KFC’s fish and chips brings Kiwis to the beach

Thousands of New Zealanders travelled to Auckland from as far as Hamilton to get their hands on KFC’s limited edition Kentucky Fish & Chips, raising $ 40,000 for Surf Life Saving New Zealand last weekend.

The idea for KF&C started out as an April Fools joke two years ago, and on February 21 and 22 it was brought to life as a fundraising pop-up, delivered by KFC, Stanley St and Special PR at Mairangi Bay Surf Life Saving Club. 

It offered fresh Tarakihi battered in the Colonel’s 11 secret herbs and spices and paired with KFC’s seasoned chips. 

Under the hot, hot sun

The allure of the never seen before KF&C coupled with great weather across the two days brought with it the crowds, with several ‘campers’ opting to set up picnic tables and chairs from 9 am to get their hands on the product first. 

On Saturday afternoon, StopPress reporter Zahra Shahtahmasebi attempted a visit and spent her time driving in a loop around the Mairangi Bay carpark, marvelling at the queue that stretched down the road and looking longingly at the red and white pop up store that seemed so close but yet, so far.

Holly Knowles, KFC’s Senior Brand Manager, says they had to switch on a contingency plan to deal with the crowds. 

“The line was at least 90 minutes long before we even opened our doors at midday on Friday. We even had people drive to Auckland’s North Shore from Hamilton, so we immediately knew we needed to upgrade our existing plan,” says Knowles. “We had to ensure it was a safe event for everyone – so we doubled security, sourced crowd control barriers and upped our food order to meet the demand. 

“Despite our best efforts, we still sold out late on Saturday afternoon. We’d like to apologise to anyone disappointed – but don’t worry, we’ll cook up another surprise again soon.” 

Creating experiences

While fish and chips won’t be a regular offering from KFC, the campaign was launched as a fundraising initiative to support its longstanding charity partner Surf Life Saving New Zealand. 

The volunteer-based organisation is a welcomed sight for Kiwis on New Zealand beaches, clocking up over 240,000 hours of service last summer. $ 40,000 was raised for Surf Life Saving will support their vital training, public education and operational costs. 

Knowles adds, “Our marketing always focuses on creating experiences that not only lean into the community but align with Kiwi culture. The reaction is a testament to the truth of our brand – it’s ‘the power of KFC’ – and we’re so lucky to be guardians of that.” 

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