National fast-food chains Carl's Jr. and Hardee's launched the new charbroiled Atlantic cod fish sandwich Wednesday with a little help from a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model.
The sister brands are the first national quick-service chains to offer a charbroiled fish sandwich - not battered and deep fried, according to the company. The new offering is 420 calories and is available now at all Carl's Jr. restaurants and at all Hardee's locations starting Feb. 4. It will retail for $3.99.
The sandwich includes a charbroiled Atlantic cod fillet, tartar sauce, sliced tomato and lettuce, all served on a honey wheat bun.
"For almost half-a-century, whenever fast food customers wanted to get a fish sandwich during Lent, they had one choice; fried," said Brad Haley, chief marketing officer for Carl's Jr. and Hardee's. "With our new charbroiled Atlantic cod fish sandwich, we've changed all that. For the first time in the industry, our guests can get a premium-quality fish sandwich that tastes great and is lower in calories because we charbroil it just like we do our burgers. As we found when we introduced the first line of charbroiled turkey burgers more than two years ago, people are ready for lighter fare as long as they don't have to sacrifice flavor."
Swimsuit model Nina Agdal stars in the commercials for the new sandwich. The commercial will air during the Super Bowl broadcast Sunday or check out the behind-the-scenes video below:
