KFC is saying goodbye to some of its most beloved food items, and fans are not exactly thrilled about the menu shakeup.
It’s bad news for many customers, but KFC has announced the removal of five menu products this year as it undergoes a menu simplification transformation.
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The discontinued items include the Kentucky Fried Chicken Wings, Popcorn Chicken Combo, Nashville Hot Sauce, Strawberry Lemonade and Chocolate Chip Cookies.
“We have strategically worked to simplify menu boards to make ordering easier for guests and create operational efficiencies for our restaurant team members,” Brittany Wilson, the director of KFC U.S., said, according to Food & Wine.
Wilson said the chain took a deep look at the mix of its menu to see which consolidation would make the most sense, officially rolling out its new menu boards in November.
“Though we are removing a few items, it will allow us to make room for some new, exciting additions to the menu in 2023,” Wilson continued.
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The affected menu items tended to be those that already weren’t offered at every KFC location across the country or sales were below where they needed to be.
Of course, many fans are shocked to see their favorites leave, especially the Popcorn Chicken.
But the reasoning for the menu simplification lies in the hope it will make kitchens more efficient.
Some KFC restaurants have even reported cutting drive-thru times by 11 seconds as the menu changes take effect.
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It is unclear yet if KFC will be replacing the discontinued items with any new food creations, but at least in the South, new items are in the midst of testing.
So far, hand-breaded chicken nuggets are underway in stores in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the brand has also said two new chicken sandwiches are being sold in Tampa, Florida.
The new creations include the BBQ KFC Chicken Sandwich and the Spicy Slaw Chicken Sandwich.
“This limited test of the Ultimate BBQ and Spicy Slaw chicken sandwiches is part of a continued commitment to giving customers more of what they want,” Nick Chavez, the chief marketing officer for KFC U.S., said, Food & Wine reported.
“We know our customers are looking for new, distinctive sandwich options, and the Ultimate BBQ and Spicy Slaw offer flavor variety that builds on classic KFC ingredients.”
He added fans of spicy foods will especially be impressed by the Spicy Slaw Sandwich.
The fast food innovation occurs after KFC introduced its wraps nationwide: the Classic Chicken Wrap and Spicy Slaw Chicken Wrap.
The BBQ KFC Chicken Sandwich is a Honey BBQ topped extra crispy filet sandwich with fried onions, hickory smoked bacon, melted cheese, and pickles.
The Spicy Slaw Chicken Sandwich meanwhile has coleslaw, pickles, and spicy mayo.
Both of the sandwiches come on brioche buns and can be ordered as part of a combo.
Previously, KFC, Popeyes, Chick-fil-A, Burger King and McDonald’s seemed to be in the middle of a “chicken sandwich war” as each chain began launching their own premium chicken handhelds.
“The chicken sandwich has experienced huge growth since its launch, and we’re excited about its first extension,” Chavez previously told Food & Wine. “Our goal is to accelerate the innovation pipeline to achieve more relevance among younger consumers.
Part of appealing to younger customers lies in offering more boneless chicken options such as chicken nuggets as well as meals that are easily eaten on the go.
"So many younger consumers are not interested in eating chicken on the bone, for whatever reason they choose," Chris Scott, head chef at KFC U.S, said last year.
Last quarter, KFC reported same-store sales of 5 percent, which narrowly beat analysts’ predictions of 4.84 percent.
KFC operates nearly 4,000 KFC restaurants nationwide.
FAST FOOD INNOVATION
Restaurants have increasingly fought to stay relevant to the American consumer amid times of increasing inflation.
To do this, many have launched new food products.
Shake Shack unveiled its new White Truffle menu lineup, which includes a white truffle burger topped with crispy sweet onions plus a crispy fried mushroom white truffle burger and parmesan truffle fries.
Going along with this offering, the burger chain is offering a fine dining experience with a $20 prixe fixe meal.
“We can’t wait to test this new fine dining experience with our guests to honor one of the most exquisite and luxurious ingredients in our pantry, the white truffle,” said John Karangis, Shake Shack’s executive chef and vice president of culinary innovation.
Burger King has also decided to test two new snacks, the Mozzarella Fries and Churro fries, at select locations in Columbus, Ohio.
Like mozzarella sticks, Burger King’s Mozzarella Fries have the cheese covered in fry-shaped, crispy dough cylinders, and each order comes with marinara dipping sauce.
Meanwhile, the Churro fries are pastry dough coated in cinnamon.
Customers will be able to buy the fries in specific locations until mid-May.
FAST FOOD SAVINGS
There are several ways you can go about getting savings the next time you place a fast food order, but becoming a loyalty rewards member is likely to net you the best savings.
Loyalty programs provide exclusive deals not available to the general public.
KFC, for instance, has a gamified rewards program available on their app, so customers can continue to earn rewards and points they can later apply to food items.
Wendy's is another chain in which rewards members earn plenty of freebies, including a free junior bacon cheeseburger with the purchase of medium or large fries.
Make sure to check the rewards programs on your birthday because many chains will present you with a birthday coupon or full meal for free.
Chick-fil-A, for instance, will offer you one free cookie for your birthday, but each restaurant varies in their deals.
You can also browse through third-party delivery apps, which offer special deals or free items with a purchase as well.
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Another fast food giant, Subway, made news this week for launching electric vehicle charging stations across the country.
Meanwhile, Starbucks launched a new drink line with an unusual ingredient – olive oil.
