KFC is expanding its off-premise offering by partnering with DoorDash at nearly 3,000 locations, the companies announced Monday.
DoorDash will become the chicken chain’s largest delivery provider, covering about 75% of its U.S. stores.
The news follows the end of an exclusive deal between KFC parent Yum Brands and Grubhub, which fell apart in June after Yum sued Grubhub, alleging the service had attempted to end their relationship without warning. With the DoorDash partnership, KFC is moving to market itself elsewhere.
A representative for the companies declined to share whether KFC would receive a reduced commission rate on orders placed through DoorDash as part of the agreement.
To promote the partnership, KFC is offering 12 free chicken tenders with the purchase of select bucket meals ordered via the DoorDash website or app. Delivery fees on those orders will be waived. The deal runs through Sept. 17.
“We are always looking for ways to make it easier for our customers to get our world-famous fried chicken delivered right to their table, hot and fresh,” said Chris Caldwell, chief technology officer, KFC U.S., in a statement. “By partnering with DoorDash, we're giving fried chicken fans more ways to feed their cravings and offering one of our best limited-time deals yet.”
The deal with DoorDash could help KFC continue what has been a successful period for its off-premise channels. The Louisville, Ky.-based chain launched online ordering last year and has seen sales rise during the pandemic as consumers gravitate toward large, family-friendly meals such as buckets of fried chicken. During one week in early May, it generated the highest average sales per store in the brand’s history, executives said on a recent earnings call.
That recent success is reflected in research by DoorDash, released in conjunction with the KFC announcement, that said fried chicken is the top comfort food for 92% of Americans. The survey of 1,000 consumers also found that 85% order extra food for delivery so they have leftovers.
“At a time when more people are enjoying their meals safely from the comfort of their homes, DoorDash’s geographic coverage made us a great fit as KFC looked to expand their off-premise operations,” said Toby Espinosa, vice president of business development at DoorDash, in a statement.
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