You Want It, You Got It - Wingstop's Hot Honey Rub is Here to Stay

Rhea-AI Summary

Wingstop (NASDAQ: WING) has made its popular Hot Honey Rub flavor a permanent menu item. This decision follows enthusiastic support from fans, celebrities, and athletes, including basketball star Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Hot Honey Rub, a sweet and spicy dry rub, has been a top-performing -time offer (LTO) flavor since its debut in 2022. It will now be available nationwide on classic and boneless wings, tenders, and the chicken sandwich. Wingstop's Chief Brand Officer, Melissa Cash, highlighted the overwhelming demand and fanfare as key reasons for this permanent addition.

Positive

• Wingstop's popular Hot Honey Rub flavor is now a permanent menu item.
• The flavor has been a top-performing LTO since 2022.
• Endorsement from celebrities and athletes, including Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Negative

• None.

The best-selling LTO flavor has made its way onto Wingstop's menu year-round, following overwhelming love from superfans, celebrities and athletes, including basketball icon Giannis Antetokounmpo

DALLAS, July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Wingstop (NASDAQ: WING) announced today that its (now) famous Hot Honey Rub flavor – a fiery dry rub that delivers sweetness with a mouthwatering kick of heat – is now a permanent menu item. Due to an outpouring of love from fans, celebrities and athletes, Hot Honey Rub will be a permanent flavor on Wingstop's menu nationwide, available to be hand sauced-and-tossed on classic and boneless wings, tenders and the chicken sandwich.

Appearing on the menu three times since 2022 due to popular demand, Hot Honey Rub is Wingstop's top-performing LTO flavor of all time and consistently ranks as a fan-favorite on the chicken sandwich, with 12 others to choose from.

Basketball star Giannis Antetokounmpo even got in on the action, demanding on X that the crave-worthy flavor stay on menus nationwide, saying, "What is this!?!? Who do I have to call to get you to change your mind??" He was not alone, drawing thousands of passionate comments demanding the flavor's permanency:

• "MAKE IT A REGULAR FLAVOR DAMMIT!!!" -@_Asiaaaqt
• "We might have to go no contact behind this! *runs to order hot honey wings" -@teasiarenee
• "Yeah, I'm yelling, kicking & screaming" -@asmr_withkay
• "My wife is gonna be furious don't do it" -@CalebAdamss

Giannis returned to Instagram today, announcing to fans that he made some calls, and the bold, distinctive flavor of Hot Honey Rub is here to stay.

"We were flooded with Hot Honey Rub fandom since the flavor debuted. Constant pleas on social, handwritten letters, voicemails and even a call from Giannis," said Melissa Cash, Wingstop's Chief Brand Officer. "We set a very high bar for the flavors that make our permanent lineup, but the popularity of this flavor speaks for itself. It was time that we show love to our fans and give Hot Honey a permanent spot on the menu."

To order today, fans can visit Wingstop.com or the Wingstop app, and share their love for Hot Honey Rub by tagging @Wingstop on X, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. 

About Wingstop
Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Dallas, TX, Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ: WING) operates and franchises more than 2,250 locations worldwide. The Flavor Experts are dedicated to Serving the World Flavor through an unparalleled guest experience and a best-in-class technology platform, all while offering classic and boneless wings, tenders, and chicken sandwiches, cooked to order and hand sauced-and-tossed in fans' choice of 11 bold, distinctive flavors. Wingstop's menu also features signature sides including fresh-cut, seasoned fries and freshly-made ranch and bleu cheese dips.

In fiscal year 2023, Wingstop's system-wide sales increased 27.1% to approximately $3.5 billion and marked its 20th consecutive year of same store sales growth. With a vision of becoming a Top 10 Global Restaurant Brand, Wingstop's system is comprised of corporate-owned restaurants and independent franchisees, or brand partners, who account for approximately 98% of Wingstop's total restaurant count of 2,279 as of March 30, 2024. A key to this business success stems from The Wingstop Way, which includes a core value system of being Authentic, Entrepreneurial, Service-minded, and Fun. The Wingstop Way extends to the brand's environmental, social and governance platform as Wingstop seeks to provide value to all guests.

In 2023, Wingstop earned its "Best Places to Work" certification. The Company landed on Entrepreneur Magazine's "Fastest-Growing Franchises" list and ranked #16 on "Franchise 500." Wingstop was listed on Technomic's "Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report," QSR Magazine's "2023 QSR 50" and Franchise Time's "40 Smartest-Growing Franchises."

For more information visit www.wingstop.com or www.wingstop.com/own-a-wingstop and follow @Wingstop on X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to join the passionate fanbase. Learn more about Wingstop's involvement in its local communities at www.wingstopcharities.org. Unless specifically noted otherwise, references to our website addresses or the website addresses of third parties in this press release do not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on such website and should not be considered part of this release.

Media Contact   
Maddie Lupori  
Media@wingstop.com  
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SOURCE Wingstop Restaurants Inc.

FAQ

When did Wingstop announce the permanent addition of Hot Honey Rub?

Wingstop announced the permanent addition of Hot Honey Rub on July 9, 2024.

What products will feature Wingstop's Hot Honey Rub flavor?

Wingstop's Hot Honey Rub flavor will be available on classic and boneless wings, tenders, and the chicken sandwich.

Who supported the addition of Hot Honey Rub as a permanent flavor at Wingstop?

Fans, celebrities, and athletes, including basketball star Giannis Antetokounmpo, supported the addition of Hot Honey Rub as a permanent flavor at Wingstop.

What is the stock symbol for Wingstop?

The stock symbol for Wingstop is WING.

How can fans order Wingstop's Hot Honey Rub flavor?

Fans can order Wingstop's Hot Honey Rub flavor via Wingstop.com or the Wingstop app.