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Beyond Meat's plant-based 'chicken' is coming to KFC locations across the US
Starting on January 10th, Beyond Fried Chicken will be available at restaurants for a limited time.
KFC made a bucket-shaped gaming PC that warms chicken
“KFC and Cooler Master have unveiled a bucket-shaped gaming PC that also warms chicken,” is a sentence I never expected to write in my tech journalism career.
KFC hopes to develop the first lab-made chicken nuggets
KFC is teaming with a 3D bioprinting company to make the first lab-made chicken nuggets.
KFC slips ads into Spotify Premium through artist profiles
You might not avoid ads in Spotify just because you pay for a Premium account. KFC Middle East and the ad agency Memac Ogilvy recently ran a promo campaign for the Kentucky Burger by taking over the profiles of artists Flipperachi, Moh Flow and Shébani. Their photos, bios, event calendars and even their playlists all pitched the chicken burger whether you cared for it or not.
KFC expands its Beyond Meat test to Charlotte and Nashville
You knew KFC would expand its test of plant-based "chicken" when the Atlanta pilot sold out in five hours, and that expansion is close at hand. The fast food chain has announced that it'll widen the Beyond Fried Chicken test to restaurants in the Charlotte and Nashville areas between February 3rd and February 23rd "while supplies last." Charlotte-area residents can expect the meat substitutes at 19 locations in both Charlotte proper and surrounding towns like Denver and Salisbury, while people in the Nashville region can visit no less than 47 restaurants, most of them in surrounding cities.
Try to court Colonel Sanders in KFC's dating sim
KFC does weird stuff all the time -- from a line of KFC-flavored nail polish to a chicken wing box that doubles as a drone. But it's really outdone itself this time. Today, a listing for a KFC dating game, I Love You, Colonel Sanders! A Finger Lickin' Good Dating Simulator, appeared on Steam. Created with the help of Psyop, the game is a work in progress, but KFC promises it will be "the most delicious dating simulator ever."
After Math: More, more, mooooooore
Woke up this morning with the "more, more, mooooooore" refrain from Lady Marmalade stuck in my head despite not having heard that song in close to a decade because sure why the hell not. So, since I can't get the demonsong out of my ear, let's get it into yours while we take a look at some of our more, more, mooooooore expansionary headlines of the week. We're getting itchi gitchi ya ya here.
KFC's plant-based 'chicken' sold out in five hours
There's little doubt that plant-based meat substitutes have been popular, but when's the last time they triggered the kind of frenzies associated with movie aficionados and sneaker hypebeasts? Today, apparently. Beyond Meat and KFC have revealed that their Beyond Fried Chicken test in Atlanta sold out in less than five hours on August 27th, with lines "wrapped around the restaurant" from the moment the store opened. Restaurants only have so much food to go around in general, but this was apparently no mean feat -- KFC sold as much of the meatless 'chicken' as it typically sells popcorn chicken in a week.
KFC is testing Beyond Meat 'chicken' in an Atlanta restaurant
Plant-based meat substitutes may soon be an option for fast food chicken. CNBC reports that KFC will start testing Beyond Fried Chicken at an Atlanta restaurant on August 27th. Yes, you could grab a bucket of chicken without feeling quite so guilty -- or greasy, if Beyond Meat's earlier work is any indication. Whether or not availability grows will depend on feedback, but other restaurant chains (such as Del Taco) have seen upticks in demand since adding meat substitutes.
After Math: If I had no loot
It was a week of lost and found fortunes in the tech world. The Feds charged My Big Coin Pay over its $6 million cryptocurrency scam, Netflix is poised to take home as many a four golden statues for Mudbound, Bungie's in hot water again over tweaking its Faction token payouts and Google will be holding onto its $20 million XPrize payout thankyouverymuch. Numbers, because how else would you evenly divvy up the spoils?
KFC is selling a chicken wing box that doubles as a drone
Oh, KFC. For every bizarre stunt you pull off, like chicken-flavored nail polish or a nightmarish VR work training experience, you tease us with useful combo meal tchotchkes like a phone-charging takeout box. Unfortunately, 'tease' is the word, since the company's flashy giveaways typically happen outside the US, like when its Canadian stores briefly sold chicken buckets for bitcoin. KFC's latest stunt is no different: Its Indian locations are selling a chicken wings box that doubles as a drone for a brief couple days this week.
Bitcoin was briefly legal tender at KFC Canada
Say what you will about its heart-stoppingly tasty chicken -- KFC is willing to get weird. Whether it's a zany VR cooking experience, suggesting orders based on your face or chicken-flavored nail polish, the chain has pulled its share of stunts over the years. Now it's letting customers in Canada pay with bitcoin for a limited time...so long as they only order a new crypto-themed meal bucket.
Wendy’s will deliver your next Baconator through DoorDash
Starting today, you'll be able to get Wendy's delivered right to your door as the chain is now partnering exclusively with DoorDash. At launch, the delivery service is available in 48 markets nationwide. Wendy's and DoorDash piloted the program earlier this year in Columbus, Ohio and Dallas, Texas and the restaurant chain said that the Baconator and Frosty were popular items during the test.
Junk technology: A ridiculous history of fast-food PR stunts
Who doesn't love a good, over-the-top marketing stunt? Recently we've seen a lot of those, including Pizza Hut's Pizza Parka, a coat made out of the same insulating materials as its delivery pouches. Because why not? That ridiculous product from Pizza Hut shouldn't come as a surprise. After all, this is the same company that made shoes that can order a pie for you. But Pizza Hut isn't the only one trying to get creative using technology to promote its brand.
You can pay at a restaurant by smiling at a camera
As easy as it is to make purchases in the era of tap-to-pay services, it's about to get easier still. Alipay (which handles purchases for Chinese shopping giant Alibaba) has launched what it says is the first payment system that uses facial recognition to complete the sale. If you visit one of KFC's KPRO restaurants in Hangzhou, China, you can pay for your panini or salad by smiling at a camera-equipped kiosk -- you need to verify the purchase on your phone, but you don't have to punch in digits or bring your phone up to an NFC reader.
KFC's bizarre VR game isn't ready to revolutionize work training
Fast-food franchise KFC is known for its oddball stunts, including special smartphone editions (and wacky chicken-themed accessories). But its latest, a VR escape room cum work-training experience, is one of its oddest yet. I took the bait and accepted KFC's invitation to don a VR headset and run through its little game, which promises to teach anyone the chicken-frying basics. I walked in a skeptic and walked out with a better idea how the heartland franchise makes its bones, so to speak. But as for turning this into a proper, franchise-scalable work-training tool, there are a slew of logistical roadblocks.
KFC's latest weird tech suggests an order based on your face
KFC is no stranger to getting funky in order to sell its chicken but this one is really out there. The company's Chinese division is partnering with Baidu to create a smart restaurant which will recommend meals based on the customer's looks. Specifically, the restaurant's ordering kiosks, which are powered by Baidu's computer vision systems, will look at the customer's age, gender and facial expressions to make educated guesses as to what they might be in the mood for. A guy in his 20s, for example, is far more likely to order a big meal with a large soda for lunch than, say, a 75 year-old granny who walks in at 8am. These are just suggestions of course, it's not like you have to eat what it recommends (yet) but if you're a regular, the kiosks will remember your previous order and recommend that as well. Don't get weird about that last bit, it's no different than the bartender at your local pub remembering your drink order from last time. For now, the facial recognition kiosks are confined to the single smart restaurant, located in Beijing, but if it's a hit with the public, the technology will hopefully spread.
Charge your phone with KFC's new take-out box
Suppose you've just fired up Yelp to hunt down the nearest KFC, texted your friends to get their order and then posted a sweet victory Snapchat of your crispy haul. That probably just took a chunk from your smartphone battery -- but don't worry dudes, KFC's got your back with a device charger in your take-out box. Just don't try to plug it in while you're fingers-deep in greasy chicken.
KFC-flavored nail polish gives new meaning to 'chicken fingers'
KFC is taking its "finger lickin' good" slogan a bit too far. The fried chicken fast food chain made two "edible" fingernail polishes for its fans in Hong Kong. Teaming up with ad agency Ogilvy & Mather and food experts at McCormick, two shades were created that incorporate the restaurant's top secret blend of 11 herbs and spices: Original Recipe and Hot & Spicy.
ICYMI: Seeing CO2 from space, best arena selfie and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-520649{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-520649, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-520649{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-520649").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: An app that syncs up with robotic cameras in sports arenas is up and running in a few locations in California. With it, attendees can get photos of themselves at the game after entering their seat number in the free app. NASA is beginning a long-term study into CO2 absorption on the earth, with the hopeful goal of better sequestering and controlling greenhouse gases. And a new report is out on the fluorescent eel discovery of 2011. While the same marine biologist has just discovered a fluorescent turtle, the eel report says the neon was likely selected to attract a mate.
