Starting 17 April 2018 (16 April in QLD/WA), KFC are launching a new $5 box to coincide with the return of Hot & Spicy chicken!
The Hot and Spicy $5 Box includes:
1 piece of Hot and Spicy Chicken
1 Wicked Wing
Regular Chips
Regular Potato and Gravy
250ml Solo
It’s available until 4pm everyday from April 17 to May 14 (one day earlier in QLD/WA).
plane ticket to QLD
It's $5 in Vic too.
Oh yay now I only need to pay for a coach.
now I only need to pay for a coach.
Carlton's might become available soon if things don't improve.
Popular topic this one!
My nephew worked at KFC and tells me that when Hot & Spice is "on", that the store revenue zooms up by over 20%. Not just 20% more chicken, but 20% more of everything because they get a lot more people in the door, not just a diversion of existing sales from OR to H&S. He says that the staff cannot understand why, here in Melbourne, H&S is not on all year around. He wonders if it is because "The Colonel" did not invent that flavor and the management is wedded to that whole story line, which a popular H&S diminishes?
It's odd they haven't however I think it's likely due to cook & hold times on the chicken and potential wastage, impractical to cook on demand. I'm sure H&S as a permanent menu item is regularly reviewed. I much prefer H&S too, every now and again driving to Vic Gardens to get my fix.
You can say KFC’s target market is ozbargainers. Can’t believe how popular this deal is.
It's pretty obvious how much sales increase when H&S is on. Whenever this deal comes around even I, someone who doesn't work at KFC, sees how busy it is when I visit. I see how busy the drive thru is, and how busy in store it is, and I see people in the line in front of me order H&S.
It honestly boggles my mind how stupid the people at KFC HQ are. I mean, I understand why it's not always around (maybe they're happy with the current revenue they have, and temporary promotions could boost sales during quiet periods), but the fact that they only bring it around once every 2 years (it used to be once a year 10+ years ago, usually in the winter) is just dumb as hell and absolutely frustrating. The people want H&S but KFC is too stupid to understand that.
I don't get why the people at KFC HQ are this stupid, it's as if there isn't any business analysis going on at HQ or whoever is analysing sales is asleep at the wheel. I don't get why management at KFC are so stupid that they stopped bringing H&S in once a year, left it for a period of about 8 years (IIRC around 2004 is when it stopped coming each year, and then didn't come back until 2011/2012 or so) and suddenly bring it back once every two years and it's clearly now an inferior product.
Maybe the culture at KFC HQ sucks that much that the staff turnover increased and so they just forgot about how H&S is their money maker.
Not even only that, but the way the stores are run are horrible too from what I've heard. They honestly need to do what Red Rooster did — hire someone from McDonald's to come into the business and fix it up. It infuriates me when people in management are lazy and don't give two hoots about improving the business — just like some politicians out there.
To be honest though, H&S these days is NOTHING compared to back in the 90s/early 2000s. It used to be a lot hotter and a lot spicier, these days it's just bland so I could care less if KFC kill it off. Each time they bring it back I get excited and I am always let down. I'll eat it sure, but if I had to choose I'd go elsewhere if I wanted some junk food.
It used to be a lot hotter and a lot spicier, these days it's just bland
You're right it's no-where near as good as what it once was. KFC overseas (eg Singapore, Indonesia) have hot and crispy, which tastes just as good (if not better) as to how it was previously in Australia.
This is why we have to visit Richmond to get our fix of H&S all year round.
Had it earlier, disappointed. Hot and Spicy it is not. There's no heat to it at all, it's actually pretty sad, but it's what I've come to expect from Hot and Spicy in recent years — the flavour is just dead. Sad :(
Are you sure it's the recipe changing and not just your taste buds dying?
I used to like original, now it tastes bland. I'm pretty sure it's because hot and spicy is the new baseline, and my taste buds want a bigger hit.
They are tweaking things constantly. Mostly with the aim of less sodium, fat etc - less kj displayed on the menu board. See YUM! Brands website (KFC Parent) for more info.
Yes, 100% sure. I distinctly remember it having more heat and spice to it when I ate it in my younger years, it's very bland these days.
In Australia, KFC has successfully implemented sodium reduction initiatives for a number of products, making significant reductions across a range of products including:
2010: Reduced sodium across core chicken menu items by an average of 15 percent and seasoned chip salt by 21 percent
2011: Reduced sodium in burger buns by 30 percent and dinner rolls by 37 percent
http://www.yumcsr.com/food/nutritional-improvement.asp
No wonder KFC tastes worse all the time :(
Mainly due to increased prices for Sodium on international commodity trading markets…
It's just a commercial decision.
My hot and spicy piece was as small as the wicked wing… lol
lol
Same, boo the sadistic staff who choose a H&S wing piece in this meal.
Has anyone successfully used the app to order the $5 box after 4pm?
Yes I did today around 4:30pm. Very proud of that. Even the wicked wing in the meal packed a punch.
My observations:-
When such offers are introduced its much better to go full hog in the early days because as the deal gets older the quality and spice punch starts to dissipate.
With HnS, the new Batter is also then used on wicked wings which improves the quality of the winglets which in my opinion is a double win.
I know you’ve already got your answer, but I can confirm this still works. Just got the “lunch” box for dinner.
It was amazing yesterday, sometimes in the past the batter was so thick that there was a non-crispy batter layer underneath.
Yesterday was a perfect single layer crispy coating all around all three pieces of chicken in my 3 piece feed.
When reedeeming the free chip n drinks.. how long do you have to redeem it before it expires
14 days but most don't look. you can usually get away with an oldie
isn't it 3 days? or is that just for doing the actual survey?
Yep the letter
Do you have to redeem the free chips and drink at the store the receipt is from or any KFC?
Swap out the P&G and get another regular chips, pay the 50 cents to upgrade to a proper size can of drink, $5.50 for a proper meal.
Can you swap the P&G with anything?
You can swap it (or any of these items for eachother) a regular chips, coleslaw, dinner roll, gravy or a shaker salad on any meal.
They don't seem to advertise it though - do I just ask the KFC people? Can I only do it in store? Can't seem to do it via the app.
I tried swapping the P&G from the lunch box to a regular gravy at the counter. Wasn't allowed (explains why you can't on the app too). The P&G you get in the lunch box is smaller than their regular P&G.
The best free swap is the bread roll for a shaker salad imo.
@CVonC: This is what it says on their website though:
The best of the best in one box - Hot & Spicy Chicken, a Wicked Wing, perfectly seasoned chips, mash and gravy, and a cool drink. This offer is not everywhere and not forever.
In your meal:
1x 1 Pc Hot & Spicy Chicken
1x 1 Wicked Wing
1x Regular Chips
1x Regular Potato & Gravy
1x 250ml Solo
I was told that they can't do it on this promo box.
I wish the can was 375ml. Not sure why they even bother with 250ml tbh. I mean the extra 125ml is make up for like 115ml water.
It's 50c to upsize to 375mL can or a juice
For me it's worth upsizing to the juice, and then having the can from survey with the meal.
I like an afternoon juice :)
get apple/orange juice with the survey as well
I've never tried this to be honest, seems better than having 2 cans though!
@TarquinOliverNimrod: oh yeah fair enough same size as the cans probably. Was hoping it would be 500ml or something haha
I wanted to swap the H&S piece for original recipe. Staff member informs me that the manager will not allow swap over from H&S to original.
(walks away in disbelief)
In true ozbargainer style uses app to do swap over.
(walks back to counter)
Inform staff I have an online order and of course hand over old receipt to get free chips and can of drink.
How do you swap items with the app? I can't seem to do it.
Got this yesterday, it's a bit disappointing they don't let you upgrade from solo to water for free like maccas does..
.. bought 2 of these lunch deals on Wednesday at Bonnyrigg .. anybody know why the "use by date" stickers were removed from the potato and gravy containers I received .. is there an issue here???
So I got this today up near Newcastle and they handed me a 375mL solo? I looked in the fridge and it was full of normal sized cans - strange.
No problems swapping the H&S to an original recipe for the random piece but couldn't for the wing.
The random piece was actually quite generous although I did get the ribs and everything also - lots of chicken breast though.
Chips were also bigger than I thought which is good :)
My goodness it was the greasiest KFC lunch I have ever had though.
Tried this today in NSW and it was good.
Anyone in Vic tried hot and spicy?
I thought it wasn't as hot as last time when it was released a few years ago. Though still better than regular
Just had it. Agree, not that spicy, but tastes nice.
Had it last week and was quite disappointed with HnS- no punch at all :(
tasted like nothing. the boneless hot and spicy from a while back was good though
You can order this anytime via the App, it does not have to be lunch time.
Confirmed at Perth CBD store, ordered on the app at 6pm, cashier politely queried with Manager, friendly Manager confirmed available anytime via the app.
This is nothing compared to the delicious Tabasco chicken they had earlier. I almost never go to KFC but that Tabasco chicken had me lining up. Gotta bring that back!
When does it end?
Is it the monday the 14th in SA?
Because i just saw a poster for 9 pieces for $9.95 specifically saying hot and spicy but i dont think this was avail on last tuesday (8 may).
Can anyone confirm if it was avail on the 8th and if it ends on the 14th?
Because this means its immposible to get this deal. Hahaha
Depends on the plane ticket to QLD and the uber to the KFC.
Generally a lot more though.