As of July, a new menu item will be available at KFC in the form of the Cheetos Sandwich and a new face of KFC is kicking off the launch.
For several years now, an ongoing campaign from KFC has invited different people to take on the role of Colonel Sanders. Just last year, the fast food chain introduced Reba McEntire as the first female to play Colonel Sanders. On Instagram, KFC also recently introduced its own CGI mascot. In keeping with its ever-surprising mascot rotation, KFC is now introducing yet another unexpected figure to play Colonel Sanders—Chester Cheetah. With Chester Cheetah, KFC is introducing "the first brand icon and spokescheetah to portray KFC's famous founder."
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Crossover QSR Mascots
- The trend of different mascots from different Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) crossing over to promote each other's brands presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in marketing and partnership collaborations.
- Celebrity Colonel Sanders
- The trend of featuring different celebrities as the face of Colonel Sanders offers an avenue for disruptive innovation in brand positioning and creating buzz through unexpected partnerships.
- CGI Brand Mascots
- The trend of utilizing CGI mascots in brand campaigns opens up opportunities for disruptive innovation in advertising through the use of virtual brand ambassadors.
Where This Applies
- Quick Service Restaurants (QSR)
- Quick Service Restaurants can explore disruptive innovation by leveraging crossover mascots from other QSRs to create unique promotional campaigns and attract new customers.
- Marketing and Advertising
- The marketing and advertising industry has an opportunity for disruptive innovation by incorporating unexpected celebrities as brand icons, creating interesting brand narratives that capture consumer attention.
- Animation and CGI
- The animation and CGI industry can capitalize on the trend of using CGI mascots as brand ambassadors, offering innovative solutions for companies seeking to bring their mascots to life virtually.
