Lovers A New Reason To Drive Thru The Snack Aisle – PR Newswire

• McDonald’s takes McCafé brand into supermarkets – Marketing Week

• Here’s what the Wendy’s of the future looks like – CNN