KFC: We thought we should “Just Do It”

Having paused the use of Its Finger Lickin’ Good in 2020, KFC is ‘trying on’ famous slogans from iconic brands for the next 48 hours

The tongue-in-cheek campaign will see iconic slogans ‘tested’ through KFC advertisements on social media and out-of-home advertising

25 March 2020 Johanessburg, SA - After 64 long and beautiful years, we decided to pause the use of our iconic slogan in 2020. Why? Well, due to the pandemic, Finger Lickin’ Good probably become the most inappropriate slogan in the world.

So, as we await the epic return of their iconic slogan, here in South Africa, we decided to spread our wings and try on a few others for size. But we want to make one thing clear: while our decision to ‘try on’ these slogans may come as a surprise; we’re just having a little fun and have nothing but respect for the brands featured. After all, would we be using their slogans if we didn’t like them?

What’s more, we’ll only be using the slogans for 48 hours. After all, nothing can really replace ours - a slogan we simply can’t wait to bring it back, just when the time is right.

Says Suhayl Limbada, Marketing Director at KFC South Africa: “Pausing the use of our beloved slogan in South Africa was not easy – especially ahead of our 50th birthday celebrations this year as it’s such an iconic part of our brand.  But it was the right thing to do. We can’t wait to be reunited with our slogan but in the meantime, we hope the teams at Red Bull, Coca-Cola, Simba, MTN, Engen, Vodacom and OUTsurance to name a few, don’t mind if we try on their slogans for the next 48 hours – we promise we’ll give them back!

From the moment the pandemic began, ensuring KFC restaurants were able to operate responsibly has been our number one priority - taking into account specific conditions in countries around the world and making decisions accordingly. The same goes for the continued decision to pause the use of ‘It’s Finger Lickin’ Good in South Africa.

We know it won’t be forever, and it’s going to make an almighty comeback one day, hold tight.

About KFC

In 1952 Colonel Harland Sanders opened the first KFC restaurant in Utah. Since then, his perfectly crafted Original Recipe chicken and its secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices has become famous all over the world, and today we have 950 restaurants across South Africa. The Colonel was all about doing things the right way. That means our chicken is delivered fresh from farm to restaurant in 48 hours and it’s prepared carefully by hand in-restaurant by trained cooks.

To find out more about us visit kfc.co.za or follow the Colonel on Twitter @KFCSA and Instagram kfcsouthafrica