LOUISVILLE Ky. Two quick-service giants are promoting bite-size spicy chicken offerings in the run-up to Super Bowl Sunday, which is often touted as the biggest day of the year for wing sales.
KFC, which usually promotes chicken wings in some way in January, is offering 30 of its new "fiery" grilled wings for $19.99 at participating restaurants in its 5,200-unit system. Wendy’s, meanwhile, is selling its new spicy chicken nuggets — breaded, fried white meat flavored with three types of peppers — at the price of five for 99 cents.
Wendy's, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc., entered the chicken “wing” market last June, introducing three boneless flavors to its 6,623 units.
The boneless wings are actually made from chicken breast meat, a product that usually is more expensive than wings, although that trend has been reversed for the past several months, according to the National Chicken Council.
Aspokesman for the chicken producers’ trade body also said that Super Bowl Sunday accounted for about 4 percent of annual wing sales.
KFC, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc. of Louisville, Ky., introduced its fiery grilled wings on Dec. 28 with television and online promotions, including the 30-for-$19.99 coupon, which is good through Feb. 14 and can be downloaded from KFC.com.
Company spokesman Rick Maynard said the wings were primarily targeting men aged 18 to 34.
“Nothing goes with football like hot wings,” Maynard said. “Super Bowl Sunday is our biggest wing sales day of the year, so we’re excited to be able to offer fiery grilled wings to football and wing fans this year.”
KFC is also promoting the wings with a “Wingatology Sweepstakes.” Customers who pay with Visa cards are automatically entered for a chance to win a VIP trip to a college basketball conference tournament game, a trip to ESPN headquarters to meet sportscaster Jay Bilas and watch the ESPN Bracketology Special live in the studio, a large screen television and $3,000 cash.
KFC has more than 15,000 units worldwide.
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected].