Finger lickin’ good doesn’t just describe KFC’s fried chicken. The KFC Foundation announced that it is funding $1 million in community projects, making wishes come true for 100 non-profit organizations nationwide. The KFC Foundation’s Kentucky Fried Wishes program supports communities by funding development projects on the wish lists of non-profit organizations.

“We’re so inspired by the work of these incredible non-profits and honored to help serve joy by positively impacting hundreds of communities across the country with this funding,” said Emma Horn, Executive Director of the KFC Foundation. “With our Kentucky Fried Wishes program in its third year, we’re proud to double last year’s donation amount and help fund more community projects than ever before.”

Since 2021, the KFC Foundation’s Kentucky Fried Wishes program has invested over $1.6 million to support over 160 local non-profit organizations.

Taco Bell is exploring a new way to serve Mountain Dew Baja Blast. Testing of a Mountain Dew Baja Blast Gelato begins on Thursday, Aug. 31, at one location in Irvine, CA. This is the first time gelato has been on a Taco Bell menu. The test will last two weeks or as long as supplies last.

KFC’s newest offer is a $20 Fill Up Box, a box filled with four pieces of fried chicken, 12 chicken nuggets, fries, biscuits and sauces. It’s targeted specifically at families that might otherwise order pizza during the final days of summer break. “Pizza night can get boring and a bit cheesy,” Nick Chavez, CMO of KFC U.S., said in a statement.

The offer also gives customers the opportunity to try our nuggets offering a 10-piece nugget order for $5 at the same time. KFC sold 100 million nuggets in the first eight weeks it sold the product this spring, helping same-store sales rise 5% last quarter.

Once a week from Aug. 15 through Sept. 5, Taco Bell will be giving customers free Doritos Locos Tacos to celebrate the trademark being removed from the phrase “Taco Tuesday.” Since 1989, Wyoming-based Taco John’s had held the trademark for the popular term. Taco John’s gave up the trademark after Taco Bell filed a petition with the United States Patent and trademark office in May to have it revoked.

Getting a free Doritos Locos Tacos is as easy as walking into any Taco Bell location and asking for one. There is no purchase necessary, and there is a limit of one per customer.

If you prefer to order ahead on the Taco Bell app or website, you will need to enter a separate code each eligible day. These are the codes:

Aug. 15: 01TACOTUESDAY

Aug. 22: 02TACOTUESDAY

Aug. 29: 03TACOTUESDAY

Sept. 5: 04TACOTUESDAY

Throughout the past several quarters, Taco Bell has hogged the spotlight for Yum Brands’ earnings results. That spotlight in Q2, however, belonged to KFC.

On August 2nd, Yum reported a 9% increase in same-store sales on the quarter – nearly 2% higher than analysts’ expectations. Global sales jumped 13%, with KFC up 19%, and both Taco Bell and Pizza Hut up 7%. Comp sales increased 13% at KFC, 4% at Taco Bell, and 4% at Pizza Hut. Habit Burger Grill, the newest and smallest chain in the company’s portfolio, increased system sales by 9% with flat same-store sales.

Much of KFC’s performance came from a recovering China business, though the U.S. market was up 5% driven by “a combination of product innovation and always-on value strategy,” CEO David Gibbs said during the earnings call Wednesday morning. KFC’s nuggets launch in late March generated transaction growth, with 100 million sold in the first eight weeks. Gibbs said the product also appealed to younger and new customers and built upon an already established sales layer from the chain’s sandwich launch in 2021.

Yum’s recommended ordering system, an AI/machine learning module that predicts how much food a GM should order, was deployed to 800 stores in the second quarter, and is now live in over 4,400 KFC and Taco Bell U.S. stores. And, Yum’s next gen point-of-sale system, which Turner said improves operational efficiencies and enhances team member effectiveness, was deployed to 1,000 Taco Bells in the quarter, with a 5,000-unit target by the end of the year.

Taco Bell is introducing its first birria-inspired taco, made with slow-braised, shredded beef that’s folded into a tortilla with melted cheese and served with two types of dip.

The new protein, available Aug. 3 nationwide, is called the grilled cheese dipping taco. In addition to shredded beef and a three-cheese blend of cheddar, mozzarella and pepper jack, the white corn shell is filled with a creamy jalapeño sauce. Instead of the traditional red-tinged beef broth, however, this birria taco will be served with a warm nacho cheese sauce and Taco Bell’s red sauce, which the chain says is “carefully calibrated to achieve the perfect consistency and harmony of flavors with every bite.”

KFC has appointed Paul Tuscano as its new chief digital officer, effective August 1st. The new role was created to drive the company’s digital priorities further. Tuscano will oversee the implementation of the KFC digital roadmap, ensuring that the right capabilities guide digital solutions for the customer. He will report to KFC president Tarun Lal and work alongside KFC chief technology officer Chris Caldwell.

Taco Bell is known for its unexpected menu mashups, like Doritos� Locos Tacos and the Grilled Cheese Burrito, but team members are the secret ingredient that drives the company from the kitchen and beyond. Today (July 17th), Taco Bell announced it is collaborating with Brooklyn-based artist Ricardo Gonzalez, known as “It’s a Living,” to introduce exclusive team member gear paying homage to the brand’s people-oriented culture. The streetwear-inspired collection includes a commemorative shirt and hat with the saying “family is everything,” displayed across both items, expressing the people-first values the brand holds. Earlier this month, Taco Bell team members across the country received the items alongside a note from Taco Bell CEO Mark King, encouraging team members to show their brand spirit by wearing the ensemble with pride. The “It’s a Living” partnership marks the second installment in an ongoing annual series of team member-driven collaborations. In 2022, Taco Bell partnered with Los Angeles-based streetwear brand Born X Raised on another merchandise collection for team members in honor of the brand’s 60th anniversary.

KFC and Shady Rays? It doesn’t get any more Bluegrass State than that.

To celebrate National Fried Chicken Day, the Louisville-based fast food giant and Simpsonville-based eyewear brand are collaborating to lay an exclusive pair of polarized sunglasses.

Each pair of the finger-lickin’ shades — ones of the best-selling Classic Black Timber variant — will come with Shady Rays’ replacement and warranty provisions and the limited-edition KFC pouch to carry them in.

The shades will highlight the Thursday debut of KFC’s KFCShop.com, a new merchandise venture with more than 20 items that will be updated with special collections and new releases. Other items released include the doubly-meaning KFC Bucket Hat, the 1991 KFC Logo Koozie and the Finger Lickin’ Good Tumbler.

Taco Bell has hired Sean Tresvant as its new chief executive officer effective Jan. 1, 2024. Tresvant is the first Black person in the role.

Tresvant, who currently serves as global chief brand and strategy officer, will succeed CEO Mark King, who announced that he is retiring at the end of 2023. In his new role reporting to Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs, Tresvant will lead Taco Bell’s growth strategies, franchise operations and company performance.

“Sean is laser focused on keeping our powerhouse Taco Bell brand at the leading edge of culture and redefining innovation in the industry,” Gibbs said. “That’s why he is the ideal executive to continue successfully executing Taco Bell’s long-term global growth strategies and take them to the next level in partnership with the brand’s strong and accomplished leadership team and incredible franchisees.”

Tresvant first joined Taco Bell in January 2022 as global chief brand officer and his role was later expanded to global chief brand and strategy officer in early 2023. Prior to joining the company, he worked in several different leadership roles at Nike for over 15 years.