Bojangles Rips Into Snack Market with New Interactive Chicken Sliders

CHARLOTTE, NC – April 13, 2026 – Bojangles is escalating the fiercely competitive fast-food chicken wars, shifting the battleground from sandwiches to shareable snacks with the launch of its new limited-time offering: Bo’s Chicken Rippers. The new menu item features the brand’s signature hand-breaded chicken bites served in a cluster of soft Martin’s Sweet Party Potato Rolls, explicitly designed for a hands-on “rip and dip” experience.

The launch signals a calculated move by the Carolina-born chain to capture a larger share of the booming snack market and engage a new generation of consumers through interactive food and digital-first marketing.

The 'Rip and Dip' Revolution

At the heart of the new offering is an emphasis on customer interaction. Bo’s Chicken Rippers arrive as a pull-apart slider, inviting diners to tear off individual rolls filled with Bo Bites—the brand's successful 2024 addition of bite-sized chicken tenders—and plunge them into a selection of signature sauces. This hands-on approach aims to transform a quick meal into a more engaging and customizable event.

This product builds directly on Bojangles' recent menu innovations. The Bo Bites themselves proved popular, and the company has simultaneously expanded its condiment lineup. Newcomers like the sweet and tangy Peach Honey Pepper sauce and a creamy House-Made Buttermilk Ranch join established favorites like Honey Mustard, offering a wide flavor palette for dipping.

“Our customers have been loving our Bo Bites and the fresh additions to our sauce lineup,” said Marshall Scarborough, Vice President of Menu and Culinary Innovation at Bojangles, in a recent announcement. “Bo’s Chicken Rippers are a fun interactive way for our fans to enjoy our Bo Bites. Who doesn’t love ripping and dipping in any of our unique Southern-inspired dipping sauces?”

The choice of Martin's Sweet Party Potato Rolls is also strategic, leveraging a well-regarded supplier known for the soft, slightly sweet rolls that have become a favorite for high-end burgers and chicken sandwiches across the restaurant industry. The combination of seasoned, crispy chicken with a warm, yielding bun is central to the Rippers' appeal.

An Evolving Battlefield in the Chicken Wars

The introduction of Bo's Chicken Rippers comes as the so-called "chicken wars" evolve beyond the sandwich. While the battle for the best fried chicken sandwich dominated headlines for years, the industry is now seeing a surge in demand for boneless, portable, and versatile snack options. The U.S. fast-food chicken sector, which generated approximately $63.7 billion in annual revenue as of 2025, continues to outpace other segments, with chicken-centric chains seeing nearly 9% sales growth in 2024.

Bojangles' new sliders enter a crowded arena. Competitors like KFC have found success with chicken wraps and tenders-focused concepts, while Popeyes has also expanded into wraps. Even burger giants are pivoting, with McDonald's reintroducing Snack Wraps and Wendy's launching its own chicken tenders. The success of chains like Raising Cane's, which focuses exclusively on chicken fingers, underscores the powerful consumer demand for dippable, boneless chicken.

However, Bojangles appears to be aiming squarely at one competitor in particular: Chick-fil-A. Early online reviews have immediately drawn comparisons between Bo's Chicken Rippers and Chick-fil-A’s popular breakfast item, Chicken Minis. One food reviewer on YouTube called the Rippers a "straight up attack on Chick-fil-A," praising the soft bun and juicy, seasoned chicken, ultimately giving the product a perfect score. Bojangles holds a key strategic advantage: while Chicken Minis are a breakfast-only item, Bo’s Chicken Rippers are available throughout the day, and on Sundays, when Chick-fil-A is famously closed.

A Digital Drive for a New Generation

To amplify the launch, Bojangles is deepening its partnership with the gaming world, a strategy increasingly common among QSR brands looking to connect with younger, digitally-native audiences. The company is collaborating for a third year with popular content creator Joseph “JoeWo” Wohala, a Twitch streamer with over 774,000 followers known for his high-energy Call of Duty: Warzone gameplay.

Known to his fans as the “Movement King” for his agile in-game tactics, JoeWo’s persona is being cleverly tied to the "rip and dip" motion of the new Rippers. The partnership is more than just a name-drop; it includes a specific call to action. For a limited time, fans using the promo code "JOEWO" in the Bojangles app can receive a free Bo’s Chicken Rippers Combo, which includes a Mountain Dew, with the purchase of another combo. This not only drives app downloads and digital orders but also provides a measurable metric for the campaign's success.

“After living in North Carolina for a number of years, JoeWo became a big fan of Bojangles. As a gamer, JoeWo is known as the ‘Movement King,’ making him the perfect partner to rip and dip Bojangles’ new Bo’s Chicken Rippers,” noted Sam Warren, Vice President of Creative and Digital Marketing.

This collaboration exemplifies a broader marketing shift where authenticity and community engagement are paramount. By leveraging JoeWo's genuine connection to the brand and his influence within the massive gaming community, Bojangles aims to embed its product in digital culture.

Fueling a National Expansion Strategy

The launch of Bo’s Chicken Rippers is not just a standalone menu update; it’s a key piece of a much larger, aggressive growth strategy. Under CEO Jose Armario, who took the helm in 2019, Bojangles has embarked on a mission to transform from a beloved Southeastern institution into a national powerhouse.

The company has been pushing far beyond its Carolina roots, opening new locations in markets like Las Vegas, Houston, and Ohio, with plans to open an average of one new restaurant per week through the end of 2025. This rapid expansion requires a menu that can appeal to a broader American palate. While its bone-in chicken and scratch-made biscuits are legendary in the South, boneless, snackable items like the Rippers are seen as crucial for winning over customers in new territories.

This modernization effort extends beyond the menu. The company is rolling out new "Genesis" store prototypes featuring dual drive-thrus and has deployed "Bo-Linda," an AI-powered voice assistant, to nearly 500 drive-thrus to improve speed and efficiency. By innovating its food, marketing, and operations simultaneously, Bojangles is positioning itself not just to compete, but to redefine its brand for a new era of growth. The versatile Rippers—perfect as a snack, add-on, or full meal—are built to fuel that journey, one rip and dip at a time.