KFC spent $US80 million to create a chicken sandwich

KFC gives away 3000 new spicy Zinger chicken sandwiches at an event on Monday in New York. Image: Diane Bondareff, Invision, KFC, AP

KFC, a unit of Yum! Brands, announced that they have spent nearly $US80 million to create a new chicken sandwich in order to drum up sales.

Also read, Fried chicken is taking over the fast-food industry.

The “Zinger”, the first fried chicken sandwich to be made by hand, daily in-house, has been in the works for years.

“We have been actually working on this for two years, we spent $80 million upgrading our back house equipment and we spent the last six months retraining all of our staff on how to make a fried chicken sandwich fast because ultimately at lunch, we have to win on speed,” Kevin Hochman, president and chief concept officer for KFC US, told FOX Business’ Stuart Varney.

Mr Hochman also says the sandwich, which is already sold in more than 120 countries around the world will debut in the US on April 24. In addition to that, it will be made with 100 per cent real chicken from US farms without any antibiotics.

KFC recently joined a long-list of other fast-food restaurants in announcing plans last week to stop using antibiotics in its chickens by the end of 2018.

“We share the public’s concern about ... antimicrobial resistance,” Mr Hochman said in a statement.

Chipotle, McDonald’s, Burger King, Panera, and Wendy’s have already made similar pledges in the past. But KFC says they believe they are on the cutting edge in trying to forgo antibiotics when it comes to on-the-bone chicken. The “Zinger” will also be free of added hormones, steroids, and food dyes.

And, even though more Americans are demanding healthier food options, Mr Hochman says he believes people will be interested in this fried sandwich.

“It’s funny. People want real prepared food and the cooks are in back of the house making our chicken on the bone and these new Zinger sandwiches [are] totally different than anything out on the market place today,” he said.

SOURCE Fox News