Fazoli’s continues to further elevate its menu and hospitality, rolling out new flavors and ingredients for pastas, salads, sandwiches, and pizza, as well as enhancing table service to make dining a more enjoyable experience for families. The premium Italian quick-service chain, coming off a year of record sales, this week introduced its next generation products and service style at its 15 Lexington-area restaurants.

The move comes as Fazoli’s ended its fiscal year March 31 amid continued strong same-store sales growth. Franchisees reported a 7.3 percent jump for the year, while company units experienced a 3.2 percent increase. It was the fifth straight year for growth at both franchised and company locations.

The latest upgrades, which include more than 20 new items, were launched earlier this year in eight Dayton, Ohio restaurants. In the first month, sales in the test restaurants were 2.6 percent higher than other company-owned units.

The menu and service initiatives are part of Fazoli’s continuing program to offer guests a casual-dining experience at quick-service speeds and prices. “These latest enhancements are based on guest feedback and have been in development for more than a year,” says president and CEO Carl Howard. “This is truly the next generation Fazoli’s.”

The revamped menu features Primo Submarinos sandwiches, a new line of freshly prepared salads called inSALADas, new Signature Pastas and Signature Pizzas, and a create-your-own pizza option. The quality of ingredients has been upgraded across the menu with the addition of a new salad base, as well as a new pizza crust. Fazoli’s also is taking the muss and fuss out of dining with expanded service that now includes table clearing and drink refilling, in addition to meal delivery. Fazoli’s no tipping policy remains unchanged, as service after ordering is a paramount part of this test.

The new Primo Submarinos ($6.99) include Turkey Mozzarella Fresco and The Primo Italiano. The inSALADas line ($6.99) offers an Italian Deli Trio and a seasonal Market Strawberry and Feta, among others. The Signature Pasta menu ($6.99) introduces three items, with Roasted Vegetable Lasagna and Roasted Garden Primavera two examples. The new Signature Pizza line (starting at $6.79 personal, $11.79 large) offers three choices, such as Chicken Carbonara and Supremo. New individual and create-your-own pizzas (starting at $5.99) feature a wide variety of toppings, including Italian sausage, sliced Kalamata olives, roasted vegetables, and bacon.

Other changes diners will notice are redesigned, more contemporary menuboards and improved drive-thru accuracy and efficiency. The new menu and expanded service will be introduced in more markets this fall. The quick-service chain with approximately 220 company and franchised restaurants, Fazoli’s is expanding throughout the country.

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