If you can’t outpace the competition, you may end up borrowing from its playbook.
KFC is revamping its menu just months after being surpassed by Raising Cane’s, one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains in the country. The fried chicken giant’s new direction leans heavily into chicken tenders and a broader lineup of sauces, a shift that makes its offerings look notably closer to the Raising Cane’s formula.
As part of the overhaul, KFC is introducing new flavors including Chimichurri Ranch and Hot Honey Habanero. Customers will also see new “Dunked” items, featuring chicken either coated in sauce or served alongside it.
The timing is notable. Raising Cane’s, which has spent nearly 30 years building its business around a famously streamlined menu centered on chicken fingers, has now climbed past KFC to become the third-largest chicken chain in the United States by sales.
According to Restaurant Business editor-in-chief Jonathan Maze, Raising Cane’s is “legitimately one of the hottest concepts in the restaurant industry today,” underscoring the pressure on legacy brands like KFC to adapt as consumer tastes shift.
Restaurant Business editor-in-chief Jonathan Maze told the Daily Mail that Raising Cane’s has ‘legitimately one of the hottest concepts in the restaurant industry today.’
The number one and two chicken chains are Chick-fil-A and Popeyes, respectively.
Raising Cane’s now has more than 900 restaurants, making it one of the biggest success stories in fast food thanks to its streamlined operations and meticulously chosen menu items.
Unlike other fast food chains that prioritize limited-edition products, Raising Cane’s features a compact menu of chicken fingers, fries, drinks, Texas toast and coleslaw – plus their famous sauce.
Raising Cane’s has seen plenty of growth as a fast food chain despite having a ‘limited’ lineup of food options
After seeing the success of Raising Cane’s, a chain which focuses almost exclusively on chicken tenders, company is shifting its attention toward chicken tenders and other boneless products.
‘In many respects it is the quintessential 2026 restaurant chain,’ Maze told us. ‘It has a simple menu, centered on boneless chicken, along with beverages like tea and lemonade that consumers absolutely love.’
The overhaul marks one of the biggest strategic shifts in the company’s recent history as executives attempt to modernize the brand and appeal to younger consumers.
‘In an increasingly crowded category, we have a clear opportunity to set the standard for modern chicken,’ KFC CEO Scott Mezvinsky said.
‘This next chapter brings new energy and expression to what makes us iconic,’ he added, ‘while doubling down on our chicken and reimagining how fans experience KFC around the world.’
Industry analysts have also pointed to a growing consumer preference for boneless chicken products, a trend that has fueled the success of chains such as Raising Cane’s and helped reshape the competitive landscape.
KFC is also introducing redesigned restaurants with a focus on new digital features and adding an entirely new beverage platform called Kwench by KFC. The company teased boba refreshers, sparkling lemonades, iced coffees and milkshake-style drinks.
KFC has been around for decades, opening its first franchise in Salt Lake City in 1952
KFC is known for its ‘finger lickin’ good’ fried chicken, as well as its biscuits and mashed potatoes
Some drinks are already available internationally, although its unclear how long it will be before they hit restaurants in the US.
KFC’s new drinks come just months after McDonald’s announced its lineup of refreshers and ‘dirty’ sodas, piggybacking off the energy drink craze popping up across the industry.
According to Maze, KFC is ‘probably’ doing the right thing by pivoting to tenders, sauces and drinks.
‘KFC is the oldest and still best-known chicken chain in the country and they have the absolute right to do these sorts of things,’ Maze said. ‘But ultimately its consumers know them for their bone-in chicken.’
‘You are who you are in this business, for good or for ill,’ he added. ‘As for the beverages, a lot of chains are focusing on drinks KFC is hardly alone, but the U.S. consumer really does want a wider variety of drinks from their restaurant chains and that’s why they’re doing that.’
Join the discussion
Is KFC’s menu overhaul an exciting upgrade or an attempt to stay relevant in the chicken wars?
