LOUISVILLE, KY — Proponents of the carbohydrate-free diet scored another victory recently, as KFC announced it would be keeping its limited-time only Double Down sandwich — a bun-less wonder featuring bacon, cheese and sauce squeezed between two fried chicken breasts — on its U.S. menus past the original May 23 cutoff.
So, while restaurant analysts have been telling us for years that we’re in the midst of a paradigm shift in consumer demand away from salty, fatty fare, the 10-million Double Down sandwiches that KFC brass says the chain has sold across the U.S. in the last month flies boldly in the face of those assertions.
“This truly is an example of popular demand,” said Javier Benito, executive vice-president of Marketing and Food Innovation at KFC. “Our plans were to feature the product only through May 23, but millions of Double Down fans have spoken and we won’t disappoint them. You’ll continue to be able to get the Double Down at KFC this summer.”
Even before the product was officially introduced on April 12, public and media interest in the Double Down was impressive. And, once the sorta-sarnnie hit the open market, it quickly became an online sensation, clogging YouTube channels and blog sites as if they were arteries.
“We’ve really never seen anything like it,” added Benito. “From real-time Twitter reviews and YouTube videos of people eating the sandwich to Facebook fan pages and Flickr photo albums, the Double Down has become a social-media sensation.”
The Double Down was not met with an entirely positive reaction though, as some critics took issue with the offering’s nutritional shortcomings. Nevertheless, KFC restaurants in the states are committed to giving the Double Down — with its 32 grams of fat and 1380 milligrams of sodium — an extended run.
Canadians looking enjoy a Double Down will have to drive south, or MacGyver their own version at a local KFC restaurant, as Canadian master franchisor Priszm Income Fund says it has no plans to bring the sandwich north of the boarder.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Proponents of the carbohydrate-free diet scored another victory recently, as KFC announced it would be keeping its limited-time-only Double Down sandwich — a bun-less wonder featuring bacon, cheese and sauce squeezed between two fried chicken breasts — on its U.S. menus past the original May 23 cutoff.
So, while restaurant analysts have been telling us for years that we’re in the midst of a paradigm shift in consumer demand away from salty, fatty fare, the 10-million Double Down sandwiches that KFC brass says the chain has sold across the U.S. in the last month flies boldly in the face of those assertions.
“This truly is an example of popular demand,” said Javier Benito, executive vice-president of Marketing and Food Innovation at KFC. “Our plans were to feature the product only through May 23, but millions of Double Down fans have spoken and we won’t disappoint them. You’ll continue to be able to get the Double Down at KFC this summer.”
Even before the product was officially introduced on April 12, public and media interest in the Double Down was impressive. And, once the sorta-sarnie hit the open market, it quickly became an online sensation, clogging YouTube channels and blog sites as if they were arteries.
“We’ve really never seen anything like it,” added Benito. “From real-time Twitter reviews and YouTube videos of people eating the sandwich to Facebook fan pages and Flickr photo albums, the Double Down has become a social-media sensation.”
The Double Down was not met with an entirely positive reaction though, as some critics took issue with the offering’s nutritional shortcomings. Nevertheless, KFC restaurants in the states are committed to giving the Double Down — with its 32 grams of fat and 1380 milligrams of sodium — an extended run.
Canadians looking to enjoy a Double Down will have to drive south, or MacGyver their own version at a local KFC restaurant, as Canadian master franchisor Priszm Income Fund says it has no plans to bring the sandwich north of the border.
