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Will 'Artisan Grilled Chicken' save McDonald's?

Customer favorites: Chick-Fil-A, Papa John's, DQ, Panera, Subway

"McDonald's sells more chicken than beef in the U.S.," and now struggling McDonald's Corp.'s U.S. stores "plan to roll out improvements to its grilled chicken," possibly under the "Artisan Grilled Chicken" label, over the next four weeks, reports Mark Kalinowski, chain-restaurant analyst for Philadelphia-based Janney Montgomery Scott. The improvements -- we don't have details -- would be designed to show more attractive chicken for sandwiches, salads and wraps.

Chicken is popular, but it's tough to ship, freeze, store and serve on a mass-production scale and have it still look appetizing. KFC and other chains known for burying bird parts in salty breading ("chicken-flavored doughnuts," to critics) have found it tough to make un-breaded chicken attractive to consumers.

Separately, Kalinowski notes this year's Temkin Experience Ratings rate Papa John's as the No. 2 "best customer experience" in fast food, with an 81% favorable rating among 10,000 U.S. consumers. No. 1 remains Chik-Fil-A, with an 82% favorable rating. Kalinowski says it's industry lore that Papa John set out years ago to be the Chick-Fil-A of Pizza.  Dairy Queen, Panera, Subway and Sonic were also high-rated. A little more here at FastCasual.com