Friendly’s Restaurants Introduce New Fresh, Quality Salads

Wilbraham, MA (Grassroots Newswire) March 30, 2010 – Adult patrons who dine at Friendly’s restaurants know their children will enjoy the menu items catered to their kids’ likings. But, as adult consumers become more mindful about what they eat when they dine out, Friendly’s is introducing a new selection of freshly-made salads.

Beginning March 30th, over 500 Friendly’s restaurants will provide its guests with seven new salads, including the following options:

Southwest Chipotle Chicken Salad
This salad offers a zesty medley of salad greens, Chipotle-seasoned fresh grilled chicken, corn and black bean salsa, sweet red onions, and green peppers – all served in a freshly-made tortilla bowl.

Bleu Moon Sirloin Salad
Flavors collide when fresh grilled USDA sirloin steak tips meet fresh salad greens, julienned green peppers, grape tomatoes, crumbled bleu cheese and onion straws.

Apple Harvest Chicken Salad
This blend of seasoned, grilled chicken, crisp apples, chopped walnuts, and crumbled bleu cheese is served over a bed of mixed salad greens.

According to a recent study by Technomic, a food industry consulting and research firm, consumers are more inclined to purchase a salad at a restaurant if they are trying to eat healthier (50 percent) and if a new salad sounds appealing (46 percent), among other factors. The report also found that more consumers are eating salads: for lunch (66 percent) and dinner (63 percent).

According to the National Restaurant Association’s “What’s Hot in 2010” chef survey, trends show that salads will remain popular menu items as both appetizers and entrées at restaurants. Each year, the association asks professional chef members of the American Culinary Federation to rank how trendy certain menu items will be for the forthcoming year.

With the tagline, “Oh, that looks good™,” the new salads complement Friendly’s current salad choices: Crispy Chicken Salad, Asian Chicken Salad, Chicken Caesar Salad and Kickin’ Buffalo Chicken Salad.

“Our guests will love the new salad greens – we now have a vibrant mix of romaine, endive, radicchio and carrots. As for the new flavors, I believe we will surprise many guests with our quality, flavor and variety,” said Andre Fuehr, Friendly’s Executive Chef.

Friendly’s new salads are part of the company’s overall effort to show its guests that they use quality ingredients and make all meals fresh. Friendly’s also wants to let its guests know that they can have healthier meal options when dining at its restaurants.

In addition, Friendly’s has partnered with Healthy Dining, an organization that recommends dietician-approved, healthier-for-you menu items at restaurants. As part of the partnership, HealthyDiningFinder.com will highlight several of Friendly’s healthier options that are available at Friendly’s restaurants. Those choices will also be highlighted in Friendly’s menus.

For more information about Friendly’s, visit your nearest location or visit the company’s Web site at www.friendlys.com.

About Friendly Ice Cream Corporation
Friendly Ice Cream Corporation is a vertically-integrated restaurant and ice cream company serving signature sandwiches, entrees, and ice cream desserts in a friendly family environment in over 500 company and franchised restaurants throughout the eastern United States. Friendly’s manufactures and distributes its own ice cream through its restaurants and more than 4,000 supermarkets and other retail locations. Friendly’s opened its first unit of a fast-casual concept, Friendly’s Express, in August 2009.