America Has Overwhelming Response to Kentucky Grilled Chicken™ Offer; KFC Offers Apology and Rain Checks for Inconvenienced Customers

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following an unprecedented and overwhelming response to a free offer of a Kentucky Grilled Chicken meal, KFC has announced that it can no longer accept the free coupon at this time, but that it will introduce a rain check program to take care of inconvenienced customers.

“We know that when people taste their free Kentucky Grilled Chicken, they’re going to love it”

“We would like to apologize to our customers who have been inconvenienced by the overwhelming response to our free Kentucky Grilled Chicken offer,” said Roger Eaton, President of KFC U.S. “The lines of customers wanting to redeem their coupons have been out the door and around the block, so we’re unable to redeem customer coupons at this time.”

The offer, which was featured on “The Oprah Winfrey Show®” on Tuesday, May 5, resulted in millions of coupons being downloaded and lines of customers waiting outside KFC restaurants from coast to coast. While the Kentucky Grilled Chicken introduction was already the largest in KFC history, the overwhelming response of the free meal offer drove restaurant traffic to levels not seen in the brand’s 50-plus year history.

While millions of free meal coupons have already been redeemed over the past three days, customers holding a coupon will now be issued a rain check. Those customers may visit a participating KFC restaurant to receive a rain check form. They will then receive via mail a rain check coupon for the free two pieces of Kentucky Grilled Chicken (manager’s choice), two individual side items and a biscuit. The rain check coupon, which will be redeemable at a later date for a two week period, will also entitle the holder to a free Pepsi to go with the free meal, as a way of apologizing for the inconvenience.

All rain check requests must be accompanied by an original coupon and returned to a participating KFC restaurant or postmarked by May 19, 2009.

“We know that when people taste their free Kentucky Grilled Chicken, they’re going to love it,” Eaton added. “We apologize to those who have been inconvenienced, and we thank them for their understanding and patience.”

About KFC

KFC Corporation, based in Louisville, Ky., is the world’s most popular chicken restaurant chain specializing in Original Recipe®, Extra Crispy™, Kentucky Grilled Chicken™ and Original Recipe Strips with home-style sides, Honey BBQ Wings, and freshly made chicken sandwiches. There are more than 15,000 KFC outlets in more than 80 countries and territories around the world, serving some 12 million customers each day. KFC Corporation is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., Louisville, Ky. (NYSE: YUM.)

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5960286&lang=en