Noodles & Company

Marketing

Noodles & Company responds to high inflation with a new value menu

The fast-casual chain has launched a new $7 menu, saying its customers have started demanding lower prices.

Marketing

Noodles’ new brand identity comes with big employee perks

Marketing Bites: Noodles & Company embraces Uncommon Goodness, Sweetgreen lands a new athlete ambassador, and chains get creative for Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day.

The pasta chain, where half of all customers order a dish with chicken, is adding a temporary $1 surcharge to those items because of soaring protein costs.

The combined impacts of the delta and omicron surges cost the fast casual $8 million in estimated revenue from temporary closures and reduced hours during the fourth quarter.

LEANguini launched earlier this month, but Chef Nick Graff and his team spent two years on R&D to perfect the pasta.

The fast-casual chain released its first impact report Thursday, noting that both management turnover and hourly employee turnover have decreased.

The slowdown comes as the fast casual posted record average unit volumes and 16.3% same-store sales growth for its third quarter.

The fast-casual noodle chain is raising prices 3% starting next week, on top of 2.5% pricing taken earlier this year.

Taste Tracker: Old Chicago and Oath launch new pizzas; salads with global flavors debut at Noodles & Co. and Saladworks; bubbles pop at Dunkin’; and more menu news of the week.

The long-rumored item will be featured in three new dishes, available exclusively to rewards members until June 1. Noodles is offering free delivery all summer for those who try them.

  • Page 2