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As America Devours More Wings Than Ever, Restaurants Double Down
To get in on the frenzy, chains like Chili’s have been investing in new brands. Wingstop is rapidly expanding, averaging almost three store openings a week.
U.S. chicken wing prices jumped 20% this year, including a surge ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl, after record gains in 2020.
Photographer: Noam Galai/Getty Images North AmericaAmerica’s appetite for chicken wings appears unending and restaurant chains of all sorts are rushing to feed it.
It might seem impossible, but the pandemic actually made one of the country’s favorite menu items even more popular. After governments forced restaurants to close and curtail indoor dining to slow Covid-19, takeout and delivery orders took off. That sparked a surge in purchases of wings, which are good for delivery because they don’t get soggy.