Dive Brief:
- Yatco opened its first Chester’s Chicken QSR earlier this month, the convenience retailer and restaurant chain said in a joint announcement.
- The restaurant is located inside Yatco’s convenience store at 75 Quinsigamond Ave. in Worcester, Massachusetts. The companies held a grand opening Sept. 17.
- Like many other convenience retailers, Yatco is partnering with QSRs to position its stores as food destinations.
Dive Insight:
Chester’s isn’t the first QSR chain that Yatco — which operates 20 convenience stores across New England — has brought to its stores. The Marlborough, Massachusetts-based retailer has a longstanding partnership with Dunkin and also works with regional restaurant brands, including Rhode Island-based Coffee Connection.
Now, Yatco is adding Chester’s fried chicken to its foodservice lineup. A second Yatco location featuring a Chester’s is already in the works, according to the announcement.
“We’re excited to bring Chester’s to Yatco and give our customers another great reason to stop in,” said Walter Thomas, category manager at Yatco, in the announcement. “We want our stores to be a place people think of for a good meal, whether they’re grabbing lunch during the workday or picking up dinner for the family.”
Chester’s has more than 1,200 locations across North America, according to the announcement. Its menu includes bone-in and boneless chicken, chicken sandwiches, livers and gizzards, plus sides such as biscuits, potato wedges, mac and cheese, green beans and mashed potatoes with gravy.
“We’re honored to be part of Yatco’s continued growth across the Northeast,” said Wynn Giles, Chester’s CEO. “When operators choose Chester’s, they’re trusting us to bring quality food to the communities they serve, and we don’t take that responsibility lightly.”
