KFC's 'Double Down' Gamble Pays Off

**huge285** · 05-20-2010, 01:45 AM

KFC's 'Double Down' Gamble Pays Off

by Nichol Nelson, Posted May 19th 2010 @ 4:00PM
Print Email More

Photo: Rachel Been, AOL

Oh, America. You just couldn't resist, could you?

KFC, home of the now-legendary Double Down sandwich, is proudly trumpeting the news: The eye-popping tower of bacon and cheese surrounded by chicken filets (no bun) is about to sell its 10 millionth sandwich. And to celebrate, they're going to extend its run.

"This truly an example of popular demand," says Javier Benito, executive vice president of marketing and food innovation for KFC. "Our plans were to feature the product only through May 23, but millions of Double Down fans have spoken and we won't disappoint them. You'll continue to be able to get the Double Down at KFC this summer."

Ten million. Well, perhaps it couldn't be helped. The fried chicken chain got a huge burst of free marketing when news outlets heard about the breadless sandwich. If you didn't see the [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLwEZRf3www&NR=1"]YouTube- KFC Double Down Chicken Sandwich[/nomedia], you read the scathing commentary. And to parrot a cliché, there's no such thing as bad publicity. The Double Down has become a cultural touchstone – look online for proof. Twitter feeds are full of people marking their first encounters with the sandwich, and videos of people eating it are all over You Tube. "We've really never seen anything like it," says Benito.
In defense of fans of the sandwich, it's really not that much worse for you than what's already out there. Something about the lack of bread makes people assume the worse. (For those who don't want to know, shield your eyes.) The original version of the Double Down contains 540 calories and 32 grams of fat. (The grilled sandwich cuts calories to 460 and fat to 23 grams.) Yet for all the hoopla, this isn't really that outrageous in the fast-food world: A McDonald's Big Mac has 540 calories, 29 grams of fat, and a Burger Kind Whopper is even worse, weighing in at 670 calories and 40 grams of fat.

So is it the worst thing out there? Not by a long shot. But it's still not exactly health food. Is the taste worth it? With 10 million sold, plenty of people seem to think so.

Read more: http://www.slashfood.com/2010/05/19/kfcs-double-down-gamble-pays-off/?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl8|link6|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.slashfood.com%2F2010% 2F05%2F19%2Fkfcs-double-down-gamble-pays-off%2F#ixzz0oRhba9j2

**Franz'Kaiser' Beckenbauer** · 05-20-2010, 01:50 AM

we don't have it in the UK... they need to bring it

**A-Maxx** · 05-20-2010, 01:52 AM

I wanted to eat one of those so bad during my diet for the Jay Cutler Classic. Its been 2.5 weeks after the show and I still havent eaten it.

Guess its not so pleasin now when I know could easily get it and eat it if I want.

**dilatedmuscle** · 05-20-2010, 03:55 PM

i would like to try it, mad protein.

**medium195** · 05-20-2010, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by dilatedmuscle

i would like to try it, mad protein.

grilled version 60 grams protien, only 3 carbs

**R.I.P.** · 05-20-2010, 05:08 PM

freacking great after workouts.

**The Big Sexy** · 05-20-2010, 06:02 PM

Great... through summer. Just in time for my prep to be over for my shows.

**Gaoshang Xiongshou** · 05-20-2010, 06:19 PM

**MiamiMadePunk** · 05-20-2010, 06:28 PM

WOW, extend thier run, I'm not suprised in fact I think the makers of the double down used dave palumbo's diet plan and created a sandwich that is designed for guys on a keto diet. Can you imagine someone eating 6 grilled double down's a day, I bet they get lean if they go keto relying on just the double down's alone.