Published: Feb 17, 2023
by Gabrielle Pickard-Whitehead
In Small Business News
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Fans of popcorn chicken will be disappointed to learn that the popular bite-sized food is being discontinued by KFC.
KFC Franchises Getting Rid of Popcorn Chicken
There are also other items that KFC are removing from their menu as soon as current stocks run out. According to a report by The Takeout, the other items to be discontinued include Kentucky Fried Chicken Wings, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Nashville Hot Sauce and Strawberry Lemonade.
New Menus for KFC Franchises
It is not all bad news for popcorn chicken fans, as the official line from KFC is that the menu changes are aimed at freshening up the menus and offering ‘new, exciting additions’ throughout 2023.
The Takeout also notes that many franchise restaurants change their menus for a variety for reasons, including poor sales and supply chain issues such as those that occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic. For example, ‘pandemic-related operational shifts’ were responsible for the removal of 13 items from the Taco Bell menu in 2020, including the popular 7-Layer Burrito.
Strategic Menu Simplification
The Director of KFC U.S., Brittany Wilson, provided a statement on the discontinuation of menu items to The Takeout, saying: “We have strategically worked to simplify menu boards to make ordering easier for guests and create operational efficiencies for our restaurant team members.
“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. Though we are removing a few items, it will allow us to make room for some new, exciting additions to the menu in 2023.”
New Nugget Rumors Gather Pace
Rumors of popcorn chicken’s demise began early this year, as some customers noticed them disappearing from menus. At the same time, a new nugget product began being tested at KFC locations in Charlotte, New Carolina. It is widely assumed by KFC aficionados that this new nugget product will take popcorn chicken’s place on the menu, though there hasn’t yet been any official confirmation yet.
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Gabrielle Pickard-Whitehead is a professional freelance writer and journalist based in the United Kingdom. Since 2006, Gabrielle has been writing articles, blogs and news pieces for a diverse range of publications and sites. You can read “Gabrielle’s blog here.”.
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KFC, one of the most famous fast-food chains in the world, has recently announced that they are discontinuing their popular popcorn chicken dish. This move has been met with a variety of reactions, ranging from shock and sadness to understanding and support.
KFC’s popcorn chicken has been a favorite among many KFC customers for years, and was even considered an integral part of the chain’s identity. But the fast-food giant has talked about needing to make some changes in order to stay competitive in the industry, and it appears that the popcorn chicken dish was deemed to be the least profitable.
KFC franchisees have been welcoming the decision to get rid of the popcorn chicken. Many of them feel that the dish was too expensive to purchase and prepare, compared to other items on the menu. They also reported that customers simply weren’t ordering the popcorn chicken as frequently as they used to, which meant that it was becoming even more costly to keep on the menu.
While it may be sad news for some loyal popcorn chicken fans, the general consensus appears to be that this move may be necessary in order for KFC to remain profitable. KFC has promised to introduce new items to their menu in the coming months, in order to make up for the loss of the beloved dish. However, it looks like popcorn chicken fans may never get the chance to enjoy this classic KFC meal ever again.
