Food & Beverage
Popeyes nugget launch today: Will the chicken-crazed behave this time?
Referring to its new chicken nuggets as something akin to bite-sized bits of its wildly popular chicken sandwich, Popeyes launches the menu additions today nationwide, with a play for peaceful purchasing among the masses.
July 27, 2021
Popeyes much-anticipated nuggets aren't gold, but they might as well be as they go on sale for the first time nationally today as what the chain says are kind of the miniaturized versions of its wickedly popular chicken sandwich, first launched in 2019, setting off what would soon become a fast food chicken sandwich war.
Today as the brand begins selling its chicken nuggets in anywhere from four- to 48-piece orders, it's learned a few things since that sandwich launch two years ago that erupted into violence in some cities when customers fought to get their hands on that then-new concoction. At that time, many physical fights broke out in lines waiting to purchase the fried chicken sandwich that eventually even made international news, with one instance even resulting in a fatal stabbing at one store.
But for today's launch, Popeyes has said it's older and wiser and has tried to anticipate the issues, like running out of product, that might have contributed to some of the violence last time. In fact, the chain told TMZ its executives have visited locations nationally to help laying down the brand's plans for a peaceful launch today of the nuggets.
Even the headline on the chain's press release around today's launch seemed to be designed to play down the "warring" around this chicken item debut, as its states in one part that, "Popeyes says goodbye to chicken wars as their new game-changing nuggets hit stores. …"
As of today, the new bite-sized offerings can be had at the brand's stores in the U.S., Canada, with the company claiming that the launch makes a "place for everyone." In fact, the release said that the company bought the cash equivalent(a.k.a. gift cards) of a million nuggets from other QSRs with the menu item through The Popeyes Foundation, which will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans & Acadiana. Guests can join in on the movement by donating on The Popeyes Foundation website to Second Harvest Food Bank where all of the contributions will be matched up to $25,000 and donated to the organization.
"The launch of our Chicken Sandwich was incredible, and we're humbled by the amount of love and positive reviews, but at the same time many claimed that it started the chicken wars," Popeyes CMO Bruno Cardinali said in the release. "Now, it's time to say goodbye to the chicken wars and celebrate our new nuggets, because we come in 'piece' — eight-piece to be exact."
The nuggets use the same flour-and-buttermilk batter that the sandwich uses and are made in-restaurant daily, the brand said.
"Our hope is that today guests who can finally try our new Chicken Nuggets will say to themselves: 'Popeyes did it again,'" Amy Alarcon, Popeyes vice president of Culinary Innovation, who will be a panelist at the #QSRNext event on Nov. 9 on fast food menu innovation, along with Wendy's Vice President of Culinary Innovation John Li. "And to us, that means showing the world what they should come to expect when they order chicken nuggets."
The white meat chicken breast Nuggets are available in a classic flavor and can be purchased in everything from four- to 36-piece orders, with a 48-piece offering available exclusively for in-app orders. Additionally, from Aug. 2 to Aug. 16, will get double the points on all nugget purchases. Each eight-piece order or larger will come with two signature sauces.
Popeyes, based in Miami, has over 3,300 restaurants globally.
