The new KFC chicken sandwich
KFC
KFC starts in 2021 entering the chicken sandwich wars.
The latest menu addition to the Yum Brands chain will replace Crispy Colonel’s sandwich in an effort to gain an edge over its rivals.
The contest began more than a year ago with the release of Popeyes ’version of the classic theme, which includes a crispy chicken on a buttery brioche bread with maya sauce or spicy Cajun sauce. Since its debut, the sandwich has helped drive double-digit sales growth in the same stores of Restaurant Brands International each quarter.
McDonald’s will enter the ring next month. They’re all trying to steal some of the momentum Chick-fil-A has seen in recent years, as it became the third-largest restaurant chain in terms of sales, behind McDonald’s and Starbucks.
Starting Thursday, the KFC sandwich is available at some Chicago, Kansas City, St. Louis restaurants. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Louisville, Kentucky, Sacramento, California and Tulsa, Oklahoma. By the end of February, it will be available nationwide at KFC’s 4,000 U.S. restaurants. The three McDonald’s chicken sandwiches will debut on February 24 across the United States
In the spring, KFC tested the sandwich in Orlando, Florida, and the item nearly doubled its original sales projections.
“Many customers hadn’t considered KFC as part of the chicken sandwich conversation, but anyone who tastes this sandwich will know, no doubt, that we’re playing to win,” said Andrea Zahumensky, head of marketing at KFC USA
The sandwich consists of a quarter-pound chicken breast fillet that has been made into double bread, a toasted brioche bread, pickles, and mayo or spicy sauce. The KFC version is similar in ingredients to those of Popeyes, McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A. They all use a battered steak, gingerbread and pickles. The main difference is the bread and frying method, which affects the texture and flavor.
Yum shares, which have a market value of $ 31.8 billion, have risen 3% in the last year. Although KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell have recovered quickly in the United States, their international locations have taken longer to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.