Latest news with #CatherineTan-Gillespie
Economic Times
21 hours ago
- Business
- Economic Times
KFC brings back potato wedges nationwide after five-year absence
KFC will reintroduce potato wedges to its US menu nationwide on August 18, alongside the return of Hot & Spicy Wings. The move follows strong customer demand and a successful test launch earlier this year in Tampa, Florida KFC announced it will bring back potato wedges nationwide on August 18 after a five-year absence. The company said the decision follows strong customer demand and feedback during a limited test earlier this year. 'Wedge-lovers, we heard you, and we agree it's been five long years without wedges. But the wait is over,' said Catherine Tan-Gillespie, President, KFC US, in a written statement. 'This isn't just a nostalgic nod. It's an example of how we're turning feedback into action as we chart our Kentucky Fried Comeback, a bold, brand-wide rally to give people more reasons to fall in love with us all over again.' Also read: KFC Australia launches Zinger Kebab nationwide for limited timeJoining potato wedges on the national menu are KFC's Hot & Spicy Wings. According to the company, the wings are prepared with a spicy marinade and double hand-breading in KFC's Extra Crispy flour, offering 'just the right amount of kick' and pairing with the 'crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside wedges.'Prices and participation for both menu items will vary by location, and the products will be available while supplies last. KFC removed potato wedges from its US menu in 2020. Earlier this year, the company reintroduced them for a two-week test in five Tampa, Florida, restaurants. 'Many factors go into selecting test markets, including representation of national QSR consumer trends for gauging customer feedback,' a KFC spokesperson said in an email to Southern Living at the company said any nationwide rollout would depend on the success of the Tampa test. In March 2025, a KFC spokesperson said potato wedges were among the chain's most requested items. 'Fans have been demanding and petitioning for them to return for five years,' the spokesperson stated.
21 hours ago
- Business
KFC brings back potato wedges and spicy wings by fan demand
KFC is answering fans' calls with the return of two beloved items. The fast food chain announced Monday that its popular Potato Wedges and top-rated Hot & Spicy Wings will be back by overwhelming demand starting Aug. 18 at KFC locations nationwide, according to a press release. Potato Wedges, introduced in the mid-1990s and a fan favorite through the late 1990s and early 2000s, were controversially discontinued in 2020. After five years, they're making a highly anticipated comeback. Meanwhile, Hot & Spicy Wings, known for their spicy marinade and double hand-breading in KFC's signature Extra Crispy flour, are returning after nearly two years. Both items will be available while supplies last. In a statement, KFC U.S. President Catherine Tan-Gillespie explained that the return of the Potato Wedges is a direct result of customer feedback. "Wedge-lovers, we heard you -- and we agree it's been five long years without wedges. But the wait is over," she said. "This isn't just a nostalgic nod. It's an example of how we're turning feedback into action as we chart our Kentucky Fried Comeback, a bold, brand-wide rally to give people more reasons to fall in love with us all over again." Customers can enjoy the wedges on their own, swap any side for wedges, or try the new six-piece Wings & Wedges combo, which includes a medium drink. For fry lovers, Secret Recipe Fries will still be available, the press release stated. Additionally, with back-to-school routines starting and football season kicking off, KFC is serving up several other crave-worthy deals: $3.99 KFC Chicken Sandwich: An Extra Crispy chicken filet on a toasted brioche bun with pickles and mayo or spicy mayo (available starting Aug. 18). $20 Wings & Wedges Fan Favorites Box: This box comes with 10 Hot & Spicy Wings, 12 Chicken Nuggets, Potato Wedges, four biscuits and four dipping sauces (available starting Aug. 18). 20 Wings for $20: Twenty Hot & Spicy Wings and four dipping sauces for just $20 (available starting Sept. 4 -- KFC digital exclusive). $10 Tuesdays: Get eight pieces of classic fried chicken or Original Recipe Tenders for just $10 every Tuesday.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
KFC brings back potato wedges nationwide after five-year absence
KFC announced it will bring back potato wedges nationwide on August 18 after a five-year absence. The company said the decision follows strong customer demand and feedback during a limited test earlier this year. 'Wedge-lovers, we heard you, and we agree it's been five long years without wedges. But the wait is over,' said Catherine Tan-Gillespie, President, KFC US, in a written statement. 'This isn't just a nostalgic nod. It's an example of how we're turning feedback into action as we chart our Kentucky Fried Comeback , a bold, brand-wide rally to give people more reasons to fall in love with us all over again.' Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass Batch-1 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 2 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 3 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals By Vaibhav Sisinity View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 4 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Also read: KFC Australia launches Zinger Kebab nationwide for limited time by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: 1 simple trick to get all TV channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo Joining potato wedges on the national menu are KFC's Hot & Spicy Wings. According to the company, the wings are prepared with a spicy marinade and double hand-breading in KFC's Extra Crispy flour, offering 'just the right amount of kick' and pairing with the 'crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside wedges.' Prices and participation for both menu items will vary by location, and the products will be available while supplies last. Live Events KFC removed potato wedges from its US menu in 2020. Earlier this year, the company reintroduced them for a two-week test in five Tampa, Florida, restaurants. 'Many factors go into selecting test markets, including representation of national QSR consumer trends for gauging customer feedback,' a KFC spokesperson said in an email to Southern Living at the time. The company said any nationwide rollout would depend on the success of the Tampa test. In March 2025, a KFC spokesperson said potato wedges were among the chain's most requested items. 'Fans have been demanding and petitioning for them to return for five years,' the spokesperson stated.
Business Insider
03-08-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
KFC lost its footing in the Chicken Wars. Now it's gunning for a 'Kentucky Fried Comeback.'
KFC may be down, but it wants you to know it's not out. The legacy fried chicken chain has faced slumping sales and increased competition, lagging behind its rivals in foot traffic and catching flak for being voted among the worst fast-food chicken chains. The company's new leadership team is digging in for a full-blown fried fowl revival with the launch of its "Kentucky Fried Comeback" campaign on July 14, which aims to reclaim KFC's former fast-food fame. "It feels like every competitor wants to be in the fried chicken space, including our sister brands. So it is the place to be," Catherine Tan-Gillespie, president of KFC US, told Business Insider. "But, like many legacy and incumbent brands, we've kind of lost a bit of ground — we hadn't lost our grit, but we had lost a bit of ground." Tan-Gillespie, a 10-year KFC veteran who previously served as its Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Development Officer, was named President of KFC US, effective April 1. Alongside the chain's new CEO, Scott Mezvinsky, who was appointed to the role in January, Tan-Gillespie is aiming to rejuvenate the 72-year-old chicken chain. In the first week of the comeback promotion, driven by a deal offering a free 8-piece meal with a $15 purchase, Tan-Gillespie said the company had seen "a record-breaking surge in KFC Rewards sign-ups and app downloads, plus unprecedented digital traffic," including the chain's "biggest week ever for digital sales and digital transactions." "This is just the beginning of our comeback," Tan-Gillespie said. "And we couldn't be more excited about what's ahead." The 'Kentucky Fried Comeback' In total sales, KFC has, for more than a decade, trailed competitors like Chick-fil-A and Popeyes. In June, it lost its third-place footing to the relative newcomer Raising Cane's, a 28-year-old chain that CNBC reported ballooned past $5.1 billion in sales in 2024. In the same period, the Colonel's annual same-store sales decreased for the fifth quarter in a row. The American Customer Satisfaction Index found that KFC also posted poor consumer satisfaction results, slipping 5% in 2024. Earlier this month, Yelp released a ranking of the top 20 chicken chains serving chicken sandwiches nationwide, and KFC came in 18th place among consumers. The legacy chain didn't break the top 5 in any region across the US. The chicken chain's first phase of its comeback plan features a new addition — fried pickles — to its expansive menu, which currently includes buckets, bowls, and combo meals of its fried chicken, as well as adjacent offerings like pot pies, waffles, tenders, nuggets, and sandwiches. While the chain bets on new menu innovations, it's also pushing a nostalgic vibe, with a resurgence of the chain's figurehead, the Colonel, in marketing materials. Matty Matheson, the Canadian celebrity chef known for his role in the acclaimed Hulu series "The Bear," will likewise star in a series of ads promoting the fried chicken chain. Though Matheson is a burgeoning icon for Gen Z fans, Tan-Gillespie said his work as a spokesperson isn't about bridging a generational divide among KFC's consumers. "We don't tend to think too much in sort of ages, I think we're a brand for everybody," she said. Instead, Matheson "was just a perfect pairing" for the brand. Though details have yet to be formally announced, Tan-Gillespie said to expect a series of forthcoming renovations to KFC's restaurants, which will give the chain a physical facelift to support its reinvigorated brand identity. "It may not be exactly super, super sexy, but it's very simple: it's listening to what our customers want and giving it to them," Tan-Gillespie told BI. A promising strategy — if it's played right R.J. Hottovy, head of analytical research at the location intelligence and foot traffic data software firm, told Business Insider that the menu changes, free chicken promotion, and the new marketing campaign should help boost brand awareness in the short term, but it's a long road for KFC to restore its place in the chicken chain pecking order. "The category remains fiercely competitive, and a true comeback will ultimately require more substantial enhancements to its menu, marketing, and real estate strategies," Hottovy said. data recorded during the week of July 14th — which marked the launch of the comeback campaign — showed foot traffic at KFC locations nationwide down 0.1% compared to last year. While still a dip, that's a marked improvement from the week prior, when visits were down 2.7% year-over-year, suggesting the turnaround might just be starting to sizzle. Michael Della Penna, the chief strategy officer of the digital advertising and real-time marketing firm, InMarket, told Business Insider that KFC's relaunch, which builds on initiatives the brand has been promoting over the last year, is "doing a couple of things really right." The chain recently relaunched its 2000-era meal deals — rightly, Della Penna said, since combo meals are proven to be successful in terms of driving purchases — and new sauce-forward chicken tenders capitalize on "the hot and spicy craze" popularized by Gen Z, broadening KFC's appeal to younger audiences. Matthew Barry, Euromonitor International's Global Insight Manager of Food, Cooking, and Meals, told Business Insider that loyalty programs are also a big incentive for customers, making it a good move by KFC to lean in. "That locks customers in to get to those values," Barry said. "And that does not necessarily mean the cheapest thing. When I go out in this climate and I spend the money, the question is: Am I getting value for it? Because if I'm going to go out, it's got to be worth it for me." With consumers more price-conscious and with more options than ever, KFC has to ensure it is attractive to the broadest possible audience while maintaining the reputation that helped grow it to over 30,000 restaurants around the world, Usha Haley, chair in international business and professor of management at the Barton School of Business at Wichita State University, told Business Insider. "Brands need to maintain their legacy image while simultaneously appealing to a younger audience," Haley said."Tread carefully is the advice I give."
Newsweek
17-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
KFC Announces Major Change to Menu
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has announced a significant update to its U.S. menu with the introduction of fried pickles alongside a nationwide promotion offering free buckets of chicken to eligible customers. The campaign, branded as the "Kentucky Fried Comeback," aims to reestablish KFC's position in the highly competitive fast-food chicken market. "They're trying to win back the American customer by offering an incentive to get them back in the store," one expert told Newsweek. Why It Matters KFC has faced increased competition from other chicken-focused fast-food brands, prompting operational improvements and menu innovations. The menu changes follow KFC's efforts to address customer feedback on quality and taste and signal a renewed focus on flavor and trend-forward offerings. The KFC corporate logo is displayed on a sign at their restaurant on January 31, 2025 in San Diego, California. The KFC corporate logo is displayed on a sign at their restaurant on January 31, 2025 in San Diego, to Know KFC's new fried pickles can be ordered as a side and are paired with the brand's Comeback Sauce or ranch dressing, KFC said in its release. Additionally, the company reintroduced its $7 Fill Ups meal deals. To further entice customers, KFC is providing a free bucket of eight pieces of chicken or tenders to customers who spend at least $15 through the KFC app or website and are members of the KFC Rewards program. The company is urging customers to "try our chicken, tell us what you think and help co-create this comeback." "We're well aware of the latest fried chicken rankings, and I'm fired up to launch a bold Kentucky Fried Comeback and remind America exactly who we are," Catherine Tan-Gillespie, President of KFC U.S., said in the company's press release. "If people can give their ex a million second chances, I hope our fans can give us one." KFC's "Comeback Era" leverages nostalgia by putting Colonel Sanders front and center in advertising, now with a more serious expression reflecting the company's "relentless pursuit of the best fried chicken." "KFC is seeing a drop in revenue, with a reported 1 percent decline in same-store sales in the U.S. from the year prior," Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. "They're trying to win back the American customer by offering an incentive to get them back in the store." Newsweek reached out to KFC for comment via email. WalletHub writer and analyst Chip Lupo said the 'Kentucky Fried Comeback' couldn't come at a more critical time for the brand. With fast food prices rising 47 percent over the past decade, many Americans, particularly in states like Kentucky, Mississippi, and New Mexico are feeling the financial strain of what used to be an affordable indulgence, he said. In Kentucky alone, residents spend nearly 0.5 percent of their monthly income on just one fast-food meal for the family, according to WalletHub. What People Are Saying Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: "This strategy isn't new. They want people to sign up for their rewards program to access a "free chicken bucket" deal. This is nothing more than classic data mining in my opinion. Companies have finally caught on that customer data is the new gold." Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "KFC's decision to give out 'free' buckets of chicken should come as no surprise. The fast food chain has fallen behind in market share in recent years to some of its other chicken-centric rivals that continue to add locations and gain customers. The deal is unlike some of the others we've seen fast food chains employ, as it doesn't deal with just a cheaper price but rather has a spending threshold of $15 customers must reach before the free bucket is earned." WalletHub writer and analyst Chip Lupo told Newsweek: "This comeback strategy, including free buckets and $7 meal deals, is a smart response to growing price sensitivity and KFC's sagging market share. These kinds of promotions can help re-establish value for consumers who are increasingly questioning whether the speed and convenience of fast food are still worth the cost." What Happens Next The free chicken bucket offer is available for a limited time to customers using KFC's digital ordering channels. Fried pickles will only be available while supplies last. The campaign is part of broader efforts to enhance menu variety, modernize restaurant technology, and attract a new generation of customers, as the brand continues to focus on trend-forward menu innovations and operational improvements. But analysts say some of the push could also be in the data rewards programs that customers can gain from once they join. "They're betting customers will jump at the freebie and join the rewards program," Thompson said. "Once they have your data, they can study your habits, tailor their ads, and figure out exactly how to pull you back in. This is the game now. Fast food isn't just about food anymore—it's about tracking behavior."
