Publix is getting into the chicken sandwich craze. When and where can you get one?

Publix is often identified as a Florida institution — and it is, with headquarters in Lakeland and more than 63% of its 1,333 stores in the Sunshine State.

Perhaps Publix wants to showcase it has 55 locations in Tennessee, too, because the grocery chain announced this week the coming debut of a limited edition Publix Deli Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich.

Or, as the retailer touts, “our take on the Tennessee specialty.”

The tangy Music City version at Publix joins what seems a chicken craze in the U.S.

Chicken sales were up more than 13%, over $15 billion in 2022, according to figures from IRI, a consumer analytics company. Growth for spicy prepared chicken and chicken sandwiches is forecast through 2023, according to industry tracker The National Provisioner’s 2023 Poultry Report.

“Chicken is going to be in a magical world next year,” Chris DuBois, IRI executive vice president, told National Provisioner in January. “We’re going to sell a lot of chicken here in the U.S.”

And Florida wants in.

The state has seen a rush of out-of-town fast food restaurants specializing in chicken, including in Miami-Dade and Broward. Basketball great Shaquille O’Neal is bringing his Big Chicken restaurant to Orlando later in 2023.

And fowl is no stranger to Pub Subs as any chicken tender devotee can attest. But for a couple of months, Publix deli counters will be awash with the piquant poultry sauce of the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich.

What’s in a Publix Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich?

According to the chain’s announcement, Publix makes its new Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich using the supermarket’s familiar chicken tenders as the base. These morsels are marinated in spices, breaded and fried, then glazed with a sauce that features garlic, cayenne pepper and brown sugar. The blend is then set between two slices of King’s Hawaiian bread, and a pickle goes atop.

“Since Nashville hot chicken has become a trend on restaurant menus, Publix did its homework to make sure the sandwich had the most authentic flavors. After creating the recipe, the category team and a company chef traveled up to Nashville to sample the best hot chicken local restaurants had to offer to make sure our version hit the mark,” Publix’s corporate office said in the announcement.

But Publix chefs opted to not make the sandwich too spicy. Instead, “they landed on a tangy profile,” the company said. They had practice.

In 2022, Publix introduced the Nashville hot chicken flavoring to an eight-piece fried chicken meal at its stores. This new version applies the sauce to the chicken tenders.

When can you get the new sandwich?

The Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich, available at the deli counter where you get your Pub Subs, will be sold April 1 to June 30.

The price is expected to be about $7.