Train wreck: Yum voids KFC free chicken offer

[Robin Garr]

From the Fast Food blog, which is worth subscribing to if you're interested in following this niche of the industry:
http://www.foodfacts.info/blog/2009/05/ ... hecks.html

KFC has officially canceled, voided and revoked the coupons they originally issued on their web site (and talked about on the Oprah show).

As we wrote about yesterday, some KFC fast food restaurants had been declining to redeem the free grilled chicken meal coupons promoted by Oprah on her show Tuesday.

They are now issuing 'rain checks' to those who jump through a few hoops. If you downloaded the coupon, you can print it out and take it to your local KFC, they, in turn, will give you a form that you'll have to fill out and mail to KFC. KFC says that they will then send you another coupon for a free grilled chicken meal (and a free Pepsi) that can be redeemed during certain dates listed on the coupon.

Their goal here, of course, is to try and spread out the dates during which people will be coming in to the restaurants for free meals.

I'm sorry, but a company as large as YUM! Brands (KFC's parent company) should be grown up enough to know what kinds of promotions their restaurants can handle and have the marketing smarts to be able to predict the kind of response they're going to get.

This is a shameful business failure on the part of KFC/YUM! Brands.

Oprah has changed the message on her KFC Coupon page to reflect the new 'rain check' policy.

[Robin Garr]

Video of KFC President Roger Eaton spinning the change of policy. (Neat Australian accent there!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdFJjeLYVjk

[Robin Garr]

i agree with you robin

I do concur in the points the guy made, but please note that I did not write that. As I said, it was a quote from the Fast Food blog, not my words.

YUM is the poorest excuse for a business I have ever seen.



-Next to Microsoft.

[Robin Garr]

Now, in all fairness ...

Let's not overlook Gannett Corp. and The Courier-Journal.

YUM is the poorest excuse for a business I have ever seen.



-Next to Microsoft.

Now Robin, that's just too easy.

It's interesting that Yum's new ads tout the fact that they're the biggest restaurant company in the world. Not the best, the biggest. Do we really need to know anything else?

<yawn>

In all fairness, from a marketing perspective it was a very sound tactic -- what better way to generate trial for a new product than give away samples....YUM/KFC just did a sub-par job of anticipating demand and it was poorly executed...

Oprah scares the livin' beejeezus out of me.
Great marketing plan, but it was very poorly executed.
Could be a great case study for communications/PR/marketing students.
From my perspective, this is what happens when "marketing geniuses" who have never spent a minute working in the food industry get their way.
On paper, theoretically, this is the greatest way to launch a product ever. In reality, you can't expect to give away a free meal to everyone in the country at the same time. You simply can't handle the kind of sales increase from "Oprah" and "free" without consequences.

I would love for Oprah to love my pizza, but it would also be the scariest few weeks ever. I'd probably have a breakdown.

I really feel bad for the poor folks working at KFC (managers, dishwashers, everyone directly involved in the food service portion of KFC). It would be great to see the entire YUM marketing team behind this product launch work on the front line at KFCs throughout the country.

Like shooting fish in a barrel, why are people discussing KFC? I am open to all forms of debate but, really KFC? I guess I shouldn't really post, but Louisville has an amazing independent restaurant scene(at least compared to Virginia beach) I am just gonna leave it at this "you never know what you got, till it's gone". Yeah that's right a 1980's hairband quote. I miss Louisville so much (for many different reasons) and the least of which is the fast food scene. I apologize in advance if this seems petty but, just try to imagine trying to find a nice place to eat in a city of several hundred thousand and being able to only choose from 2 maybe 3 if you are not really picky. God Bless Kentucky and nowhere else.

God Bless Kentucky and nowhere else.

I'm guessing you don't really mean that. God Bless us all, everywhere. : )

Are you serious? Is this really gonna be a conversation. Lighten Up! That post was obviously an appreciation of my love for my home state; which I did not appreciate till I left(my fault) I know my posts can be a little "goofy" but I love food and I love Kentucky and i never fully appreciated either one till I moved somewhere that doesn't have the diversity. Virginia is a great state but Virginia beach is a crap hole(my fault for moving there) I refuse to apologize for my unabashed appreciation for everything Kentucky. So If my posts piss people off then Robin Garr can kick me off!

[Robin Garr]

So If my posts piss people off then Robin Garr can kick me off!

Hey! If that was a rule, we would have banned about 100 people from this forum, rather than about 1 1/2.

Just a couple of points, J. Can we call you "J"?

First, we talk about ALL things food here. The fast-food industry is an important part of the overall food-and-drink scene - particularly in Louisville, where we seem to spawn food franchises the way some towns get big-league teams. That doesn't mean we love to eat there, and it doesn't mean that we don't have a strong preferential option for our beloved indies. But we talk about it all.

Second, just a gentle hint: You won't get thrown out for this, but starting a post, "Are you serious?" isn't really a way to encourage intelligent and civil discussion. Try to hold your anger in check, and we'll have better conversations.

But keep those wacky ideas coming ... we love 'em!

Robin, there was no anger. I normally don't post on any sort of sites. I just believe that my dry sense of humor doesn't come across in print (obviously), maybe I should put some little smilies so people know when I'm just trying to get a little rise out of them. I never mean to offend anyone, which is surprising because apparently I can be pretty good at it.