# Protein-Topped Walking Tacos KFC x Doritos Loaded is Coming to 27 European Markets By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2026-08-14 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kfc-x-doritos-loaded References: [pepsico](https://www.pepsico.com/newsroom/press-releases/2026/pepsico-launches-kfc-doritos-loaded-across-27-european-markets)  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](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cheezit-walking-taco), the menu item builds on a crunchy base of [Doritos corn tortilla chips](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/doritos-footlong-nachos), 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. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 8.9/10 - Popularity: 88% | Activity: 89% | Freshness: 91% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/branding) ## Key Themes ### 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. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Limited-Time Pickle Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kfc-pickled-menu.md) - [Pickle-Packed Fried Chicken Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kfc-pickle-menu.md) - [Protein Tortilla Chips](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/doritos-protein-chips.md) - [Flavor Showdown Chips](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/doritos-f1-head2head.md) - [Shawarma-Style Chip Collaborations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-walking-shawarma.md) - [Pickle QSR Chicken Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pickled-menu.md) - [Crunchy Dorado-Style Tacos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crunchy-dorado-taco.md) - [Fajita-Inspired QSR Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fajita-menu.md) - [High-Energy Chip Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/doritos-loaded1.md)