Wawa starts selling hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, fries as part of pilot test

Wawa is testing hamburgers, waffle fries and breaded chicken sandwiches at select locations as it contemplates offering a larger dinner menu.

The dinner items are currently available at only six stores. A Wawa spokesperson declined to share further details about the testing.

"Wawa is always testing new products and offers to ensure we're meeting our customers' evolving tastes and demands," Wawa spokeswoman Lori Bruce wrote in an email. "We are actively piloting some options throughout our chain as part of a larger dinner platform we are testing."

At at least one of the pilot locations, the new foods are being offered only after 4 p.m. The Philadelphia Business Journal reported that the burger and chicken sandwich are selling for $5.49, and the waffle fries cost $1.99.

Best known for its made-to-order hoagies, Wawa also offers breakfast sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, quesadillas and an assortment of hand-crafted beverages through its touch-screen kiosks.

The addition of hamburgers, chicken sandwiches and fries would represent a major shift in Wawa's offerings — previously, it hasn't sold any fried foods.

If the new products stick, Wawa would be more closely aligned with competitors like Royal Farms, which focuses on fried chicken and western cut fries, and Sheetz, which offers an expansive menu including fries, burgers, chicken sandwiches and hot dogs.

It could also bring another player to the chicken sandwich game, which has come to dominate the fast-food market. Brands such as Popeye's and McDonald's have recently released lower priced options to compete against more established companies like Chick-fil-A.

Contact Brandon Holveck at bholveck@delawareonline.com or at (302) 324-2267. Follow on Twitter @holveck_brandon.