It’s frickin’ Friday, ya’ll! And the only thing I can think about is frickin’ chicken. Chicken sandwiches. Golden, sweet and delicious fast-food chicken sandwiches with maybe a little lettuce and mayo on the bun. And, I’ll have you know, I’m not the only one thinking about em’…
More on that later as I’ve got to explain this first. This is the Black Collar Club. And in it I’ll address relevant marketing, advertising, social and cultural “news” in a condensed format sourced from hours of early morning time spent scouring the internet in hopes of finding out what’s REALLY going on in our industry.
That’s right, Black Collar Club. It’s frickin’ Friday and we’re talkin’ frickin’ chicken. Chicken sandwiches. Why? Because “chicken sandwiches are still having a moment.” (Ad Age) And that moment is now…
Now? Like, right now?
Yes. Right now. 2021 is coming up all chicken. All the major players are pushin’ bird:
“KFC is out with a quarter-pound fried chicken sandwich that is the no. 2 chicken chain’s best bet yet to take on larger rival Chick-Fil-A and sandwich success story Popeyes.” (Ad Age)
“Wendy’s… brought out its newest chicken sandwich, dubbed the classic, in October.” (Ad Age)
“Shake Shack has had success with its “chick’n” sandwich as it’s called there.” (Ad Age)
And…
“McDonald’s newest chicken sandwich is set to hit U.S. restaurants on Feb. 24.” (Ad Age)
Like I said, all the players. And they’ve been pushin’ bird since “Popeyes introduced its sandwich in August 2019.” (Ad Age) They’ve been “trying to find their golden fried ticket[s].” (Ad Age)
I hope they do. All of them. But, as it most always does, it’ll come down to quality of product and marketing. And, as I haven’t tried them all yet, I’ll speak to the marketing.
KFC is working with Wieden+Kennedy Portland. McDonald’s is working with Wieden+Kennedy New York. F#ck yeah.
KFC has already come out swingin’ with “an online map so diners can check whether the sandwich is available in their areas.” (Ad Age) They also “made a subtle dig at Chick-Fil-A with [their] announcement, writing… ‘will be available seven days a week.’” (Ad Age) Chick-Fil-A is closed on Sundays…
Like I said, swingin’.
But don’t count McDonald’s out. According to David Henkes, senior principal at Technomic, which tracks the restaurant industry, “Everything they do is going to have an outsized chance of success.” (Ad Age)
Stakes are high. Stomachs are empty. And I’m starving.
Have an excellent weekend and maybe even some frickin’ chicken, ya’ll.
Your Huckleberry,
Jimmy Boy
SOURCE: Ad Age