USA Today reported that Kentucky Fried Chicken is cutting back on its menu by getting rid of five popular items. The fast food chain is doing this to give customers more choices. But one fan favorite is set to make a triumphant return.
After a hiatus that lasted nearly a decade, KFC is bringing back the Double Down Sandwich — a bacon and cheese sandwich that uses two chicken patties for its buns.
The sandwich is set to return to KFC locations nationwide March 6, according to a press release from the fast-food chain. It will be served for only four weeks.
“The Double Down is one of the most buzzworthy fast food menu items ever,” KFC US Chief Marketing Officer Nick Chavez said in a statement. “After nearly a decade of people begging for its return, were embracing the chaos, bringing back our most iconic sandwich ever for just four weeks. “.
The Double Down will be back for a short time, but other KFC classics have gone their separate ways.
In November, KFC menus across the country got rid of popcorn chicken, Kentucky fried chicken wings, Nashville hot sauce, strawberry lemonade, and chocolate chip cookies.
In an interview with USA Today, KFC US director Brittany Wilson said the changes should make ordering easier for customers.
“Weve narrowed down options for customers, making it easier for them to decide what to order and focusing on menu items that we do best,” she said.
The new menus are being rolled out nationwide, Fox Business reported, and will provide space for new ideas at the longstanding fast food chain.
“We took a deep look at the mix of the menu to see where consolidation would make sense, and we rolled out new menu boards in November 2022,” Wilson told Fox. “Though we are removing a few items, it will allow us to make room for some new, exciting additions to the menu in 2023.”
As a fast food fan, I was disappointed when KFC’s delicious popcorn chicken suddenly vanished from menus. This bite-sized, crispy, breadcrumb-coated treat had been a staple for years, making its abrupt absence quite noticeable. Curious and a bit heartbroken, I decided to investigate the mysterious behind-the-scenes story of this cult-favorite menu item.
A Sudden, Unexplained Disappearance
One day I went to my local KFC and discovered the popcorn chicken combo was just…gone. No sign of it anywhere on those glowing menu boards. I asked the cashier what happened, and they didn’t seem to have an answer. I searched online to see if others were as confused as I was and sure enough, lots of disappointed customers were asking What happened to the popcorn chicken?
KFC offered no explanation about the removal. Social media channels simply indicated it was no longer available. As someone who had ordered popcorn chicken every week for years, its sudden disappearance made me feel betrayed. If KFC had seen what it did wrong and brought this classic back for good, maybe everyone would have been okay with it. But that’s not what happened next.
The Sporadic Reappearance as a Limited Time Offer
After what felt like an eternity of popcorn chicken drought I nearly leapt out of my seat when I saw those beautiful little fried nuggets reappear gloriously on KFC’s menu. However, the excitement was short-lived when I realized its comeback was only for a limited time.
Puff-a-boo was a game that popcorn chicken played with us for a few years. They would show up on menus for a short time to impress us, then disappear again. KFC didn’t say why; they just used the common ad phrases “back by popular demand” and “for a limited time only!” to market it.
This strategic bait-and-switch tactic left me resentful. KFC knew I would love popcorn chicken because it tasted so good. The company created a sense of scarcity and urgency by making it available only sometimes, probably to boost sales. Even though I tried not to, I couldn’t help but crave those crunchy treats every time they showed up.
Experiencing the Regional Inconsistency
The sporadic availability of popcorn chicken became even more confusing when I realized it wasn’t completely gone from all restaurants. Although my local KFCs acted as if it never existed, I started noticing some outlets still carried it, even keeping it as part of their regular menu.
It was clear that KFC chose to stop selling popcorn chicken in some markets but keep it in others. There didn’t seem to be a clear reason why some areas were given more access to popcorn chicken. Its presence seemed inconsistent and arbitrary.
This only added to the feeling of unfairness and mystery surrounding the decision. If popcorn chicken could still be found at some KFC locations, why not make it universally available? Alas, KFC wasn’t accepting questions.
Examining the Business Strategy Behind the Madness
Since KFC wasn’t providing any clues, I decided to dig deeper and examine the potential business strategy driving this popcorn chicken rollercoaster. After researching tactics commonly used in the fast food industry, a few likely explanations emerged.
First, it’s possible KFC wanted to simplify operations and minimize costs. Popcorn chicken requires labor-intensive breading and frying processes. Its removal may have increased efficiency in the kitchen. However, if cost savings was the only goal, why keep popcorn chicken at certain locations?
Next, it seems obvious KFC intentionally uses limited-time marketing to create a sense of urgency and excitement around popcorn chicken’s return, hoping to drive profit. This approach allows them to enjoy the sales spike associated with ‘hot’ featured items while retaining a streamlined permanent menu.
Finally, the regional variations suggest KFC tests popcorn chicken in select markets and bases broader decisions on those results. The sporadic nature of its availability hints that popcorn chicken’s long-term fate remains undecided. KFC likely continues evaluating its performance, trying to determine if a permanent comeback is warranted.
Reflecting on the Future of This Beloved Menu Item
As a longtime popcorn chicken enthusiast, I hold out hope that KFC will opt to return it to menus universally and permanently. However, the company shows no signs of abandoning the maddening limited-time strategy anytime soon.
I may never fully understand the rationale behind popcorn chicken’s ever-changing availability. But I’ll be first in line to order it whenever it magically reappears near me. Here’s hoping the fast food gods eventually take mercy and give us back our crunchy, bite-sized prize on a permanent basis. A popcorn chicken lover can dream!
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There were some new items at the fast food chain in the past few weeks, but she didn’t name them. On February 6, KFC announced it would add Kentucky Fried Chicken Wraps to the menu nationwide.
According to a press release from the chain, the wraps were mentioned more than 42,000 times on social media following a test run in Atlanta.
“Wraps fans have been begging for fried chicken wraps to come back, and we listened with our new finger-lickin’ good KFC Wraps,” said Nick Chavez, US chief marketing officer. “Two KFC Wraps for $5 is a steal. Whether you crave a Classic Chicken Wrap or are looking to turn up the heat with Spicy Slaw, weve got you covered. “.
Still, for some on social media, it will take time to adjust to the reduced menu.
“Why not drop the unpopular items and keep the popular ones?” one person tweeted.
“No popcorn chicken? So whats that mean for the famous bowl?!” another chimed in.
KFC Popcorn Chicken – The Icon Is Back
FAQ
Did they get rid of popcorn chicken at KFC?
Popcorn chicken has been discontinued due to low or no production of the product. Hopefully it’s not permanent.
Does KFC still have popcorn?
In 2020, KFC simplified its menu to get back to the core of fried chicken, sandwiches, and tenders. The smaller menu meant a lot of fan favorites were axed—including the OG Famous Bowl, which was made with popcorn chicken.
Where can I buy KFC popcorn chicken?
THIS PRODUCT IS AVAILABLE AT. YOUR LOCAL KFC AND FOR DELIVERY. We’ll bring you finger-lickin’ chicken if you order ahead and pick it up in the restaurant or if you order delivery.
What KFC items are being discontinued?
LIST OF KFC DISCONTINUED MENU ITEMSKentucky Roast Beef (1968-1970)Little Bucket Parfaits (1969-2012)Country Style Barbecue Ribs (1975-1982)Kentucky Nuggets (1981-2004)Country Fried Steak (1984-1988)Chicken Littles Original (1986-1989)Hot Wings (1990-2019)Popcorn Chicken (1992-2023).