Digital-only ordering and delivery-focused innovative kitchen brand in College Park, MD allows guests to enjoy a diverse menu that caters to a variety of tastes
Let’s face it, sometimes even family and friends can’t agree on what’s for dinner (or lunch or snacks). Now, with Little Blue Menu®, they don’t have to.
Picture bone-in chicken wings, a Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich and a side of Brussels Sprouts. Now imagine being able to get these items in one order. This dream-come-true is Little Blue Menu, an innovative kitchen brand from Chick-fil-A, Inc.
In 2021, Chick-fil-A started testing the Little Blue Menu brand in Nashville, pursuing new ways to efficiently serve on-demand customers. The response was great, allowing us to move into the next phase of our concept as a standalone Little Blue Menu location in College Park, Maryland.
Starting in September, guests in College Park can order from a variety of menu items created by chefs at Chick-fil-A – from wings to burgers to the classic Chick-fil-A options, there’s something for everyone.
The Little Blue story
Little Blue Menu is named after Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy’s original blue menu at The Dwarf Grill (now called The Dwarf House® restaurant) in Hapeville, which he was continually changing to give customers what they wanted most. It’s where he invented (and customers taste-tested) the Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich and served staples like hamburgers (shh, don’t tell the Cows), collard greens and lemon pie.
“Little Blue Menu was built upon Truett’s passion to give customers more of what they want,” says L.J. Yankosky, senior director of the innovation and new ventures team at Chick-fil-A. “Our culinary team is world-class, and the array of food offerings paired with the option to deliver straight to your doorstep provides guests with more variety, convenience and flexibility.”
Diverse, evolving tastes
The Little Blue Menu prototype grew from testing and tweaking a variety of recipes until a diverse, satisfying menu was born. Whether it’s bone-in wings cooked three different ways – smoked, roasted and fried – or a no fuss burger, flavor is the central theme between the concepts.
“The flavor profiles are fantastic,” says Yankosky.
To ensure Little Blue Menu was provided the best possible menu items, senior culinary developer Stuart Tracy created each menu from scratch. As a former chef at multiple upscale restaurants in Charleston, SC and Atlanta, GA, Tracy has gained a reputation for making elegant yet approachable food, which he brought to the restaurant concepts.
Kanika Patrick, who leads marketing for Little Blue Menu, said the team behind Little Blue Menu is eager for customer feedback. The menu will continue to evolve based on customer input. After completion of an order, selected guests receive a notification from the Chick-fil-A® App to participate in a customer satisfaction survey.
“As customers have shared their honest opinions about the concept, we have had the opportunity to tweak or add new menu items,” Patrick says. “College Park is a center of innovation, making it the ideal place to bring Little Blue Menu and provide ever-changing, fresh culinary experiences to guests in the community.”
A different kind of delivery
Beyond offering a next-level culinary experience, delivery is another offering that sets this venture apart. The team that assembled Little Blue Menu’s building blocks channeled the Chick-fil-A entrepreneurial spirit to rethink how a food delivery model could work.
“Convenience is here to stay,” states Yankosky. “Now more than ever, customers and college students seek variety and convenience. Little Blue Menu is built to be a digital-only and delivery-focused concept aimed to serve a broader array of food options in a convenient way.”
The delivery radius for the Little Blue Menu College Park location is approximately 10 minutes. But delivery isn’t just about speed – Chick-fil-A Delivery drivers deliver bundled meals with the help of hybrid electric vehicles, adding to the experience for when hunger strikes. Beyond delivery, guests can order mobile pick-up and catering pick-up. All orders will be placed through the Chick-fil-A App.
“We are committed to bringing a level of service, professionalism and hospitality to the overall experience and especially to the delivery process,” Yankosky says.
Little Blue Menu provides customers with the opportunity to change their meal routine, but with a brand they know and love. It’s the perfect way to serve loyal Chick-fil-A customers – adjusting to meet their ever-evolving palates – and serve new ones, offering a variety of high-quality menu options and delivering greater convenience for all.
