Wendy's Next Expedition in Bread: Ciabatta

First there was flatbread. Then came the pretzel bun, followed by brioche. Next up in Wendy’s firm carbohydrate counterattack: ciabatta. Starting Jan. 27 through March, Wendy’s will offer a ciabatta bacon cheeseburger, which is smeared with a rosemary garlic aioli and topped with roasted tomatoes, executives at the fast-food chain tell Businessweek.com.

The new burger, which costs about $4.79, is part of a strategy to offer more premium products—alongside value items like 99-cent sandwiches—as part of a brand revamp to position Wendy’s as a higher-end fast-food chain (new stores, for instance, now feature fireplaces). Wendy’s describes the new bread as having “a light, airy texture and a thin, delicate crust.”