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RED Lobster rival Golden Corral is opening a new fast casual restaurant which will serve up its signature comfort foods in a more convenient manner.
Golden Corral’s spinoff chain Homeward Kitchen will be replaced one year after it opened, by a new fast casual concept named Golden Corral Favorites.
Restaurant chain Golden Corral is rebranding its spinoff Homeward Kitchen into a new concept[/caption]
The new restaurant will be reopened as Golden Corral Favorites[/caption]
The brand new store will serve up signature items such as meatloaf sandwiches, fried chicken and homestyle sides, but with a swanky new rebrand that expands upon the prototype model trialled in Homeward Kitchen.
Golden Corral CEO Lance Trenary said in a statement: “We’ve learned just how much our guests love the Golden Corral brand and want the wholesome food that we serve, so we’re bringing those favorites to a fast-casual setting.
“This new concept leverages the brand equity in the Golden Corral name and blends the best of both worlds — offering our signature comfort foods they crave with the convenience today’s consumers expect.”
The company, headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, did not clarify why it transitioned away from Homeward Kitchen, but conceptual art shows that the new store design will have a red and yellow logo, similar to Golden Corral.
Homeward Kitchen, which launched in Southern Pines, North Carolina, in late 2023, did not share similar branding or red and yellow colours on its logo.
Renderings have also shown that some of its food will be served in a similar way to its other popular buffet-style restaurants.
Golden Corral, which was founded in 1973, recently joined a partnership with tech company Qu as it looks to standardize its digital offerings to enhance off-premise sales.
The buffet chain, which has over 350 locations, set up the spinoff Homeward Kitchen 2 years ago but informed employees of the closure in early January this year.
The single location closed on February 24.
Golden Corral has followed numerous other fast food chains who have tried to set up a fast casual spinoff.
Buffalo Wings, IHOP, Hooters, P.F. Chang’s and Red Robin have all made these efforts with mixed success.
Golden Corral Favorites locations will feature drive-thru service, mobile ordering availability, and a streamlined serving process designed to ensure quick delivery to customers.
Restaurant giant Red Lobster rivals Golden Corral[/caption]
