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Double Down (sandwich)

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Double Down
Nutritional value per 248 g
Energy2,552.24 kJ (610.00 kcal)
18g
Sugars1 g
Dietary fiber1 g
37 g
Saturated11 g
Trans1 g
52 g
Vitamins and minerals
MineralsQuantity
%DV†
Sodium
82%
1880 mg
Other constituentsQuantity
Cholesterol150 mg
†Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[1] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.[2]

The Double Down is a sandwich offered by Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurants. It has two pieces of fried chicken fillet, as opposed to bread, containing bacon, cheese, and a sauce.[3] Variants have included fillets that are grilled or with a spicy coating.

History

Africa

KFC South Africa premiered the Double Down in March 2013. To obtain its halal certification, the bacon is replaced with a slice of processed smoked chicken.[4]

Asia

In November 2010, the Double Down was launched in select branches in the Philippines, the first in Asia. Nearly one year later, in October 2011, KFC Philippines replaced it with the Zinger Double Down, with a spicy flavor and crunchy skin. The product was discontinued in the Philippines in mid-2012, but reintroduced in January 2014 together with a smaller version, the Junior Double Down. It was discontinued yet again in May 2014, but relaunched in January 2015 for a limited time only, together with a new variation, the Double Down Dog. In January 2016, another new variation was introduced, the Double Down G which contained "crispy fried spinach" with a "secret green sauce". In March 2019, the Original Double Down and the Junior Double Down returned to the menu with the Zinger Double Down also being reintroduced the following month. These were available until April 30, 2019. On August 27, 2021, both the Original and Zinger Double Downs were brought back again to the menu, but were discontinued at the end of October. On April 25, 2023, the Original and Zinger Double Downs were again brought back to the menu, together with the Triple Down (three pieces of Original Recipe chicken fillets) and the Junior Double Down Rice Bowl on their "Secret Menu". These were available until June 26, 2023.

On February 2, 2012, the Double Down went on sale in Japan for a limited time as the Chicken Fillet Double.[5]

KFC Singapore launched the Zinger Double Down on April 16, 2012.[6] Instead of regular bacon, the Singapore version uses turkey bacon to conform to halal standards.[7] The most recent release there of the Double Down was the Hawaiian version, with a pineapple slice and BBQ sauce included.

KFC Malaysia introduced the Double Down on September 25, 2012.[8][better source needed]

In Korea, the Zinger Double Down was sold from December 1, 2012, through March 1, 2013, and re-released in October 2013 along with a variant named Zinger Double Down MAXX with an added hash brown patty and salsa.[9][better source needed] Both the Zinger Double Down and the Double Down MAXX were later added as a year-round menu in March 2014, and in April the original Double Down was also made available. In October 2014, the Zinger Double Down KING was announced, with a beef patty and barbecue sauce in the middle of two Zinger patties.[10][better source needed]

In India in October 2017, it was a secret item for the first week, available for purchase to a certain number of invitees and their friends as part of a promotion. In another week, its name was unveiled and made available for purchase by everyone for a limited time.[11]

In July 2018, the Double Down was launched in select branches in Bangkok, Thailand. It was later reintroduced in May 2019.[12]

KFC Indonesia introduced the Double Down starting on 1 February 2020. Also to meet halal standards as in Singapore and Malaysia, the bacon was replaced with hash browns.[13]

Europe

The Double Down was introduced when KFC was first introduced to Sweden.

It was introduced in Denmark in January 2017.[citation needed]

It was introduced in Germany and was available until March 2017. The German version contains two chicken strips, bacon, Monterey Jack and the special Double Down Sauce by KFC. It returned to the Menu of German Locations as a limited time offer from January to March 2021, and again in November 2024.

KFC released the Double Down in French markets in October 2014 as a limited edition product. It was then re-released in two flavours - Original Bacon and Spicy Zinger - in August 2015 and again in the 3rd flavor "Black Pepper" in September 2017.

In March 2016, the Double Down was introduced in Spain. The Spanish version has bacon, cheddar cheese and barbecue sauce in the two pieces of chicken fillet. Its advertising slogan is "No apto para cobardes" ("Not for cowards").

The Double Down was released in the UK and Ireland on 9[citation needed] October 2017,[14]following a launch a few days before, remaining available for six weeks until November 19.[citation needed] It was their fastest selling sandwich in recorded history, with one being sold every second.[14]

The Double Down was re-released in the UK and Ireland on 2 July 2018, which remained available until 22 July 2018.[14] It was later announced that the Zinger version would follow from 23 July until 12 August.[15]

North America

Canada

On October 18, 2010, KFC restaurants in Canada began selling the fried version of the Double Down for a limited time.[16] It was reported that on its launch date, a KFC in Victoria, British Columbia was sold out of the Double Down by as early as 2 p.m.[17] In French Canada, it is known as "Coup Double",[18][19] roughly translated as "Double Punch". The Double Down was discontinued in Canada on November 14, 2010, but on May 25, 2011, KFC announced it was returning at least temporarily.[20] In 2012 the Double Down returned to Canada, again for a limited time.[21] In August 2015, KFC Canada finally brought the Double Down back again after a three-year absence. The sandwich returned to Canada in March 2018, again after a three-year absence, as the Waffle Double Down. This version of the Double Down featured a Belgian waffle between two seasoned chicken fillets and used maple-flavored aioli.[22]

United States

The KFC Double Down was initially test marketed in Omaha, Nebraska, and Providence, Rhode Island.[23] KFC announced it in an April Fools' Day press release,[24] and launched the item in the United States on April 12, 2010.[25] It has been promoted via billboards[26] and a TV commercial that says it has "so much 100 percent premium chicken, we didn't have room for a bun."

Originally, during a limited time offer that was supposed to end on May 23, 2010, KFC announced on May 19, 2010, that the item would remain available indefinitely. The chain cited its popularity in overall sales, as well as videos of people eating the Double Down becoming a YouTube sensation. Stephen Colbert ate one on The Colbert Report, spurring the item's popularity even more.[27] By the end of 2014, the Double Down was no longer on the KFC menu and has remained off to this date.[28]

On March 1, 2023, it was announced through Twitter (presently X) that the Double Down would return for a limited time from March 6.[29]

Oceania

KFC Australia started selling the Double Down (renamed The Double) with the tagline "make time for mantime" on March 30, 2011, for a limited time only.[30] The Double was successful in Australia, although it was criticized for being unhealthy.[31][32] KFC Australia announced via their Facebook page that if they reached 500,000 likes, they would bring the Double back to Australian stores for a limited time period of two days. The page reached 500,000 likes on June 15, 2012, and KFC announced that the Double would go on sale on June 27 and 28. The Double reappeared on menus in December 2012, again for a limited time only.

From May 10, 2011, the Double Down was available in New Zealand for an initially limited period of five weeks.[33] The Double Down was also brought back for one day only on March 31, 2012, exclusively in Dunedin to raise funds for the Otago Rugby Union which faced financial difficulties in early 2012.[34] On July 24, 2012, KFC resumed sales of the Double Down in New Zealand.

On October 28, 2016, KFC Australia announced via Facebook that they would again sell the Double Down for a limited time of four weeks,[citation needed] as well as a new spinoff product called the Hawaiian Double (replacing bacon with pineapple), commencing November 1. This was in response to an online campaign launched by Australian Facebook page 'Yeah the Boys'.[35][36][37][38][39][better source needed]

In August 2020, KFC Australia quietly launched and sold another variant of the Double Down, named the Zinger Mozzarella Double, which included Zinger-coated mozzarella-filled patties, bacon, mayonnaise and mozzarella cheese. The product was released through a "secret menu" on KFC's mobile delivery app and instructions on how to purchase it were later publicly unveiled through a grassroots advertising campaign on TikTok.[40] Over a year later, in September 2021, KFC Australia launched yet another variant of the Double Down via their mobile app, known as the Pizza Double, which includes pepperoni slices and pizza sauce. The Pizza Double was sold in both original and Zinger variants alongside the regular original and Zinger Doubles. It was sold through September 7 until October 4, 2021.[41][42]

Nutritional analysis

NPR compared its calorie count to that of McDonald's Premium Crispy Chicken Club Sandwich. Both the grilled and fried Double Down products have nearly a full day's worth of sodium according to the American Heart Association's guidelines.[43] A Los Angeles Times reviewer pointed out that the grilled chicken Double Down has fewer calories and less fat than the fried chicken Double Down (460 versus 540 calories, and 23 g versus 32 g fat) but that the grilled chicken option has more sodium (1,430 mg versus 1,380). The L.A. Times article also noted that both Double Downs have fewer calories than Burger King's TenderCrisp chicken sandwich, which has 800 calories.[44][45]

Sales

From its April 12, 2010, US launch through early July, a KFC spokesperson reported that the chain had sold 10 million units for a total of about $50 million in revenue. An analyst said that figure accounts for 5% of KFC's sales in that time period, a figure insubstantial to KFC's financial bottom line.[46]

In Canada, the Double Down became KFC's best-selling new menu item ever, selling over 350,000 units in less than 10 days.[47] Despite sales in excess of one million units, KFC Canada discontinued the Double Down in 2010, reviving it again for a short period in 2011.[48] In August 2015, KFC Canada brought back the Double Down for a small period of time. Sales in New Zealand were 600,000 units over its five-week promotional period.[49] Grant Ellis, CFO of New Zealand KFC operator Restaurant Brands, said that despite these sales the Double Down "did cannibalise some of our better-margin products".[50]

Following the launch of Zinger Double Down in Korea, the overall sales for KFC Korea increased by 20%.[51]

References

  1. ^ United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". FDA. Archived from the original on 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  2. ^ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Food and Nutrition Board; Committee to Review the Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium (2019). Oria, Maria; Harrison, Meghan; Stallings, Virginia A. (eds.). Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium. The National Academies Collection: Reports funded by National Institutes of Health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (US). ISBN 978-0-309-48834-1. PMID 30844154. Archived from the original on 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  3. ^ Katelin Paiz KFC releases Double Down breadless sandwich nationwide Archived 2013-10-04 at the Wayback Machine April 13, 2010 Daily Titan (Cal State Fullerton)
  4. ^ "Double Down | KFC South Africa". Archived from the original on 2013-04-22. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
  5. ^ "KFC Japan". Archived from the original on February 3, 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  6. ^ "KFC Zinger Double Down". KFC Singapore. Archived from the original on 2012-07-08.
  7. ^ "KFC Singapore - Avengers Zinger Double Down". Archived from the original on 2012-05-10. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
  8. ^ "KFC Zinger Double Down Introduced in Malaysia (Facebook)". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2016-01-30. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  9. ^ "KFC Korea's announcement for Zinger Double Down MAXX". KFC Korea. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  10. ^ "KFC Korea's teaser announcement for Zinger Double Down KING". KFC Korea. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  11. ^ "KFC India". Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  12. ^ ""เคเอฟซี" เปิดตัว "ดับเบิ้ลดาวน์" เมนูในตำนาน ผลิตจำนวนจำกัด-ขาย 30 พ.ค. - 26 มิ.ย.เท่านั้น ผนึก "คาร์นิวัล" สร้างสตรีทแฟชั่นคอลเลกชัน". 30 May 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  13. ^ "Baru! KFC Double Down". KFC Indonesia. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  14. ^ a b c Barrie, Josh (2 July 2018). "KFC has brought back its bizarre Double Down fried chicken sandwich for a limited period". i. Archived from the original on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  15. ^ Barrie, Josh (19 July 2018). "KFC have a new 'Zinger Double Down' burger, and it's pretty similar to the original". i. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  16. ^ "It's Here! KFC Canada Introduces Double Down on October 18, 2010" (Press release). KFC. October 7, 2010. Archived from the original on October 10, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  17. ^ "KFC Debuts the Double Down in Canada - Sandwich Sells out at Victoria restaurant". A News. October 18, 2010. Archived from the original on September 22, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  18. ^ "Il arrive! PFK offrira le sandwich Coup Double à compter du 18 octobre 2010". Archived from the original on 2010-10-10. Retrieved 2010-10-22.
  19. ^ Mehta, Diana. "Le dangereux "Coup Double" de PFK arrive au pays". Cyberpresse. Archived from the original on 2010-10-22. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
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  21. ^ "KFC Brings Double Down Back". Archived from the original on 2016-08-21. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
  22. ^ "Coming to Canada: Waffle-stuffed Double Down sandwich from KFC". 22 March 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-04-12. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  23. ^ Scott Gold The KFC Double Down Archived 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine: This Is Why the Terrorists Hate Our Freedom September 25, 2009 The Faster Times
  24. ^ Wells, Jane (6 April 2010). "KFC's New Sandwich-What Would the Colonel Say?". CNBC. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  25. ^ Chen, Dalson (April 15, 2010). "This sandwich lacks ... bread!". The Windsor Star. Archived from the original on February 24, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  26. ^ Rosemary Black (August 26, 2009). "KFC's new 'Double Down' sandwich swaps bun for two deep-fried chicken breasts, extra calories" Archived 2009-09-18 at the Wayback Machine. Daily News (New York).
  27. ^ "KFC to keep selling meaty Double Down". USA Today. May 21, 2010. Archived from the original on May 22, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  28. ^ Martin, Kalea (October 21, 2022). "How To Fill Your KFC Double Down Void".
  29. ^ KFC [@kfc] (March 1, 2023). "Double Down on the Double Down, returning for a limited time on 3/6" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Twitter.
  30. ^ Jones, Grant (March 29, 2011). "KFC's 1939kj Double Down Burger takes an hour of intense exercise to burn off". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on April 1, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
  31. ^ Millimaci, Grace (March 30, 2011). "Manly burger gets the thumbs down". The West Australian. Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  32. ^ "New burger without buns". The West Australian. March 29, 2011. Archived from the original on April 4, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  33. ^ Harper, Paul (May 9, 2011). "Controversial KFC burger on sale tomorrow". The New Zealand Herald.
  34. ^ "KFC Double Down raises $30,000 for Otago Rugby recovery". KFC New Zealand. April 4, 2012. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  35. ^ "Yeah The Boys - Timeline | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-17. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  36. ^ "KFC - Timeline | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  37. ^ "Yeah The Boys - Timeline | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  38. ^ "KFC - Timeline | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-17. Retrieved 2016-10-28.
  39. ^ "Aussie Facebook Page Intimidates KFC Into Bringing Back The Double Down". triplem.com.au. Archived from the original on 2016-10-30. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  40. ^ "KFC just snuck a fan-favourite onto their secret menu while no one was looking". 9Honey Kitchen. Nine Digital. August 14, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  41. ^ "The Pizza Double has arrived! Cult KFC menu item returns after 10-year hiatus". 9Honey Kitchen. Nine Digital. September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  42. ^ "KFC Australia's new menu item causes a stir online". News.com.au. News Corp Australia. September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  43. ^ Popovich, Nadja (April 13, 2010). "The Nutritional Lowdown On KFC's Double Down". NPR. Archived from the original on April 30, 2015. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  44. ^ Kennedy, Gerrick (April 12, 2010). "KFC's Double Down: A cheesy, sodium-filled sandwich—will you be buying?". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 29, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
  45. ^ Silver, Nate (19 April 2010). "Double Down by the Numbers: Unhealthiest Sandwich Ever?". FiveThirtyEight. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  46. ^ Smith, Aaron (July 14, 2010). "KFC's Double Down fails to take off". CNN. Archived from the original on March 9, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  47. ^ Kennedy, Brendan (October 28, 2010). "Canadians Double Down on KFC's controversial 'sandwich'". The Star. Toronto. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  48. ^ Leung, Wency (November 16, 2010). "The Double Down disappears in Canada". The Globe and Mail. Toronto.
  49. ^ Adams, Christopher (April 4, 2012). "Double Down returns at higher price". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  50. ^ Adams, Christopher (March 8, 2012). "Double Down burger eats into profits". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  51. ^ Lee, Seunghyeon. "[몰라도 되는 식품이야기] 빵 없는 버거가 있다고? (There's a Burger without the Buns?)". EDaily (in Korean). Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
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