KFC goes 50/50 with Mzansi to celebrate 50 years in South Africa #LetsGo5050

Johannesburg, South Africa, December 1- Next year, KFC will celebrate 50 years of sharing its famous Original Recipe™ with Mzansi. Since 1971, the popular chicken brand has served up millions of meals around the country and has, over five decades, cemented itself as one of South Africa’s most loved brands. A brand that is not only known for its high-quality standards, but for also offering its customers delicious tasting meals at great prices - making it affordable for all South Africans to enjoy the goodness of KFC.

Looking back on the past 50 years in South Africa for KFC, 2020 is by far the craziest yet, and so it is time to look forward. A crazy year deserves a crazy celebration and so to honour almost 50 years in the country, KFC is going big by going halvies with South Africa this December.

Marketing Director at KFC South Africa, Suhayl Limbada said, “Celebrating 50 years in South Africa with local fans is a big deal for us and so we’re going big the only way we know how – by sharing it with Mzansi.”

Tapping into SA’s unique culture and really drawing on inspiration from local talent, KFC has collaborated with an artist and local clothing brand to bring festive 50th birthday swag to fried chicken lovers. From daily deals on products to limited edition local collaborations – it’s a celebration to be reckoned with.

To help make sure December is still a festive season of sharing when their fans need it most, KFC is offering customers 50% off selected products every day from the 1st to the 20th of December 2020. Whether you pop into your local KFC or swing by the drive-thru be sure to hurry as specials are limited to the first 100 customers in store (up to 2 items per transaction). But, if you miss out, order online or via the KFC App as the deals are available all day (up to 5 items per transaction).

To celebrate into their 50th anniversary year, for the first time ever KFC also went 50/50 with talented local illustrator, Russell Abrahams (AKA Yay Abe) to design a unique collection of limited-edition Birthday Buckets. Inspired by KFC’s heritage and the culture of Mzansi, Yay Abe added his bold, bright and playful illustration style to the iconic KFC buckets - which always brings people together - to create a range of collectable buckets that will hopefully bring a little more colour and a lot more flare to festive tables this December.

“My intention was to celebrate and illustrate the combined heritage and growth of both KFC and South Africa over the past 50 years while also bringing to life that good feeling of people coming together to share good times and great meals,” said Abrahams, “When people share a meal around these buckets in December, I want them to feel what I felt when I was creating them: hope, joy and pride in South Africa.”

There are three collectable Birthday Buckets in the KFC x Yay Abe range: The “Heritage Bucket” (9 piece) is designed for, and dedicated to, the people of KFC; from the founder – Colonel Saunders - to the KFC employees, and of course, to the fans who have welcomed KFC into their daily lives over the past 50 years. The “Goodness Bucket” (15 piece) depicts everything fans love about KFC, from their ‘finger lickin’ good’™ meals and secret recipe, to their 11-year-old Add Hope Programme that has delivered food supplies to 141 beneficiaries nationwide, with over 150 000 children reached, and 5.5 million nutritious meals served to those in need. The “Sharing Bucket” (21 piece) embodies the special cultural norm of family and friends gathering around a table to enjoy a great meal and good company together.

“Taking a global icon like the KFC buckets and adorning them with illustrations that depict the richness and beauty of our country’s diverse cultures is a very special project,” said Limbada. “Working with Yay Abe, a local talent and a true original, to tell our original heritage story through our buckets - the icon of food sharing in street culture - is the perfect ode to KFC’s history in SA.”

Not shy on celebratory spirit, or local collaborations, KFC also went 50/50 with local fashion brand Thesis Lifestyle to create a limited-edition collection of KFC inspired streetwear. With a finger on the pulse of the street culture and style, the founder of the Soweto-based brand, Wandile Zondo and his partner Galebowe Mahlatsi, create streetwear that they hope will inspire the next generation to define themselves. The Thesis x KFC Collection includes an exclusive run of bespoke t-shirts, vests, tote bags and bucket hats. These were designed to reflect what they believe KFC founder, Colonel Sanders, would be proud to see and experience if he were to visit the streets of Mzansi today. “Bringing together the original style of streetwear in Soweto, with the original flavour and flare of KFC, we want this range to tell a story that salutes the South African people of KFC, from their thousands of employees to their millions of fans,” said Zondo of Thesis, “Thesis is more than just a brand, it’s a lifestyle, and the same is true about KFC, it is a part of our culture.”

The collection will be on sale from the 1st of December and the best part is that 50% of all sales will be going towards the KFC Add Hope programme, so fans can go 50/50 with KFC to support more children who need it most. With only 100 of each item for sale, fans will need to hit the Thesis store or online shop fast to get their hands on a piece of iconic swag history. “The collaboration with Thesis is a perfect fit for us as KFC values ‘originality’ - in our products and our partnerships - and Thesis aim to inspire people to ‘Define Themselves’, as their brand slogan,” said Limbada, “As the collection is made for the people and inspired by our street culture, this collection is the perfect way to celebrate how KFC has become a part of everyday life in South Africa over the past 50 years.”

What would a Birthday be without gifts? KFC will also be gifting Thesis x KFC swag items on their social platforms in December with giveaways every day from 21 - 30 December 2020. In KFC’s 50/50 spirit, winners will each win two prizes so they can go 50/50 with their loved ones by gifting them too. Stay tuned to the KFC social media pages to enter.

With plenty for KFC fans to enjoy this December - from 50% off selected meals, limited-edition Birthday Buckets and streetwear gear - KFC invites all to join the celebration. As KFC celebrates into their 50th year in SA, 2021 promises to be a time of reflection as well as opportunity while sharing in thanks. And everyone is welcome, as founder Colonel Sanders would say ‘there is room for everyone at the table.’

Let’s celebrate December together by sharing. 
#LetsGo5050.

Ends.

To view more on the campaign, collaborations and the behind the scenes content visit our KFC turns 50 blog.

Campaign TVC: https://youtu.be/IGugz8pIamI

Editors Notes:

About KFC
KFC has been in South Africa for over 49 years and has around 951 restaurants across the country. The first KFC restaurant to open in South Africa was in 1971 in Orange Grove, Johannesburg. KFC is the leading Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) brand in South Africa, with just under a third of market share, according to Brand Image Tracker. KFC serves more than 20 million customers a month, and we work hard to ensure that no matter which of our restaurants they walk into, they will get that distinctive KFC flavour and have a great experience. KFC’s Original Recipe® Chicken was first made by Colonel Harland Sanders in 1940 when he perfected his secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices at his restaurant in Kentucky. Today, KFC is the world's most popular chicken restaurant, still preparing our chicken with the Colonel’s secret recipe to his exact standards. Every KFC restaurant follows the same global processes and procedures to make sure that our customers get great tasting food, every time.

Facebook: KFCSA
Instagram: @kfcsa
Twitter: @kfcsa
Website: https://order.kfc.co.za
More about KFC’s 50th Celebrations: https://order.kfc.co.za/turns50
KFC App (apple) https://apps.apple.com/za/app/kfc-south-africa/id1459635152
Thesis x KFC Order Link: https://www.thesislifestyle.co.za/collections/ThesisxKFC

About Yay Abe – Russell Abrahams (collaboration illustrator) 
Yay Abe is an award-winning name in the illustration community, banking multiple awards and big brand collaborations. This creative talent was born and bred in Cape Town, South Africa. His illustrations and street art are inspired by a mélange of local people and cultures, characterised by bold colour, a unique graphic style and playful nature. Russell Abrahams is well on his way to becoming a force within South Africa’s creative industry.
https://www.instagram.com/yay_abe/?hl=en

About Thesis Lifestyle (Streetwear Collection Collaboration brand) 
Thesis Lifestyle was founded by Wandile Zondo and run together with business partner Galebowe Mahlatsi, the two individuals on a steady mission to change the face of the township through creativity and culture. Introducing Thesis Lifestyle, a booming fashion brand in Soweto, speaking to the pulse of the community in a way few brands do. Starting in 2006 when Wandile tested the market by selling second-hand recycled clothing. He them spotted a gap in the market and a vacant space for a concept store, Thesis Lifestyle was born. Created to keep friends and community motivated, it has now grown into retail chain, events and social impact movement. Thesis represent the people, the real street culture; made for the go-getters, the dreamers the self-starters. It’s a lifestyle we all want to be a part of. 
https://www.thesislifestyle.co.za/

Release distributed on behalf of Suhayl Limbada of KFC Advertising South Africa
By Refiloe Mononela PR Consultant from Bonfire Media
refiloe@bonfiremedia.co.za
0837997492

For interviews, additional content or questions please contact Refilwe on refiloe@bonfiremedia.co.za