KFC gambling on chicken that is grilled, not fried
AP
By BRUCE SCHREINER, Associated Press Writer Bruce Schreiner, Associated Press Writer – Tue Apr 14, 6:09 pm ET
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Would KGC ever have the same ring?
In a culinary gambit backed by buckets of big money, KFC is hoping to replicate its founder's recipe for success with the national introduction of Kentucky Grilled Chicken.
This week's rollout is KFC's most ambitious attempt to win over health-conscious customers as the chain known worldwide for fried chicken tries to reinvigorate lackluster U.S. sales.
"It's going to get people who haven't eaten KFC for a long time to come back into our restaurants," said KFC President Roger Eaton. "It's going to get people who have never eaten KFC to come into our restaurants."
Eaton says he spent years as part of the team tinkering with a grilled alternative, and the rollout follows KFC's longest market test ever. It will be backed by a marketing blitz.
Grilled chicken items are staples at some KFC competitors. McDonald's Corp. offers grilled chicken in sandwiches and wraps, and says chicken sales "continue to be extremely good." McDonald's has also recently been emphasizing its new Southern Style Crispy Chicken sandwich, which is fried. Chick-fil-A says its Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich "continues to grow rapidly" as part of a menu offering "balanced choices" for customers.
KFC's slow-grilled chicken drew strong reviews from the lunchtime crowd Monday at a KFC restaurant in Louisville, the chain's hometown. Eddie Collard proclaimed grilled better than fried.
"I think the colonel would be happy," Collard said of KFC founder Colonel Harland Sanders.
Like its predecessor, Kentucky Grilled Chicken has its own secret recipe. The original copy of the recipe — a blend of six herbs and spices — will be kept in an electronic safe at company headquarters. It will sit alongside Sanders' handwritten recipe of 11 herbs and spices coating the chain's Original Recipe fried chicken.
The difference is in the nutritional numbers.
KFC says each piece of its grilled chicken has 70 to 180 calories and four to nine grams of fat. By contrast, the Original Recipe items have between 110 and 370 calories and 7 to 21 grams of fat, depending on the piece. The grilled chicken contains from 160 to 440 milligrams of sodium per piece, as opposed to 290 to 1,050 milligrams of sodium per piece of Original Recipe chicken.
Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington-based advocate for nutrition and health, called the grilled introduction a "major step in the right direction."
While applauding the reduction in sodium, Jacobson said the 440 milligrams listed by KFC in a grilled chicken breast still amounts to more than one-fourth the amount that someone middle aged or older should consume daily.
KFC has launched non-fried chicken before, but each prior initiative flopped. In the early 1990s, it introduced a rotisserie-style chicken that fell by the wayside due to equipment problems and long cooking times. A tender roast product followed but lasted only a couple of years.
Eaton said the difference this time is partly in the cooking process. Chicken is cooked on grill racks in custom-designed ovens in a patented process that takes about 20 minutes per batch.
The grilled chicken rollout is offered only at KFC stores in the United States, though Eaton said the product may eventually expand to international markets.
KFC had 5,166 U.S. stores at the end of 2008. All but about 100 franchise stores are selling grilled chicken, the company said. Some stores couldn't fit the oven into their kitchens, and in other cases franchisees opted not to sell the product, the company said.
KFC won't say how much the ovens cost, but Eaton said the company helped franchisees with the expense and would have made such an investment only if it was "incredibly confident about the outcome."
Larry Miller, a restaurant analyst with RBC Capital Markets, said expanding beyond its fried staple offers a huge opportunity for KFC. But perceptions won't be easy to change.
"They still have the credibility barrier to overcome," Miller said. While achievable, "it's tough when your name has 'fried' in the middle."
In late 2008, Yum Brands Inc. Chairman and CEO David C. Novak said KFC had been a drag on the company's U.S. performance while sister brands Pizza Hut and Taco Bell had a good year.
Miller said this week that Yum would hit "the trifecta" if it turns around KFC's U.S. sales.
Mike Ash, who ate a grilled chicken lunch at the Louisville KFC, remembered the rotisserie chicken as "mushy and bland." He liked the new grilled offering, having picked it to the bone.
He said he might be more apt to pick up a bucket of chicken on his way home, though he predicted he might still "fall off the wagon every now and then" and choose the fried option.
The grilled chicken will cost the same as Original Recipe chicken. KFC will offer customers a free piece of grilled chicken on April 27.
But the push for grilled chicken doesn't mean KFC is abandoning its roots, Eaton said. The chain is testing new fried chicken products, and remains committed to its core product.
"It would be incredibly arrogant to think we could create a product that could supersede Original Recipe chicken," Eaton said. "But this product is easily good enough to sit alongside it."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090414/ap_on_bi_ge/kentucky_grilled_chicken
Are they tryin' this at your store Dexter? The friend I know who works at the northern Indiana store say's they have it at hers and she likes it.
Honestly, I can't eat the fried chicken from KFC anymore. I thought it was a fluke and that maybe the KFC I chose just didn't do a good job w/the food, but I've had it from other KFC's and it just doesn't settle well on my stomach. The grilled or roasted chicken is awesome. :thumbsup:
Still, I have to wonder if the recipe had changed since the Colonel was living and what he'd think of the grilled chicken.
I don't know what the Colonel would think but the people LOVE the grilled chicken. They're just about bustin' the doors down to get it. :rolleyes: It is delicious but, I'm sick of it already because we can barely meet the demand. It better sell REAL good because, every store purchased a $15,000 oven to bake it in. It cooks the chicken at 500*. It's very tender and juicy, and as always..... finger licken' good. :laugh:
I just might have to give it a try.
Well, we're selling $ 4,000.00 a day of it. Last Monday we gave out a thousand free pieces of it. On a normal basis they order in 12 cases of chicken twice a week. Now, that we have the grilled they order 39 cases twice a week. They might even have to hire extra workers because of it. I guess some people don't know how to put a piece of chicken on the grill or something. :rolleyes: I can only imagine what Mother's Day will bring. :spooked:
Wow, that's a lot of chicken. It must really be good. The other lady I know who works in the Lafayette, IN store got laid off last week because of slumping sales but she lives in a college town and I imagine that has something to do with it. I think she was also low on the totem pole seniority wise too which didn't help.
The only reason KFC sales are/were down, is the high cost of an inexpensive meat. I like my Kentucky Fired Chicken, but I hate paying the price. To be fair, it's not too bad if you just order chicken and take it home. Leaving out all the extras like potatoes, gravy, slaw, etc. But anyway, I won't be knocking down the door for this new stuff. In my mind, KFC needs to sell fried chicken, Long Johns sells fish, Mc Donalds sells hamburgers, etc. Stick to what worked to make you successful, and stop trying to have one of everything. :rant:
Yes I know, Dexter has no control, but sometimes I have to let it out.
For some reason the KFC's in our area are not very good but I have eaten in good ones. I did not care for the new chicken we tried yesterday but the restaurant was extremely busy and you could tell they were short on employees which didn't help considering all the extra business generated from the coupons. They had one cashier and people were lined up out the door constantly and the drive thru had cars lined up and from what the cashier told someone at times they would be lined up as far as a block out in the street to get in. There were only 4 employees in the back. I will have to say they were handling it quite well though and the cashier was pleasant even though you could tell he wanted to throw in the towel and leave.
Me,we have the same problem, they're not very good and it's rare to find a KFC that isn't also an A & W. I'm not impressed with the grilled chicken so much and I think Dex hit it on the head...I can grill chicken at home. It makes me think about growing up and having beans at every meal, then going out to a restaurant and seeing a bowl of beans on the menu and think "why would anyone go out to eat beans?" :biggrin: I understand now though, if you don't have enough people to polish off a pot and you like beans.....anyway, I digress. I liked the grilled stuff better than the fried, but I'm not excited about it.
Oprah likes it. :razz:
Quote from: Locutus on May 08, 2009, 12:52:16 PM
Oprah likes it. :razz:
well hells bells....you better look out then.....the last thing she liked real well became our President!!... :laugh:
:yes: :biggrin:
I haven't tried it BTW, however I did print my coupon ala' Oprah for use anytime between now and May 19th. ;D
Quote from: Locutus on May 08, 2009, 04:33:29 PM
I haven't tried it BTW, however I did print my coupon ala' Oprah for use anytime between now and May 19th. ;D
You might be too late because the turn out was larger than expected and as of yesterday afternoon they had changed the cut off date to the 10th and I heard earlier today it was changed to end today.
Well, if you don't make it, then you can use the coupon to light the charcoal and invite us all over :razz: ;d
Now that sounds like a winner.... :yes:
Quote from: Sandy Eggo on May 08, 2009, 09:49:43 PM
Well, if you don't make it, then you can use the coupon to light the charcoal and invite us all over :razz: ;d
Quote from: Mr442 on May 08, 2009, 08:15:29 AM
The only reason KFC sales are/were down, is the high cost of an inexpensive meat. I like my Kentucky Fired Chicken, but I hate paying the price. To be fair, it's not too bad if you just order chicken and take it home. Leaving out all the extras like potatoes, gravy, slaw, etc. But anyway, I won't be knocking down the door for this new stuff. In my mind, KFC needs to sell fried chicken, Long Johns sells fish, Mc Donalds sells hamburgers, etc. Stick to what worked to make you successful, and stop trying to have one of everything. :rant:
Yes I know, Dexter has no control, but sometimes I have to let it out.
Just don't go there and problem solved, right? :biggrin: Actually, people want new products that's why anytime a restaurant gets a new product they get completely slammed. We don't sell any other type of meat so, I guess I don't understand the last part of your post?
Quote from: Locutus on May 08, 2009, 12:52:16 PM
Oprah likes it. :razz:
Oprah loves it, and the sheeple follow LMAO!!! As funny as it is people ACTUALLY think Oprah paid for those 'free' meals. LMAO!!! Oprah didn't pay a single penny for those 'free' meals. KFC footed the bill for all of it. It was a ploy to market a new product, and it worked !!!! Sales have sky rocketed. Even before the Oprah debacle KFC was clamouring to meet the demand. They were in a world of hurt when the freebies started coming in. Hell, the chicken suppliers can't even keep up that's why they had to issue rainchecks. KFC was overwhelmed. It's surprising to me that there are sooo many people that have nothing better to do than sit around and watch Oprah. :spooked:
Quote from: Henry Hawk on May 08, 2009, 12:56:43 PM
well hells bells....you better look out then.....the last thing she liked real well became our President!!... :laugh:
LMAO!!! You got that right HH. :wink:
Quote from: me on May 08, 2009, 07:27:28 PM
You might be too late because the turn out was larger than expected and as of yesterday afternoon they had changed the cut off date to the 10th and I heard earlier today it was changed to end today.
The 'free' meal coupons could only be downloaded for 24 hours. If you go in now you can fill out a paper, and you get a raincheck in the mail. There is an added bonus with the raincheck....a free drink. :rolleyes:
Quote from: me on May 08, 2009, 11:16:06 PM
Now that sounds like a winner.... :yes:
I wish all the people would go to Loco's house for a BBQ. I get sick to death of being worked into an early grave. It's crazy that a lot of people don't even know how to grill a piece of chicken for themselves. :rolleyes:
Quote from: Dexter Morgan on May 09, 2009, 12:04:13 PM
The 'free' meal coupons could only be downloaded for 24 hours. If you go in now you can fill out a paper, and you get a raincheck in the mail. There is an added bonus with the raincheck....a free drink. :rolleyes:
I didn't think the drink was included in the deal with those coupons. We got to chose the type meal and got the drink free and didn't pay taxes on it either so I guess we really made out.
Quote from: me on May 09, 2009, 12:31:35 PM
I didn't think the drink was included in the deal with those coupons. We got to chose the type meal and got the drink free and didn't pay taxes on it either so I guess we really made out.
On the downloaded Oprah coupons there is no drink. If you had to wait for your order they may have given you a drink on the house. That's what we do. KFC had the option of making people pay for the tax on the 'free' meal, and chose not to. IMO... KFC really went above, and beyond on this promo. The new CEO is a complete idiot. They spent $12,000 a piece on the new grills per store. To give away free chicken was a very poor choice. I realize it's good for publicity but, I have to wonder when it's all said and done did it help or hurt KFC? That's A LOT of money to throw at a single project.
Wow.... :spooked: The only problem I seen with the idea was the fact that the stores were understaffed to handle the extra customers and that was not a good thing. I would think they would want to check out some of the stores like the ones in our area and get them on track with the good ones. My ex-sister-in-law who lives in Bedford, In said she really liked the chicken and she is even more picky than me so that store must be one of the better ones. I know the one I was in when we went to Tn a couple of years ago was 100% better than the ones here in town. I'd eat there all the time if they would get this one straightened up because I used to like them a lot.
Our store has a total of 15 crew members. Four of that 15 are managers. The shift I work has only 5 people on it. Two of them are managers. Today was Mother's Day, and it was totally insane. I was the only worker with no backup. Everybody else had a partner. I don't mean to brag but.... I was the sh*t !!! I ran the counter and dining room and it went great!!! I'm really proud of myself because from 10:00 - 2:00 we did $3,000.00 in sales. I was slammin' people through so fast the packers were pending orders the entire time LMAO!!! :biggrin: I look for things to slow down a little now that the scramble for the 'free' meal is pretty much over. I really hope so anyway. :yes:
Quote from: Dexter Morgan on May 10, 2009, 08:19:21 PM
Our store has a total of 15 crew members. Four of that 15 are managers. The shift I work has only 5 people on it. Two of them are managers. Today was Mother's Day, and it was totally insane. I was the only worker with no backup. Everybody else had a partner. I don't mean to brag but.... I was the sh*t !!! I ran the counter and dining room and it went great!!! I'm really proud of myself because from 10:00 - 2:00 we did $3,000.00 in sales. I was slammin' people through so fast the packers were pending orders the entire time LMAO!!! :biggrin: I look for things to slow down a little now that the scramble for the 'free' meal is pretty much over. I really hope so anyway. :yes:
Wow, that's a lot of chicken. I'll bet you were ready to leave for sure when 2:00 came.
Quote from: me on May 10, 2009, 08:31:16 PM
Wow, that's a lot of chicken. I'll bet you were ready to leave for sure when 2:00 came.
I was more than ready to leave at 2 but, I didn't get off until almost 3. The people just kept coming. It was weird because when I finally left the streets were empty. It was almost like the only reason people were out was to come to KFC. :spooked: It felt like an episode of 'The Twilight Zone'. :spooked:
Bet that was kind of creepy feeling.
Quote from: me on May 10, 2009, 08:45:05 PM
Bet that was kind of creepy feeling.
It was very creepy. When I got to the grocery store to pick up my Chinese food, it was relatively busy but, the roads were empty. I was really surprised because of how busy we were at KFC. I just figured every place would be bustling with activity. It
was 3:00 though. Everybody must have gotten their goodies, and rolled up the streets. :biggrin:
Quote from: Dexter Morgan on May 10, 2009, 08:51:31 PM
It was very creepy. When I got to the grocery store to pick up my Chinese food, it was relatively busy but, the roads were empty. I was really surprised because of how busy we were at KFC. I just figured every place would be bustling with activity. It was 3:00 though. Everybody must have gotten their goodies, and rolled up the streets. :biggrin:
They were probably all at home taking a nap...lol
Quote from: Dexter Morgan on May 09, 2009, 12:07:28 PM
I wish all the people would go to Loco's house for a BBQ. I get sick to death of being worked into an early grave. It's crazy that a lot of people don't even know how to grill a piece of chicken for themselves. :rolleyes:
Why do you want them all at my place? :eek: :spooked:
Quote from: Locutus on May 10, 2009, 10:40:59 PM
Why do you want them all at my place? :eek: :spooked:
So I don't have to work. :razz: If everybody is at your house they won't come to KFC!!! :biggrin: I'm gettin' lazy in my old age. :wheel:
Sure, sure! Just pawn all the work off on me. :eat: :chef:
:read: :bike: :eat:
Quote from: Locutus on May 10, 2009, 11:47:17 PM
Sure, sure! Just pawn all the work off on me. :eat: :chef:
:yes: :biggrin:
Quote from: me on May 11, 2009, 12:30:18 AM
:read: :bike: :eat:
Let's all head to Loc's place for a BBQ!!!! 'me' I'm on my way to get ya.......>>>> :bike:
I'm ready. I'll have the route all laid out when you get here. :biggrin:
Quote from: Dexter Morgan on May 09, 2009, 11:51:16 AM
Just don't go there and problem solved, right? :biggrin: Actually, people want new products that's why anytime a restaurant gets a new product they get completely slammed. We don't sell any other type of meat so, I guess I don't understand the last part of your post?
FRIED chicken, not grilled. I can grill my own, but I can't match the flavor of the fried chicken.
And some people would eat a dog turd if was promoted well enough. As a general rule, a large part of the population does not have a clue about what they do or do not like to eat, and will eat anything that is pushed in front of them. At one time Hardee's had fried chicken, that was suppose to be better than KFC. Does anyone else even remember that stuff? They eventually went back to what works for them, hamburgers. Right now they are pushing the Red Burrito Mexican line. It sure isn't Taco Bell, and I am willing to bet they will be back to burgers in due time. IMHO, when these restaraunts wander too far from their beginnings, they lose track of what they are about.
We considered stopping for KFC this weekend, but passed due to the unwashed hoardes hovering over the food bar. I'll get my next bucket from the drive through. Man i hate those skanky food bars :rant:
Quote from: Mr442 on May 12, 2009, 01:03:51 PMI'll get my next bucket from the drive through.
I noticed over the weekend that the line at the drive through at our local KFC backed up onto a major highway for several days after they released those damn free meal coupons. They had to call in the police for traffic control.
I would rather pay for chicken than stand or wait in some oversized line with a bunch of a-holes looking for something for free. Most of those idiots couldn't even read either. The damn coupon is good through the 19th.
I won't go to KFC anymore because they apparently don't want my business. I went to the one on Nichol (it has since closed...no big mystery there), waited in the drive through and was then told an hour before closing that they didn't have any more mashed potatoes. I left without buying anything and then called the manager to ask her why no potatoes were made and she told me that if I came back, she'd have someone make some...like I want mashed potatoes someone spit in after I complained. I suggested that if she was paying attention, there would have been mashed potatoes there when I was there the first time to which she responded, "don't tell me how to do my job." I said fine, I'd contact her regional manager and have him tell her how to do her job. Funny thing is, though, that my complaints to both the regional manager and then to their corporate office at PepsiCo at the time were never answered so I never went back.
Quote from: Exterminator on May 12, 2009, 01:58:36 PM
I won't go to KFC anymore because they apparently don't want my business. I went to the one on Nichol (it has since closed...no big mystery there), waited in the drive through and was then told an hour before closing that they didn't have any more mashed potatoes. I left without buying anything and then called the manager to ask her why no potatoes were made and she told me that if I came back, she'd have someone make some...like I want mashed potatoes someone spit in after I complained. I suggested that if she was paying attention, there would have been mashed potatoes there when I was there the first time to which she responded, "don't tell me how to do my job." I said fine, I'd contact her regional manager and have him tell her how to do her job. Funny thing is, though, that my complaints to both the regional manager and then to their corporate office at PepsiCo at the time were never answered so I never went back.
I was in that store one time and that was all it took. None of the KFC's in Anderson are worth a darn. I ate at one in Greenfield and it was great though.
I have only been to the KFC on Scatterfield, in Anderson once....and I doubt if I ever go back. It took 20 minutes for them to get me my order AFTER I waited 10 minutes to place it....as I waited, I went to the bathroom, which was a nausiating experience due to the mess and the smell in there, the buffet bar was a mess and the fountain machine was a mess....and the employees was standing around making jokes and laughing and having a great time...I got NO apology for my wait.....and therefore, I won't go back.
We first started buying KFC at the Alibi in Anderson, then the all new stand alone KFC in Fortville. We always had good service and good food from those places. Once Colonel Sanders was out of the picture, things started going downhill. Same thing with Wendy's now that Dave Thomas is dead. Corporate America gets in too big of a rush to "improve" things, and it starts going downhill from there. I'm sure Ray Kroc is spinning in his grave as well.
Speaking of Ray Kroc, I happened to visit the oldest McDonalds still standing in the world when I was in Los Angeles last year. The store is located in the suburb of Downey. I snapped a few pics. Although this is a bit off topic, I figured I would share the pics.
(http://i44.tinypic.com/ra9gu0.jpg)
(http://i40.tinypic.com/dom2rl.jpg)
(http://i44.tinypic.com/oihn9c.jpg)
Quote from: Mr442 on May 12, 2009, 03:54:16 PM
We first started buying KFC at the Alibi in Anderson, then the all new stand alone KFC in Fortville. We always had good service and good food from those places. Once Colonel Sanders was out of the picture, things started going downhill. Same thing with Wendy's now that Dave Thomas is dead. Corporate America gets in too big of a rush to "improve" things, and it starts going downhill from there. I'm sure Ray Kroc is spinning in his grave as well.
I remember going inton the alibi when I was a kid...they had awsome strawberry pie!... :yes:
Cool pics locutus... 8)
Yep, those were the days prior to even Ronald McDonald being around. ;D