KFC (YUM! Foods) Publicity Techniques

KFC publicity stunt ends in international incident

http://www.qsrweb.com/article.php?id=16287&prc=52&page=56


KFC's latest publicity stunt involving the United Nations is just another example of the outrageous means Yum! Brands chains will take to get attention.

Last year, it was a public letter to rapper 50 Cent from Taco Bell asking him to change his name to 79, 89 or 99 Cent for a day to promote the chain's value menu. The rapper was not amused and filed a $4 million lawsuit for trademark infringement.

This spring, fellow Yum! Brands chain KFC paired up with Oprah Winfrey to promote its new grilled chicken, a public relations fiasco that overwhelmed under-prepared operators as consumers flocked to stores with a downloadable coupon for a free two-piece meal. The chain also wrote letters to select U.S. mayors offering to fill the cities' potholes in exchange for the opportunity to temporarily brand the streets. The offer drew critics' scorn and was turned down by several cities.

Last week, KFC sent a tongue-in-cheek letter to the U.N. asking for acceptance of the company's Grilled Nation — representing the 60 million people who have purchased its Kentucky Grilled Chicken — as its 193rd member country. The company also offered free samples of the grilled chicken across the street from U.N. headquarters to promote Monday's in-store free piece of grilled chicken event. The brand's Colonel Sanders' impersonator was on hand to greet visitors.

The promotion might have ended there, with the U.N. chastising the company for inappropriate use of its name for commercial purposes. But a U.N. security guard invited Bob Thompson, the Colonel's impersonator, inside for a tour and then allowed him access to Ali A. Treki of Libya, the General Assembly’s president, according to a story by The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Ky.




http://www.ottawacitizen.com/finger+licking+free+Canada+this+weekend/2157228/story.html


KFC's finger-licking free in Canada this weekend
Fried chicken giant vows not to repeat U.S. fiasco when buckets went empty

October 29, 2009

KFC is promising to spice things up this weekend by offering free chicken at more than 700 of its restaurants across Canada.

But it also promises to avoid any repeat of the near-riots that broke out at some U.S. outlets after they ran out of chicken during a similar promotion in May.

"They got in a little over their heads in the U.S. We set it up so consumers will not be disappointed," said Steve Langford, president of Priszm Income Fund, the largest KFC Canada franchisee. "We hope that there are long lineups and lots of people; we want to get this product into the most mouths as possible."