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# Extra-Crispy Heat-Retaining Fries
Wendy's Reimagines the French Fry with 'Hot and Crispy' Method

By Niko Pajkovic | Published 2021-09-07 | Marketing
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hot-and-crispy-edition-fries
References: [qsrmagazine](https://www.qsrmagazine.com/exclusives/wendys-unveils-hot-and-crispy-french-fry-innovation) & [wendys](https://www.wendys.com/)

American fast-food chain [Wendy's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hot-crispy-fry-guarantee) has announced that it will be replacing its classic French fries with a new "hot and crispy" edition, which took months to perfect by its culinary team. According to Wendy's, the new fry has received nearly a "2:1 preference versus Wendy’s primary competitor, [McDonald’s](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/masala-mcshaker-fries)."

Wendy's recently held a Culinary Spotlight event showcasing the new fries, which are being released alongside the brand's new burger: the 'Big Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger.' Apparently, the company was motivated to create the best possible fries as it knew that it was the #1 item sold on Wendy's menu.

"We're going to put in a full-court press and figure out what's the best way to have our customers' backs. For example, if fries are the most-ordered menu item, we're going to create the best possible fry,” explained John Li, Wendy's vice president of culinary innovation.

Image Credit: Wendy's

## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter)

- Score: 6.3/10
- Popularity: 81% | Activity: 97% | Freshness: 10%
- Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women
- Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial, Gen X
- Top markets: North America

## Categories

[Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/branding)

## Key Themes

### Key Themes Behind This Trend

- **Hot and Crispy Fries:** Fast food chains could improve customer satisfaction and compete with rivals by upgrading french fries to be extra-crispy and heat-retaining.
- **Culinary Innovation:** Fast food corporations could focus on innovating their menus and creating new products that are high-quality and unique to their brand.
- **Customer Satisfaction:** Fast food chains could prioritize customer satisfaction by analyzing what their top-selling items are and investing resources to create the best possible version of them.

### Where This Applies

- **Fast Food:** Fast food chains could revamp perennially popular menu items like french fries and burgers to attract and retain customers.
- **Food Innovation:** Investment in culinary innovation could lead to the creation of new and exciting food products that could be market disruptors.
- **Brand Competition:** Corporations can strive to win market share from competitors by seeking customer feedback and using it to improve the quality of their menu offerings.

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