Last month, the news was released that from May 5, almost all the McDonald’s restaurants will be serving a new addition to the menu, the McCrispy Strips. McDonald’s and KFC are two of the biggest global fast-food chains, and in response to this new launch, KFC started a promotional offer for their Original Recipe tenders. Customers can now enjoy 5 tenders for $5 till May 11, 2025.
Highlights
- McDonald’s McCrispy Strips, launched on May 5, are the first permanent addition since 2021.
- Customers can enjoy and compare the taste with KFC’s five Original Recipe tenders for only $5.
- The increased customer demand for new chicken products led to this competition among the fast food restaurants.
KFC’s Tenders are Ready to Compete With McDonald’s McCrispy Strips
The nationwide launch of McDonald’s McCrispy Strips and promotional prices for tenders by KFC in response elicited a competitive war between the two fast-food chains. Last year in October, KFC launched its Original Recipe Tenders Box. These are double-hand-breaded tenders seasoned with KFC’s 11 herbs and spices.
It included three tenders, fries, and two KFC sauces for $5. KFC also gave a choice of sauces from Comeback Sauce, Sticky Chicky, and KFC Sauce which combined unique tangy flavors. Now, KFC is offering five tenders for $5 for its Rewards members till May 11.
A similar battle was initiated over chicken sandwiches by both the brands. This time, KFC U.S. president made a public statement in a satirical manner about “why settle for a tender from a burger chain when one can try the OG tenders and judge the difference in flavors themselves.”
The Launch of a New Permanent Item on McDonald’s Menu
Last month, McDonald’s announced the launch of McCrispy Strips on May 5, 2025. These are 100% white meat chicken additions to the menu. The last permanent addition to the menu was the Crispy Chicken Sandwich in 2021, and now these strips.
McCrispy Strips will have chicken coated with golden-brown breading and a black pepper flavor. These strips will be accompanied by a new creamy Chili Dip of tangy flavors. There are other choices of sauces as well, such as Tangy Barbecue, Spicy Buffalo, and Creamy Ranch. People can order servings of three strips with two sauces for $4.99 and four strips with two sauces for $5.99 (may vary as per location and individual outlet).
KFC Will Make This Mother’s Day Special for the Moms!
To make this Mother’s Day weekend special, KFC has done an interesting collaboration with Benchmark Resorts & Hotels. As per this collab, KFC’s Chicken & Waffles will be available for in-room dining in Boston, Seattle, Phoenix, and more locations on May 10 and 11.
This will be tagged as the Mom Flies the Coop package, which can be booked online on the hotel’s website. Accommodation and a KFC bathrobe will be included in this package. This initiative is taken to pay tribute to the hard work of mothers and give them some time to unwind and relax with delicious meals.
Along with this Mother’s Day package, this weekend KFC’s Chicken & Waffles will be served in outlets starting from $7. It is also one of the busiest days for the brand, so new Strawberry & Creme Pie Poppers will also be launched.
Back-to-back additions of new chicken dishes by big brands are in response to customer demand. In 2024, the top 500 chicken dish outlets witnessed a 15% sales growth. A 5.5% increase in menu items has been for chicken strips and tenders. This data is a testament to the demand for innovative chicken dishes in the industry.
