With the sunshine finally making its long-awaited arrival it looks like we’ll be having a sun-soaked, action-packed end to the summer! When the sun is out so too are the people, and as we flock to beer gardens, food halls and festivals in our droves, our minds turn to one thing, what it is we want to eat!

This August we are celebrating National Burger Day on Thursday the 22nd, and what better way to get yourselves prepared for the big event than to take a look at all the amazing offerings we have here at Meadow Vale Foods. Get set for increased footfall for not only the day itself, but for the rest of the summer holidays too.

Burgers are a standout option on pretty much all food service menus, and come in many shapes and sizes. The humble burger as we know it today made its debut at the 1904 St. Louis World Fair, and American entrepreneurs Edgar “Billy” Ingram and Walter Anderson opened the first recognised fast food restaurant White Castle in Kansas in 1921.

Fast forward to today and burgers are as popular as ever! It’s estimated that over 1.3 billion burgers are consumed annually in the UK, and it’s no longer all about the beef as chicken burgers are well and truly on the rise, accounting for around 25% of all sales*. Here we take a look at Meadow Vale classics, alongside what’s trending and where we see the future of chicken burger sales going.

Chicken Burgers, We’ve Got You Covered!

Our range of chicken fillets come in a variety of flavour profiles and sizes, offering the ultimate choice for all food service professionals. Our Meadow Vale brand features classic Crispy Chicken, Southern Fried and Hot & Spicy fillets weighing in at 120g, 150g and 110g respectively. These particular chicken fillets are a staple for traditional fish & chip shops and takeaways. Then there’s the Goodness Me! range with the uncoated 80g Whole Chicken Fillet and 90g coated American Style Fillet, each one with low salts and no phosphates making them ideal for the education and healthcare sectors.

Our Homestyle range features a plain Breaded, Southern Fried and Hot & Spicy 120g fillet as well as a 150g Buttermilk fillet. All of our Homestyle chicken lines are hand-cut and hand-coated to make them appear like they’ve been prepared back of house, making them ideal for pubs, restaurants and food truck operators. Finally, we have our latest brand Sizzling Chicken with 2 fillets that are Original and Piri Piri in flavour, hand-butterflied and 150g in size. The Sizzling range is all uncoated and fully cooked over charcoal making them not only the healthier option but a delicious alternative to traditional coated fillets too.

As well as our traditional chicken fillets we also boast 2 that are brand new to the range and our largest fillets yet, tipping the scales at 200g! The Meadow Vale 200g Crispy Chicken Schnitzel and the Homestyle Crunchy Chicken XXL Fillet ensure whichever one of these you place between two buns you’ll be sure to satisfy your customers with a burger that boasts serious value for money.

Trending Chicken Burgers For The Menu

If you have a tried and tested chicken burger on your menu but are looking for something special for National Burger Day then we’ve compiled 4 of the most on-trend burgers for you!

Social media has a clear influence on consumer habits and if you add a viral sensation to your menu and promote it well to your following then you are bound to see an increased footfall to your business.

One thing that's hot at the moment are dip burgers, whether they be spicy or saucy. A dip burger does exactly what it says on the tin, and takes inspiration from a classic French onion dip sandwich. We have paired our Meadow Vale Hot & Spicy Chicken Fillet with a hot sauce that’s dipped once before assembly then served with a pot of hot sauce so you can double dip to your hearts content!

If the hot and fiery dip burger doesn’t do it for you then how about another saucy special in the shape of a Katsu Curry burger. Featuring our Homestyle XXL Crunchy Chicken Fillet this burger has all your standard trimmings but comes with a katsu curry mayo sauce and some crispy frickles to add to the great taste!

Healthy options are a must for all menus and one trending menu idea incorporates healthy grilled chicken with some protein packed halloumi cheese. Here we’ve paired our Sizzling Chicken Piri Piri Fillet with grilled halloumi and roasted red peppers, all served on a toasted ciabatta to give it equal doses of healthy appeal alongside a visually appetising meal.

From the sublime to the ridiculous, National Burger Day wouldn’t be complete without an absolutely wild menu idea that will certainly engage conversation if placed on your menu. You may have seen the recent trend of swapping out burger buns for doughnuts, but we’ve decided to go one better and add the American classic peanut butter and jelly to the burger! Using our Meadow Vale Southern Fried Fillet, we’ve created the ultimate dessert burger, and one that’s bound to take your socials viral and intrigue your customers if placed on the menu!

The Future Looks Bright!

We spoke at the start of the year about the UK economies ‘green shoots of recovery’ and that continues to be the case as we move further in to 2024. Although worries about economic uncertainties may be a contributing factor for food purchasing habits for some, many have regained full trust in the landscape and are now spending at pre-covid levels again.

This has led to a rise in dining out, with up to 90% of Britons admitting they will still be dining out this year. And where they dine out is changing too. Up to 69% of Brits are choosing to shop local and support their local eateries over the big chains.** This level of support is great for the small business owners as they know they can add specials like the aforementioned burgers for National Burger Day and the local support will follow.

A diverse and eye-catching menu will be one way to keep business healthy this summer. New menu ideas to celebrate unique days in the calendar such as National Burger Day will appeal to both your regulars looking for something new on the menu and also to first time diners who are intrigued by your offering. It’s truly a win-win for everyone.

Get Involved!

If you’ve suddenly got the urge to go big for National Burger Day or are simply looking to refresh your menu with some scintillating chicken burgers then now is the time to act! Our development chefs are on hand to discuss any menu ideas you may have, or to point you in the direction of a local supplier of Meadow Vale chicken fillets. Speak to them either on 01978 666 100, or message directly HERE.

*Mintel UK Eating Out Review 2024 **Mintel UK Eating Out Review 2024