KFC fans threaten boycott over move to scrap popcorn chicken and four other items from its menu

KFC may face backlash for its latest decision to remove some of its longstanding items, including its beloved popcorn chicken combo.

The other finger lickin' mainstay items being dropped from its offerings include KFC's fried chicken wings, Nashville hot sauce, chocolate chip cookies and strawberry lemonade.

The company owned by Yum! Brands also owns Taco Bell, The Habit Burger Grill, and Pizza Hut is planning to modify their menu boards to make the drive-thru and in-restaurant experience more seamless and help employees of the fast food retailer operate more efficiently.

KFC US Director Brittany Wilson told Fox Business that new menu boards that started to roll out nationwide in November 2022 'will allow us to make room for some new, exciting additions to the menu in 2023.'

One of the new items that made its debut last week and will be available through March 1st are the Kentucky Fried Chicken Wraps. The wraps feature chicken tender wrapped in a warm flour tortilla with pickles and mayonnaise. Another version comes with coleslaw, pickles and a 'spicy sauce.'

The popular popcorn chicken combo are one of the items being removed from KFC's menu as part of a strategy to streamline its menu and make room for new items. 'We've narrowed down options for customers, making it easier for them to decide what to order and focusing on menu items that we do best,' Brittany Wilson, director at KFC US told USA TODAY 

KFC's fried chicken wings (pictured) will no longer be part of the fast food chain's menu line 

KFC was founded in 1930 in North Corbin, Kentucky by Harland Sanders, who would later become Colonel Sanders and the face of the company. Pictured is a stock image of drive-thru

The Popcorn Chicken Combo, which comes with a small popcorn chicken, a small fries and a drink, will be removed, but will still be available in store for KFC Famous Bowls, KFC officials said. 

KFC's original Colonel Sanders recipe with 11 herbs and spices will also remain. And, the new products are expected to be introduced on a case-by-case basis this spring.

 Wilson told Yahoo Finance that some items being dropped were not available nationwide and and just weren't catching on with consumers.

 'We've narrowed down options for customers, making it easier for them to decide what to order and focusing on menu items that we do best,' Wilson told USA TODAY.

She confirmed that KFC will not be getting rid of its fan-favorites Famous Bowls adding that 'Popcorn Chicken is still being used on them.'

The restaurant's menu 'will continue to evolve as restaurants' product supply shifts and we roll out new product,' she told the news outlet.

According to KFC menu prices that were updated in February their Popcorn Nuggets Combo were priced at $5.99 that includes an individual side and medium drink. 

Prices for their Kentucky Fried Wings start at $5 for six pieces, $9.99 for 12-peices $18.99 for 24-peices, and $36.99 for 48-peices.

Beverages including strawberry lemonade ran for $2.29 for a medium and $3.99 for a large size, and their chocolate chip cookies -3 cookies priced at $1.29 and 12 cookies for $4.49.

Nearly 99 percent of KFC franchises are individually-owned. 

Data company ScrapeHero said as of February 13 there are 3,886 KFC stores operating in the United States. The state with the most number of KFC locations is California with 427 stores. 

KFC's chocolate chip cookies are also one of the items being scrapped as part of the new plan

KFC's strawberry lemonade will also be removed from its menu 

Franchise owner Justin Stewart, who is also the COO of Stewart Restaurant Group, said his 'team members have been able to package orders more quickly, due to having less items on our pack line.'

'As a result, we've reduced our drive-through order time by 11 seconds,' he said.

Over the years, many popular fast-food chains have sent customers in an uproar. The temporary removal of Popeyes' popular chicken sandwich, McDonald's chicken tenders and McRib that were removed and than re-added, and Taco Bell's move to pull potatoes from its menu for good, all caused backlash, according to Business Insider. 

When the meatless crave hit the nation many meat-loving carnivores expressed concern as fast food chains such as Burger King, McDonald's and Chik-fil-A and Shake Shack all followed suit.

Some of the items included McDonalds introduced McPlant nuggets, and Chick-fil-A introduced their cauliflower sandwich - prepared similar as the Chik-fil-A sandwich but replaced with a deep fried cauliflower patty, according to WGN Radio.