Restaurant Bases Expansion Plans On Success Of Its “Doughboys”

Saratoga Springs (N.Y.) restaurant Esperanto has signed wholesale distribution deals to bring its popular “doughboy” cheese-and-chicken-stuffed pockets to convenience stores, entertainment venues, and college campuses. The restaurant says it already sells hundreds of thousands of doughboys a year and is planning to acquire more space so it can ramp up production to more than a million. Expansion began when convenience store chain Stewart’s Shops started carrying the product in 12 of its stores. Doughboys contain sautéed diced chicken breast, cheeses, and scallions baked in pizza dough. Gluten-free and vegetarian versions are available as well. Says owner William Pouch: “People are going nuts over the product."[Image Credit: © Esperanto Restaurant]