There appears to be no limits to the lengths that KFC will go to get folks talking.
We’ve seen a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork produced off the back of a viral tweet, a Game of Thrones star tackling a mountain of finger lickin’ goodness, and even a truly bonkers cat video from the brand.
What could possibly be next?
The tongue-in-cheek fast food chain has now managed to top even its most eccentric marketing efforts with its latest launch: the KFC 11 Herbs & Spices Firelog.
We’re not joking.
Available to buy for a limited time only for a mere $18.99 from KFC’s website, the new offering promised to add a little something extra to the holiday season by bringing the scintillating smell of fried chicken into fans’ homes. Delightful.
“We have always been proud of our role in bringing loved ones together at the dinner table around a bucket of our world-famous fried chicken … now, this winter we’re bringing al the things we love – family, friends and fried chicken – together around the fire with our scented firelog” said Andrea Zahumensky, chief marketing office of KFC US.
The one-of-a-kind firelog (yes, surprisingly, this is the first time such a log has been for sale), has been developed by Enviro-Log, a leading manufacturer of firelogs made from 100% recycled materials, and is apparently the result of an extensive R&D process. It’s the latest creative and unexpected experiential campaign to hammer home KFC’s steadfast commitment to its ‘secret’ combination of 11 herbs and spices.
Unsurprisingly, the well-timed promotion has generated plenty of press coverage for the brand. With KFC describing it on Twitter as “the best smelling fire you’ve ever smelled in your life!”, the limited edition firelogs sold out within hours of going on the market.
The off-the-wall stunt also generated a ton of social media conversation at a time of year when every brand is vying for consumer attention, with fans tweeting everything from “This is so stupid and I love it” to “I can’t tell if this is a bad idea of an amazing one.” Meanwhile, The Root described it as “the latest example of terrible ass ideas that nobody asked for”. Now that’s not very festive.
Brave or barmy? You decide. But one thing’s for certain: we can expect even more big marketing moves from KFC in 2019. Watch this space for what the Colonel has up his sleeves next.