So This Was KFC's 'Transformational Announcement'?The fast food franchise has committed to better food, pledging to cook chicken the 'hard way.'

ByLindsay Friedman

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Lindsay Friedman

We think it's safe to say it won't be the biggest food announcement of 2016. Turns outKFC's promise for a new and exciting transformation was more like a "re-colonelization."

Basically, the franchise is going back to the way things were done in the kitchen during the original Colonel's reign.

It's what head chef Bob Das says the bow-tie wearing founder described as the "right" or "hard way" of making Kentucky Fried Chicken.

The effort to revert back to the original chicken recipe started with more than 100,000 training hours. The chain is also planning on renovating more than 3,000 restaurants, with 1,000 scheduled for the coming year, in addition to the new ad campaign.

Related:KFC Doubles Down on a Dumb Ad Campaign

KFC President Jason Marker made the announcement preceding a special cooking demo with comedian and actor Rachel Dratch.

"It's part of a broader turnaround strategy for the brand," he says. "We're publicly recommitting to 're-colonelization,' making chicken the hard way."

Making the chicken the hard way involves a longer process, about 25 minutes. But Das says the change is more about consistency and technique than overall recipe, which remains unaltered.

After the presentation, the audience had a chance to get their hands dirty -- or, at least, grab a plate of chicken.

Though the dish wasn't completly different from its predecessor, I found it was noticeably more juicy and packed less of a crunch than what I remember.

Related:KFC's Making a Big Announcement Next Week. What Could It Be?

But that could've also been explained by the fact that the franchise's head chef was involved with the preparation and the chicken was literally Kentucky fresh.

Alas,our hopesfor a Colonel Sanders sighting ordrone bucketswere not realized. Instead, the eatery will revert to the creations and innovations of yesteryear.

There's always next time. Right, KFC?

An earlier version of this article stated CEO David Novak spoke at the event. It has since been corrected indicating KFC's U.S. President Jason Marker made the announcement.
Lindsay Friedman

特约撰稿人。经常covers franchise news and food trends.

Lindsay Friedman is a staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

Someone In California Just Won the $1.73 Billion Powerball Jackpot

The winning numbers of the second-largest jackpot in Powerball history were drawn.

Business News

Costco Shoppers' Personal Data May Have Been Compromised and Sent to Meta, New Lawsuit Alleges

The class-action lawsuit may affect those who have used the online Costco Pharmacy.

Business News

Google Hopes Traditional Passwords Will Eventually Be 'Obsolete.' Here's What It's Using Instead.

The tech giant announced it will begin offering "passkeys" as a default option instead of passwords.

Business News

Your Smartphone May Soon Be Able to 'Heal' Itself and Fix Its Own Scratches

Self-healing smartphones could be a reality by 2028, according to analyst firm CCS Insight, and will be able to repair minor scratches by generating new material when exposed to air.

Business Ideas

This Retiree's Yummy Hobby Is Now a Remote Side Hustle That Makes $250 an Hour: 'I Attached My Bank Account And the Money Just Flowed Automatically'

Since 1972, in his downtime, Bill Reichman has been dedicated to one delicious diversion. When the pandemic hit, he turned his passion into a lucrative side hustle. Here's how he did it.

领导

We Know Return to Office Mandates Backfire — So Why Are Tech Giants Like Amazon, IBM and Zoom Reinstating This Outdated Policy?

In a landscape where innovation is the ultimate currency, why are tech giants like Amazon, IBM and Zoom clinging to outdated mandates?