Inspired by a street food favorite, PepsiCo and KFC are introducing a brand-new menu item, KFC x Doritos Loaded, to 27 European markets this month. In the style of a walking taco, the menu item builds on a crunchy base of Doritos corn tortilla chips, guacamole, pico de gallo, jalapeños, Mexican-inspired sauces, and KFC's freshly prepared 100% chicken breast Crispy Tenders.
Although packaged in a specially adapted Doritos bag that opens horizontally for ease of eating, the KFC x Doritos Loaded is more than a snack—it's designed as a complete meal. Thanks to its novel format, the shareable KFC x Doritos Loaded offers an optimal experience in temperature and texture, whether it's ordered in-restaurant, for on-the-go consumption or via delivery.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Snackified Meals
- Portable snack formats are evolving into full meal occasions, creating room for brands to merge indulgence, convenience, and higher-protein ingredients in compact packages.
- Co-branded Street Food
- Partnerships between fast food chains and snack brands are turning familiar street food into limited-time menu platforms that amplify brand equity and cross-category experimentation.
- Texture-optimized Delivery
- Menu innovation is increasingly focused on maintaining crunch, heat, and freshness across dine-in, takeaway, and delivery channels through adapted packaging and layered ingredient design.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Fast Food
- Quick-service restaurants are using bold collaborations and handheld meal formats to differentiate menus while appealing to younger consumers seeking novelty and convenience.
- Snack Foods
- Packaged snack brands are extending beyond the grocery aisle by becoming structural ingredients in restaurant meals, opening new pathways for consumption frequency and brand visibility.
- Food Packaging
- Specialized, easy-open packaging is reshaping how messy or layered foods are eaten on the move, supporting hybrid products that function as both snacks and complete meals.
