KFC has launched a drinks range, aimed at reaching consumers at different times of day, with its strategy and innovation director saying the biggest challenge it faces is becoming “famous” for more than just chicken.
The Kwench drinks range, which features milkshakes, iced coffee and boba tea, aims to give consumers “more reasons to visit KFC”.
KFC parent company Yum! Brands highlighted the UK market as having driven particularly strong results, as it invests in initiatives like ‘Believe in Chicken’.
AI communications are driving “up to five times incrementality”, says Yum! Brands, which owns Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell.
Having once been a “titan” of Twitter, KFC had to rethink its social strategy and embrace co-creation to reach Gen Z consumers.
In a category that is more crowded than ever, KFC is focusing on doing work that no other business can do to “elevate the brand up and out”.
Amid calls to introduce a festive turkey product, KFC cheekily defied its fans and drove leaps in awareness and sales.
The KFC and Taco Bell owner saw positive growth in Q3, fuelled by new AI personalisation tools driving consumer engagement and decreasing churn.
The owner of KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut pointed to the “disruptive deals” available across the three restaurants as drivers of growth as revenue increased by 4%.
The brand is launching its “biggest-ever” campaign with the goal of driving sales and reaffirming its status as an “iconic” UK brand.
Wall has been with the business for almost five years, most recently in the position of strategy and innovation director.
Monica Pool will become CMO of KFC UK and Ireland in autumn 2023. She is no stranger to the brand, having originally joined in 2009, working at the fast-food chain for over 10 years before joining Taco Bell as marketing director.
KFC’s UK general manager Meghan Farren says she is thankful to have “fresh eyes” on the business, having left her CMO position in 2021 to join Asda as chief customer officer, only to return a year later in her current role.
KFC says the appointment represents it commitment towards integrating ESG into its core marketing strategy, as former CMO Jack Hinchliffe makes an internal move into sister brand The Habit Burger Grill.
Hinchliffe was promoted to UK CMO in July 2021 following the departure of Meghan Farren. His departure comes after more than eight years with the brand.