KFC testing new chicken nugget to appeal to Gen Z customers

KFC or Kentucky Fried Chicken is reportedly testing a new chicken nugget that was created with Gen Z in mind. The restaurant chain is said to have made the new menu to attract younger customers and make them come to the stores more often.

As per CNN Business, starting this week, KFC will exclusively offer the Kentucky Fried Chicken Nuggets in its select restaurant outlets in the city of Charlotte in North Carolina. Since this is still a testing phase, the nuggets will only be in the stores for a limited time. It was not mentioned when it would be available.

Gen Z is the demographic unit succeeding the Millennials, and they are the younger batch of people. In other words, they are simply part of the new generation and are currently aged 18 and above.

It was noted that Gen Z is not really interested in dining out, so fast-food chains and restaurants are looking for ways to lure and make them come to their stores. The restaurants are trying to grab their attention, and for KFC, one of its efforts to do this is to introduce a new food item that will go well with their palate.

"We are targeting younger customers, like Gen Z and Millennials, who are interested in boneless chicken options," the fast-food chain's spokesperson said.

KFC chose to make something new and added chicken nuggets to its food line-up. This will be the first time that the brand has nuggets, although it is already selling chicken popcorn.

The company chose the nuggets because it has a lot of potential to become a favorite of the youngsters since they are perfect for snacking and can also be eaten as a meal. It is also something that can be easily eaten on the go, so they are ideal for Gen Z, who are always active, whether at work or at home.

Meanwhile, Yahoo Finance reported that the new Kentucky Fried Chicken Nuggets would be replacing the popcorn chicken if the test yields good results. The nuggets are also covered in KFC's original Colonel Sanders recipe, which is famous for its 11 herbs and spices.

"So many of younger consumers are not interested in eating chicken on the bone, for whatever reason they choose," KFC US' head chef, Chris Scott, told Yahoo Finance said. "It is a completely different flavor profile than what everybody else has on the market, bringing that to the boneless avenue is just such a huge place that opened up for us."