Will people go to KFC for nonfried chicken?

Posted Feb 6th 2008 1:48PM by Zac Bissonnette
Filed under: Consumer Experience, Marketing and Advertising, Yum Brands (YUM)

Yum Brands (NYSE: YUM) has an exciting new plan to revive its sagging KFC chain: moving the emphasis away from fried chicken.

Now wait a minute you say: How can Kentucky FRIED CHICKEN possibly re-invent itself as what CEO hopes will be a "nonfried chicken platform."

I doubt that it can, although I understand the temptation. Fried chicken has become synonymous with poor health and KFC has tried to change that image by changing its name from Kentucky Fried Chicken to KFC.

Does Yum really think people are that stupid -- or that KFC will be able to re-establish itself as something other than a fried chicken joint? What's the point of even trying? That is KFC's brand. If you want to make it into a non-fried chicken restaurant, why not just start a new chain?

The fact is that KFC will in all probability sink or swim as a fried chicken restaurant -- radical reinventions of brands that are synonymous with one product almost never work.

Yum is trying to turn hula hoops into Furby's.

Tags: advertising, chicken, colonel sanders, ColonelSanders, fast food, FastFood, fried chicken, FriedChicken, KFC, Yum

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-06-2008 @ 2:02PM

guytch said...

I agree that it will be a great challenge for Yum!
However, I do not believe it is so radical. For sure, the company has built its image around tasteful greasy chicken... but its not reinventing itself into a premium salad bar... they still cann offer tasteful chicken... without the greasy!