KFC, also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is one of the largest fast food chicken chains in the world. Originally founded by Colonel Harland Sanders in 1952, KFC has expanded to over 25,000 locations worldwide. KFC is best known for its fried chicken, especially its signature Original Recipe chicken. However, over the years, KFC has expanded its menu to offer a variety of side dishes, desserts, and beverages to complement its fried chicken entrees. One dessert item that was previously offered at KFC but has since disappeared from menus is the KFC parfait. Parfaits were a popular menu item in the 1990s and early 2000s, but they seem to have been discontinued in recent years. This leads to the key question: does KFC still have parfaits on the menu in 2022?
History of KFC Parfaits
KFC first introduced parfaits to its dessert menu in the early 1990s. The original KFC parfaits consisted of vanilla and chocolate soft serve ice cream layered with crunchy KFC cereal and topped with chocolate syrup. The cereal used in the parfaits was originally called KFC Crunchers and was exclusive to KFC restaurants. Later on, the cereal component was changed to more standard cornflake cereal. The KFC parfaits quickly became a popular menu item and were marketed as the perfect sweet treat to enjoy after eating KFC’s signature fried chicken. KFC parfaits were served in clear plastic cups with dome lids so customers could see the layers of ice cream, cereal, and chocolate syrup. For several years, parfaits were a staple on KFC dessert menus alongside cookies, apple turnovers, and other ice cream treats.
Changes to the KFC Menu
In the early 2000s, KFC started revamping its menus and removing some slower-selling items, including the beloved KFC parfaits. Around this time, KFC menus focused more on fried chicken, chicken sandwiches, and sides like mashed potatoes and biscuits. Desserts took a backseat as KFC tried to streamline operations and stick to its core fried chicken offerings. The labor-intensive, messy parfaits didn’t align with KFC’s renewed focus. Parfaits started disappearing from KFC locations throughout the early and mid-2000s. Some franchise locations may have continued offering parfaits for a few more years, but they were largely phased out by the late 2000s. Today, the standard KFC dessert menu includes simpler items like cookies, brownies, and chocolate chip cakes. The parfaits that were once so popular are nowhere to be found.
| Decade | KFC Parfait Availability |
|---|---|
| 1990s | Widely available |
| Early 2000s | Starting to be phased out |
| Mid 2000s | Most locations discontinued |
| Late 2000s | Largely unavailable |
Are Parfaits Completely Gone from KFC?
These days, if you walk into a KFC restaurant in the United States, you’ll be out of luck if you’re craving a parfait like the ones served in the 90s. Parfaits are no longer listed on KFC menus or advertised online. Based on recent customer reviews, it appears that most KFC locations do not serve parfaits anymore. There are a few reports of some KFC franchise locations having specialty parfaits for limited-time offers, but regular parfaits do not seem to be an option.
International KFC Menus
Interestingly, while parfaits are long gone from KFCs in the U.S., they are still featured on some KFC menus at international locations. In places like Thailand, Malaysia, and India, KFC parfaits are still advertised on menus and apps. The parfaits at international KFCs are similar to the original American version, with layers of ice cream and cereal topped with chocolate sauce. So while parfaits may not have survived menu changes in the U.S., they are still considered a staple dessert item in other parts of the world.
Why Did KFC Get Rid of Parfaits?
There are a few likely reasons why KFC decided to remove parfaits from its menu in the U.S.:
Labor and Operations
Parfaits required extra labor, time, and customized service compared to pre-made desserts like cookies. Workers had to make each parfait to order by layering the ingredients in cups. This took up more time at the drive-thru and front counter. Parfaits also resulted in extra mess and drips that workers had to clean up. From an operations standpoint, they became unfeasible for busy KFC locations trying to speed up service.
Declining Popularity
Though parfaits were initially very popular, their novelty eventually wore off. Fried chicken was always core to KFC’s brand, not ice cream desserts. As parfaits declined in popularity, KFC likely didn’t see a need to keep them around when they could use menu space for other chicken items.
Supplier and Partnership Changes
KFC may have lost a supply contract or partnership that allowed them to source the ice cream for parfaits easily. Without an ice cream supplier agreement in place, it became more difficult logistically to serve parfaits.
Focus on Core Menu
As mentioned, KFC wanted to get back to basics and focus on its core fried chicken dishes that made it famous. Parfaits didn’t align with this simplified approach. KFC wanted to concentrate on what it did best rather than trying to be known for desserts too.
Could KFC Parfaits Make a Comeback?
There’s always a chance customer enthusiasm and nostalgia could encourage KFC to bring parfaits back in the future. Some fans certainly seem to miss the parfait option when visiting KFC restaurants. Parfaits have popped up occasionally as limited-time offers at select locations, showing there is still interest. KFC would need to consider if reviving parfaits on a broader scale makes strategic and operational sense. The company is quite different than it was in the 90s and early 2000s when parfaits were in their heyday. But companies do experience cycles where they return to once-popular menu items to capitalize on nostalgia and customer sentiment. Only time will tell if parfaits could make a comeback at KFC.
Conclusion
While parfaits were a delicious staple on KFC dessert menus through the 90s and early 2000s, they have been phased out at most KFC restaurants in the U.S. over the past 15-20 years. Menu simplification, declining popularity, and operational challenges seem to have been the downfall for KFC parfaits. Though they are nostalgic for some long-time KFC fans, parfaits simply may not have aligned with KFC’s business strategy in more recent years. Customers craving that classic KFC parfait experience will have to look for specialty offerings at select locations or plan a trip overseas where parfaits are still featured. But in the majority of American KFCs, the parfait’s place in history seems to be firmly in the past.