Community News East Coast Wings + Grill Crowns Carolina Ranch the Winner of Its Fan Flavor Showdown
Brand Marks National Chicken Wing Day with Its New Carolina Ranch Flavor and Mascot Coop’s First Birthday
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (JULY 28, 2026) – East Coast Wings + Grill (“ECW+G”) today names Carolina Ranch the winner of its Fan Flavor Showdown, the guest-driven contest at the center of the brand’s summer-long Ultimate Wing Party campaign. After weeks of voting, Carolina Ranch outpaced finalists BBQ Peppercorn and Korean Thai to earn a permanent place on the menu this fall.
The three finalists went up for sale on the ECW+G app in May, with each order counting as a vote. After weeks of voting, Carolina Ranch pulled ahead as the clear favorite across locations.
Emma Campbell of Norwood, North Carolina, created Carolina Ranch, one of nearly 80 fan submissions to the showdown. Her pairing of sweet and bold BBQ with ECW+G’s signature ranch dressing became an early standout with guests.
“I came up with the flavor when I was eating BBQ boneless wings and dipping them in ranch. I thought if you combined everything together, it would make it easier to blend the flavors,” said Emma Campbell, a regular at the ECW+G Albemarle location, creator of Carolina Ranch. “My family and I love East Coast Wings + Grill, so it is really cool to have made my own flavor. Thank you to East Coast Wings + Grill and to everyone who tried my flavor!”
In celebration of National Chicken Wing Day on July 29, guests at participating locations can add the new Carolina Ranch flavor to any menu item at no extra charge.
Coop’s Birthday Celebration
National Chicken Wing Day also marks the first birthday of ECW+G mascot Coop, and participating locations will host birthday parties throughout the day. Celebrations include Kids Eat Free all day, birthday hats, stickers and themed activities for younger guests. The brand also has a few additional surprises, including a coupon for $7 off of an order of $35 or more given to all dine-in guests, valid for one week following the event. For those who want to host a party at home, use code WINGPARTY for $10 off an order of $50 dollars or more for an online order.
“Flavor has always been at the heart of who we are, and Carolina Ranch is a perfect example of that,” said Ashley Mitchell, VP of Marketing at ECW+G. “What makes this launch so exciting is that it wasn’t created in a test kitchen – it was inspired by one of our guests. That’s what makes this National Chicken Wing Day celebration so special. We’re not just introducing a new flavor; we’re celebrating the community that helped create it. We can’t wait for guests to experience Carolina Ranch alongside the 50 flavors that make every visit to East Coast Wings + Grill a chance to find your next favorite.”
To take part in the days’ festivities, visit an East Coast Wings + Grill location near you on National Chicken Wing Day, July 29. Download the app to try the winning flavor, guests can visit the Apple App Store or Google Play. For more information, visit eastcoastwings.com.
