Is KFC about to become KGC as it tries out grilled chicken?
Filed under: Food
It's an idea so obvious I can't believe I'm writing right now. But here you go: KFC, also known by its original name, Kentucky Fried Chicken, is going to come out with a new product: Kentucky Grilled Chicken.
They've had some grilled products before, but nothing apparently compared to what they're going to be introducing to the nation next year. They've been trying it out in select cities since 2007, and so today, the Associated Press reported, the company informed investors of its plans for making grilled chicken as well known as fried.
I, for one, am thrilled. As someone who could probably be the stunt double for the Pillsbury Dough Boy, should he ever do any action-oriented commercials, I can use all the health alternatives to regular fast food that I can get. And while I've loved KFC's offerings ever since I was a kid and think of the restaurant chain as an American icon, their fried chicken probably is better as a very occasional treat or if as a regular meal, it should be eaten by people with a faster metabolism than my own.
But if their grilled chicken is relatively healthy, that might be another story.
In any case, I think KFC is being smart by bringing the word grilled into the equation and trying to make it co-equal with fried, rather than pretending that fried chicken isn't their thing. In fact, over the years, I've watched in mock horror and some digust as KFC has tried to downplay the word "fried" in their title.
It was in 1991, that Kentucky Fried Chicken started calling itself KFC. Same menu, same everything. Just hoping we'd forget what the initials stood for.
It was in 2004 that KFC began referring to KFC as "Kentucky Fresh Chicken" in their TV commercials. Maybe some of the younger patrons were confused, but in watching these dorky families chatter about "Kentucky Fresh Chicken," as if everyone at that household had always called it that, I just found my intelligence continually insulted.
In 2007, KFC began calling themselves Kentucky Fried Chicken again, at least on some of their signs and began rebranding themselves as... their old selves.
Although according to a March 2008 USA Today article about KFC's expansion into grilled chicken, when Kentucky Fried Chicken debuts their grilled chicken, their signs -- at least for awhile -- will include the word "Grilled Chicken" in the title. So maybe they're going to call themselves Kentucky Fried and Grilled Chicken?
Sigh. It's insane. So I'm not sure where I'll be eating next year --KFC? Kentucky Fried Chicken? Kentucky Fried and Grilled Chicken? Or Kentucky Grilled and Fried Chicken? -- but I'll be happy to sample their grilled chicken nonetheless.
Geoff Williams is a freelance journalist and the author of C.C. Pyle's Amazing Foot Race: The True Story of the 1928 Coast-to-Coast Run Across America (Rodale).
They've had some grilled products before, but nothing apparently compared to what they're going to be introducing to the nation next year. They've been trying it out in select cities since 2007, and so today, the Associated Press reported, the company informed investors of its plans for making grilled chicken as well known as fried.
But if their grilled chicken is relatively healthy, that might be another story.
In any case, I think KFC is being smart by bringing the word grilled into the equation and trying to make it co-equal with fried, rather than pretending that fried chicken isn't their thing. In fact, over the years, I've watched in mock horror and some digust as KFC has tried to downplay the word "fried" in their title.
It was in 1991, that Kentucky Fried Chicken started calling itself KFC. Same menu, same everything. Just hoping we'd forget what the initials stood for.
It was in 2004 that KFC began referring to KFC as "Kentucky Fresh Chicken" in their TV commercials. Maybe some of the younger patrons were confused, but in watching these dorky families chatter about "Kentucky Fresh Chicken," as if everyone at that household had always called it that, I just found my intelligence continually insulted.
In 2007, KFC began calling themselves Kentucky Fried Chicken again, at least on some of their signs and began rebranding themselves as... their old selves.
Although according to a March 2008 USA Today article about KFC's expansion into grilled chicken, when Kentucky Fried Chicken debuts their grilled chicken, their signs -- at least for awhile -- will include the word "Grilled Chicken" in the title. So maybe they're going to call themselves Kentucky Fried and Grilled Chicken?
Sigh. It's insane. So I'm not sure where I'll be eating next year --KFC? Kentucky Fried Chicken? Kentucky Fried and Grilled Chicken? Or Kentucky Grilled and Fried Chicken? -- but I'll be happy to sample their grilled chicken nonetheless.
Geoff Williams is a freelance journalist and the author of C.C. Pyle's Amazing Foot Race: The True Story of the 1928 Coast-to-Coast Run Across America (Rodale).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
12-10-2008 @ 6:14PM
8mpalm said...
I'd feel a lot better about buying grilled chicken if I knew that it was not feed antibiotics and had no growth hormone. I have heard but do not know for a certainty that when born certain chickens are given a growth hormone that will kill them in 23 days. They are then butchered after 22 days. Although they are full grown, their bones are softer than chickens who have not been fed this hormone. If this is true, I don't weant to have any of this in my system. Will it affect my longevity, my bone density, is it carcenogenic? I don't know but I don't want to become a guinea pig.
Reply
12-10-2008 @ 10:11PM
steve said...
If your concerned about eating clean chicken, one brand to look for is Bell and Evans. I used to work at Wholefoods and that is all we used. Any label that proclaims it to be free of all bullshit usually is. A bit pricer, but to me it's worth it.
12-11-2008 @ 9:04AM
Ephrenia said...
I don't know about adults, but I fully believe that the growth hormones fed to almost ALL of our "meat animals" is causing our children to mature earlier than we used to.
As for KFC, I'm glad to see grilled going on their menu. I hope its as tasty as their fried seasonings are.
12-11-2008 @ 1:08PM
joe said...
Not true. A chicken is no where near full grown in 22 days, not even by half. Nor would it make any good commercial sense to put a drug that limits life expectancy, even if there were no impact on human consumers. If it dies it cannot be legally processed so if you are a day late getting to a batch of chickens, you lose them all. Bad business.
12-10-2008 @ 8:32PM
William Peale III said...
The name sounds alright...but it's not going to influence me on eating there
Reply
12-10-2008 @ 8:34PM
John said...
Chickens raised by KFC are horribly abused! Be kind to animals! Boycott KFC
Visit
www.kentuckyfriedcruelty.com
Reply
12-10-2008 @ 8:49PM
Roland said...
El Polo Loco on the west coast, is one of my favorites. I live in Louisiana, and would love to once agian buy grilled chicken rather than fried! Awesome move by KFC! They will certianly take the lead in healthy cooking! Just make sure to continue the use of the spices and herbs. Good looking out KFC! Now hurry and get started in Southern Louisiana!
Great Chicken - Done Right!!!!
Reply
12-10-2008 @ 9:11PM
paula foster said...
KFC used to have a roasted chicken that was really good but they were always out or waiting for more to be ready. Also a few times it wasn't completely cooked. Hopefully they will be more prepared to meet the demand of the grilled product so they do not have the same issues.
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12-11-2008 @ 10:48AM
Melissa said...
I remember those whole rotisserie chickens that KFC used to have several years back. It looked soooooooo good on the commercials we just couldn't resist and I stopped one night on the way home and bought one.
Imagine the look on my famiy's faces at the dinner table when I went to cut into it and a geyser of blood shot up in the air. It looked done on the outside but the inside was very RAW! Blech!!!
12-10-2008 @ 8:40PM
shell said...
Its bad enough they changed the oil so its not as good now thier trying to make it like that gross boston market stuff..
I don't go there but about 2 to 3 times a year for special occasions and It doesn't have that good special recipe good ole fried chicken taste anymore...Its sad becuase of some whiners all of us have to give up our special treats becuase THEY can't stop themselves from only going once in awhile they ruin it for us all..My oreos arn't even the same..:o/
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12-10-2008 @ 8:42PM
jim said...
Its just to expensive to eat there for the little bits of food one gets,,,,,
Reply
12-11-2008 @ 6:25PM
Courtney said...
I agree! Where I live its around 5 dollars for the food without a drink! So you end up paying 7-8 dollars for a meal when you can go somewhere else and get it cheaper.
12-10-2008 @ 9:03PM
Janice said...
This is great. You can eat healthy at fast food retaurants if you want to.
I am a personal trainer and I have always considered fast food a great crutch if you are smart about it. A great source to look up all sorts of info on foods is Nutrition Data and it is free http://www.nutritiondata.com My two favorite foods to recommend for weight loss and maintaining muscle
are broccoli and flax. There is a great flax called fitflax which is roasted, tastes delicious and I have my clients just sprinkle it on salad great right out of the bag. It is fitflax http://www.fitflax.com
This has helped speed up weight loss with my female clients.
My favorite fast food item to recommend is the grilled chicken Caeser at Burger King. Use half the packet of dressing, throw out the crotons and they have the option of double chicken. I look forward to having the choice of flavorful grilled chcken at KFC
I just found a coupon code for fitflax that gives 10%.. it is gb10
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12-10-2008 @ 9:08PM
HERM said...
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I WALKED INTO A KFC AND ORDERED FOOD.I'M A DIABETIC AND KEEP MYSELF FROM EATING THE HEART ATTACK IN THE BUCKET ..THIS IS THE BEST NEWS COMING FROM THAT COMPANY IN GENERATIONS OF ABUSE TO PEOPLE WHO LOVE CHICKEN LIKE ME.
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12-10-2008 @ 9:10PM
Robert Long said...
Maybe they should try a bold new price ?
Reply
12-10-2008 @ 9:20PM
Sandra said...
KFC has been treating San Diego to its grilled chicken for over a year and it's the best tasting thing on the market. True grilled taste, moist, juicy, a terrific treat from the greasy fried stuff they put out now.
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12-10-2008 @ 9:36PM
glenn said...
Grilled chicken....great.......change the name and I will be buying my chicken from Mrs Winners.
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12-12-2008 @ 7:34PM
Debbie said...
I've lived at a better time, although I am sure my parents would say the same.
KFC Chicken is not as 'BAD' as you are lead to believe. The heat the the chicken goes into the fryer/pressure cooker, will not penetrate the chicken you are about to eat. The Food Channel can educate you, or you can go to the library and read some books.
My Grandmother ate bacon every morning, fried her food in lard, and she lived during her age of 99. She went to her doctor "ONLY WHEN" she had a problem, that she could not deal with.
[how many millions of people could say that today?]
KFC Chicken was and IS healthy in all forms.
Everything in moderation, EVERYTHING, not just food.
Roasted or Grilled chicken at KFC will be just fine.
And for those of you who want "Range Free Chickens" on your plate...You have a lot more to learn about those. Go to Good Eats at the Food Chanel about free range (if they want to about Free Range Chickens, they only go out...If they want to go out), Sounds good, makes you feel good...but, not so much.
KFC in all forms is tasty and delicious. Everything, in moderation.
Anyone who has purchased a product from any KFC should hold onto the product and call their KFC and KFC.com
I'm 58, I've worked at KFC, I know their product, I think that KFC is getting a bad rap.
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12-10-2008 @ 10:16PM
Honey said...
Apparently you never worked there. If you seen what this chicken looks like when it comes into the restaurant from the distributor, you would think twice. I worked there for 4 years and will never set foot in a restaurant again. The chicken is disgusting. There are even stores that will cook it after the expiration date. Go to El Pollo Loco it you want really good grilled chicken.
12-10-2008 @ 10:59PM
Bex said...
Janice -- I don't believe personal trainers are supposed to give nutritional advice . As a fitness professional mysef I find this pretty disturbing as only registered nutritionists should be giving clients advice about their diets. A major fitness club was sued for some of their trainers giving advice about dieting.