COLUMBUS, Ohio ? White Castle is testing beer and wine sales at its Lafayette, Indiana location, reports the Columbus Post Dispatch, as well as weighing three new store concepts that the fast-casual chain has been studying since the summer.
The three concepts ? ;Blaze Modern BBQ, Laughing Noodle (and Asian concept) and Deckers (grilled sandwiches) ? have been in a testing phase since the summer. And the addition of beer and wine sales to the Lafayette location will help White Castle determine if it enters the adult beverage space at other locations, according to Jamie Richardson, vice president of corporate relations for the company.
The newspaper writes the 90-year-old company could be experimenting with how to remain competitive in an increasingly difficult and crowded restaurant industry, noted Bonnie Riggs of The NPD Group. ?It?s been a very challenging time in the restaurant industry in recent years, and folks are trying all kinds of ways of driving traffic into their restaurants and increasing sales,? Riggs told the Dispatch.
Blaze Modern BBQ offers traditional barbecue dishes including brisket, pulled chicken and smoked turkey, baked beans and potato salad. Deckers offers pressed sandwiches with fillings such as Italian meats, turkey pesto, French onion beef, veggies and peanut butter and jelly, writes the newspaper.
Richardson commented that consumer responses to the new concepts and the beer and wine sales have been ?better than expected,? but cautioned against whether White Castle would take a giant leap into growing the concepts.
?We?re in the learning mode, so we haven?t come to any absolute conclusions yet,? Richardson told the newspaper. ?But the (tests) are a good resource to consider when we?re looking at new sites and seeing where we may grow next.?
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