Dunkin' Donuts wants you to think of its 660-calorie sandwiches as a snack, not lunch, says chief executive

Chief executive Nigel Travis insists company is 'not moving into lunch'

He said the chain is focused on two growth areas - breakfast and snacking

Chain expanded sandwich range to bring in more business during afternoon



Restaurant chain Dunkin' Donuts has said customers should consider its 660-calorie fried chicken sandwich a snack, rather than lunch or dinner.

As the coffee and breakfast chain expands its sandwich offerings to bring in more business during the afternoon, chief executive Nigel Travis has insisted the company is 'not moving into lunch'.

He said the chain, which offers a range of fried chicken and grilled cheese sandwiches, is focused on two growth areas, breakfast and snacking.

The chief executive of Dunkin' Donuts has said customers should consider its fried-chicken sandwiches, which range from 590 to 600 calories, as a snack

Chief executive Nigel Travis has insisted the company is 'not moving into lunch' and is focused on breakfast and snacking

'We're not moving into lunch. We're in snacking. We never talk about lunch,' Travis said in an interview.

The strategy is a reflection of how people are increasingly eating several smaller meals a day, rather than sticking to just breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Dunkin, based in Canton, Massachusetts, has traditionally done most of its business before 11am, but it introduced its deli-like sandwiches in 2012 to attract more customers later in the day.

According to Dunkin's website, the fried chicken sandwiches range from 590 calories to 660 calories, depending on the toppings.

The chicken salad sandwich meanwhile, which is served on a croissant, has 580 calories.

The Texas toast grilled cheese sandwiches have 510 calories, if ham or bacon is not included, while the tuna salad wrap has 520 calories.

The Texas toast grilled cheese sandwiches at Dunkin' Donuts contain 510 calories

Lauri Boone, a registered dietitian, in the Rochester area of New York, said people should think of snacks as a 'small, satisfying portion of food that can help curb hunger or a craving between meals.'

Some examples she gave were a handful of nuts and a piece of fruit, a small cup of yogurt, or a handful of trail mix. When asked whether a 500-calorie sandwich could be a snack, she said no.

'That is a meal,' she said. 'I can't think of a good example where I would recommend a 500-calorie snack.'

The tuna salad wrap, meanwhile, contains 520 calories

The chain does also offer some lighter sandwiches, such as the turkey, cheddar and bacon sandwich which has 440 calories.

It also recently introduced a grilled chicken flatbread sandwich that has 360 calories.