The iconic Colonel Sanders is back. In an effort to boost sales, Kentucky Fried Chicken has launched a new ad campaign, with Saturday Night Live star Norm Macdonald portraying the colonel.
Macdonald steps into the role after Darrell Hammond’s stint for the fast food franchise last May, KFC announced in a press release on Monday.
According to Fox News, the campaign is created by ad agency Wiedan+Kennedy in Portland, and is meant to be a comedic spin on Colonel Harland David Sanders, founder of the restaurants.
Kevin Hochamn, KFC US chief marketing officer, says that Norm was “the perfect choice to play the Real Colonel. I think the fans will agree.”
Other than not quite looking like him, his voice being different, and his inability to cook the world’s best chicken, we thought Norm was the perfect choice to play the Real Colonel. I think the fans will agree.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BP5zhx-PfA
It might sound weird, but KFC is hoping the new ads won’t be received well. In fact, one out of five people hated the Hammond ad campaign, according to Greg Creed, the CEO of KFC parent company Yum Brands, reports Business Insider.
If people dislike the new ads with Macdonald, that could actually be great news for the fast food chain, “because at least now they have an opinion,” said Creed.
(…) at least now they have an opinion. They’re actually talking about KFC, and you can market to love and hate; you cannot market to indifference.
The new ads introduce KFC’s new family size version of the $5 fill-up meal: the $20 family fill-up, which comes with eight pieces of chicken, a large order of coleslaw, two large orders of mashed potatoes and gravy, and four biscuits.
In an unrelated study, it was shown that the more expensive “high quality” restaurant food isn’t much healthier than your typical fast food meals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er_owYCDZUk
