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KFC came out with 'finger lickin' good' nail polish

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The world of business is all about growth.

Growth builds companies and growth attracts investors. To stimulate that growth, companies have to win new customers by taking a chance and thinking outside the box. Or the bucket.

Their slogan, "It's finger lickin' good," has been around for over 70 years. Not many have that kind of staying power.

But as KFC expanded, the slogan wasn't as well established in other countries.

In Hong Kong specifically, where KFC has 60 stores, "finger lickin' good" wasn't instantly recognizable to young fast food buyers. And KFC wanted to attract a younger demographic.

It was a challenge. Ogilvy & Mather, KFC's advertising agency, didn't want to mimic rival McDonald's Happy Meal toys or just give away free T-shirts — they needed a bigger, attention-getting idea.

Recently, the creative director of the ad agency was sitting around the boardroom table with his team, brainstorming "finger lickin' good" ideas, when he noticed one of them was tapping the table with her beautifully manicured fingernails.

He stared at her nails and said, "Wouldn't it be great if those tasted like KFC?"

And in that moment, an unlikely marketing idea was born: Kentucky Fried Chicken-flavoured nail polish.

The polish came in two different flavours: original and hot & spicy. The polish came packaged in KFC's red and white corporate colours in half-ounce, square, designer bottles emblazoned with the slogan, "It's finger lickin' good."

The directions were simple: just apply and dry like regular nail polish, then lick.

The polish was completely edible, created with natural ingredients that make up KFC's secret recipe of 11 different herbs and spices.

For two weeks, KFC teased about the nail polish on social media. Then it held a big launch party in Hong Kong, attended by celebrities, foodies and fashion bloggers.

But the nail polish wasn't made available to the public — it was only sent out to social media influencers and given away at the launch party.

The finger lickin' good edible nail polish became a viral sensation. It was a No. 1 trending Twitter topic, it attracted over 200 million online views and landed lucrative free coverage from media including the New York Times and the BBC.

It was a finger lickin' success, accomplishing its two main goals: to revive the KFC slogan and to get young people talking about the brand.

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The Edible KFC Nail Polish You Forgot Existed

Unless you happen to be a private investigator who has spied on a person's every moment, finding the perfect food-themed item for someone can be a terribly treacherous task. After all, how can you be sure that you're going to find something they actually want? You can always stick to the ancient traditions of loading up on booze and chocolate, but they are unlikely to impress people year after year. Perhaps the solution is to wow with unexpected displays of flair. That way, even if the idea backfires, you have the confidence to know that you tried something original and exciting.

There is an ample collection of original – maybe even exciting items that have been made by KFC. Even though it's famed for its crispy fried chicken , KFC has also built up a considerable reputation for selling branded merchandise, including the impressive chicken-scented firelog , Colonel Sanders pillowcase, and fried chicken-themed Crocs (via KFC ). However, what has likely been long forgotten in the lineup of uniquely KFC products is its edible nail polish (via Racked ).

KFC received a mixed response to its chicken-flavored nail polish

BBC News  reports that two flavors of KFC's unusual nail polish were created – a pale shade of Original Recipe and a bright orange Hot and Spicy – and introduced in 2016.  CBC Radio  explains that rather than being widely distributed, the polish was given to celebrities, bloggers, and social media stars in Hong Kong. While some samples were sent to select recipients, others got their hands on the nail polish at a launch party. 

Notably, in places like Hong Kong, KFC's "finger lickin' good" slogan wasn't as well-known at the time. Perhaps there was no better way to solve that problem than by instructing recipients to lick their freshly painted nails. A review by BBC News found that while both varieties tasted greatly of spices, neither contained any discernible chicken flavor. The Wall Street Journal agreed, describing the taste as "spices trapped in gloop" and noting that the polish required repetitive coats to show any noticeable color.

Despite the unimpressive reviews, CBC Radio notes that the edible nail polish was a huge success for KFC. It was incredibly popular online (receiving over 200 million views on social media ), resulting in a brand boost for KFC that hugely increased its appeal to younger audiences. Brand publicity was clearly KFC's aim: The chain only made 300 to 500 bottles of polish and expressed no plans to sell it, according to the WSJ.

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Finger lickin’ good just got real with kfc’s new product launch.

We’re all for new product launches and brand extensions but for US fast food chain KFC, have they taken it to the extreme by introducing lick-able nail polish?  Which, you guessed it, tastes like chicken!  They’re really bringing their brand motto of “finger lickin’ good” to life – as the food giant unveiled its new product in Hong Kong earlier this week.

1) The new product

KFC, like most fast food companies, continuously look at ways to stand out from the crowd and to offer their customers something different.  So for food giant KFC they looked at how they could address their main branding message in that their chicken and tastes/flavours are finger licking good.

Working with the food technologists who helped to devise KFC’s flavoursome recipes, the team set to work on how they could incorporate their two most popular recipes (original and hot and spicy) into edible nail polishes.

2) The result

A new product launch in the shape of edible nail polishes.

In a KFC brand statement to Ad Week it reported that “To use, consumers simply apply and dry like regular nail polish, and then lick—again and again and again,”.

To promote their branding exercise, the nail polishes were delivered to major media outlets in a couture-quality packaging in KFC’s corporate red and white colours.  The nail polish bottles themselves were also emblazoned with the slogan “its finger lickin good”.

Great brand recognition through the packaging – also acting as the silent salesman as the box remains on someone’s desk for a period of time…

The colours have been described as hot orange to represent the “hot and spicy” taste, and the nude shade representing the original recipe.  However, according to the BBC who received complimentary bottles of both polishes, the nude shade was more like “a dirty olive green with black specks”. Not something the brand wants to be associated with I should imagine?!

3) Testing the market

According to a KFC spokesman they’re aren’t mass producing these polishes but simply trialling the idea to test market reaction (and of course creating a great marketing campaign out of it at the same time!).

Currently the polishes are being heavily promoted by KFC Hong Kong on social media, but are not available to the general public.

Ogilvy Creative Director, John Koay, commented: “This campaign is designed to be intriguing and fun to increase excitement around the KFC brand in Hong Kong.”  (Hong Kong was chosen as this was where the idea had originated, and Hong Kong customers seem more curious when it comes to limited-time offerings).

To help support their social media campaign the brand has also released an online music video and is inviting the people of Hong Kong to choose the best flavour to go into mass production (however, they should take note of the Vegemite case study , where if they are asking their customers for their choice, they need to listen and actually give them that choice when it comes to mass production, or they too could suffer the consequences).

4) Good for brand?

More interesting at this point possibly.  Great brand recognition through the campaign and social media attention it is attracting.  It is certainly showing their creative side, re-enforcing their brand statements and values and above all, it’s getting people talking about the brand.  Whether this be from loyal customers or new, it seems to be hitting the spot when raising their status in the industry.

Even if the polishes aren’t exactly shaping up to how they’re being advertised, the promotion seems to be working judging by the activity on social media.

Of course as well as building the brand and strengthening their position, it can’t be bad for sales either, with everyone talking about fried chicken and posting snaps on social media, who wouldn’t be hungry!

References:   AdWeek ,  BBC News Pictures from: AdWeek,  NY Daily News

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With Edible Nail Polish, KFC Has Taken ‘Finger Lickin’ Good’ Where No One Expected

KFC decided to break out from its identity as a food chain and redefine ‘Finger Lickin’ Good’ with its latest offering: edible nail polish .

The chicken chain announced it will release two flavors/colors of the nail polish — in Original and Hot & Spicy — as a promotion in KFC Hong Kong, AdWeek reports. Though this does seem hard to believe, as there should not be demand for nail polish that tastes like chicken, there is no indication that this is a prank.

“Yes, it is actually a real thing,” Anna Mugglestone of advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather Group in Hong Kong, told the New York Times .

Ogilvy & Mather reportedly developed the edible polishes from natural ingredients with McCormack, the chain’s secret spice source. KFC explained in a statement that to use the product, “consumers simply apply and dry like regular nail polish, and then lick—again and again and again.”

People in Hong Kong can try the two types out and vote on which flavor goes into mass production. For what it’s worth, Hot & Spicy comes in a bolder, somewhat bright persimmon color, and the Original is a bit more understated in a neutral, light flesh color (almost chicken flesh-color, which is an uncomfortable thought). Both have sparkles. Fashion publishers have begun to report on the news.

KFC has released the above music video celebrating the breakthrough in chicken technology, in which one person displays his nails while dancing, and another licks hers in shots when she is not solving a rubix cube.

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KFC’s Chicken-Flavored Nail Polish Takes 'Finger Lickin' Good' To A New Level

If you're a fan of Colonel Sander's tasty wings then you'll love Kentucky Fried Chicken's new flavored nail polish. No, that was not a typo. The fast-food chain is entering the beauty industry to help promote the company's Hong Kong restaurants, and the brand is bringing that secret recipe along.

KFC's first venture into the cosmetics world includes two limited-edition nail polishes. Each one is appropriately named after the brand's best-selling formulas: Original Recipe and Hot & Spicy. The Original shade is a taupe neutral that shimmers like the skin on a freshly fried chicken leg, and Hot & Spicy comes in a fiery orange that resembles hot sauce. Are you hungry yet? Because, I am.

The chicken references don't stop there. Each one is literally "finger lickin' good" because they are both edible. Yes, you can get a taste of the 11 herbs and spices by running your tongue across your nails. "To use, consumers simply apply and dry like regular nail polish, and then lick—again and again and again," KFC explained in a statement. I could totally use this when I'm starving at work . A quick lick of my manicure, and I'll feel like I'm eating a crispy KFC wing. Why didn't someone think of this idea sooner?

According to Adweek , McCormick, the spice company that formulates the chicken's secret ingredients, also helped to make sure the mouth-watering recipe was just right. And just because the polish is packed with a whole lot of flavor doesn't mean the brand skipped out on the beauty details. Each shade will dry with a shiny finish just like regular polishes.

This sounds weirdly interesting, especially for all the beauty and food lovers. Now all we have to do is figure out a way to import these babies from Hong Kong.

Scroll down to see the edible paints and press play to see the music video that KFC created for the edible nail polishes.

Related: This Artist Made A Gorgeous Mosaic From 1,969 Nail Polish Bottles

SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.

KFC Just Made Edible 'Finger Lickin' Good' Nail Polish That, Yeah, Tastes Like Chicken

Product is based on brand's two favorite recipes.

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April Fools' Day was a month ago, but KFC is only just now announcing that it has made two edible nail polishes that bring the classic tagline, "Finger Lickin' Good," grossly to life.

Ogilvy & Mather worked with food technologists at McCormick, the spice company that provides KFC's secret mix of 11 secret herbs and spices, to crate the nail polishes for KFC Hong Kong. The polish flavors are sourced from natural ingredients and based on the brand's two favorite recipes, Original and Hot & Spicy.

So, yes, it tastes like chicken—at least, the coated stuff KFC sells. 

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Tim Nudd is a former creative editor of Adweek.

KFC’s New Nail Polish Line Is Not A Joke

Finger-lickin’ good has an extra meaning now, thanks to KFC’s new line of nail polish . Yes — we said nail polish. No, we aren’t kidding. It’s being released in Hong Kong, of all places, and comes in both Original Recipe and Hot & Spicy.

Racked got their hands on the actual press release and published it verbatim. Here’s what KFC has to say about it:

In line with its spirit of innovation, KFC Hong Kong unveils their new ‘Finger Lickin’ Good Edible Nail Polish’ range, keeping the brand literally at their customers’ fingertips while savoring their delicious signature chicken. This limited edition edible nail polish was created as a tribute to the world famous “It’s Finger Lickin’ Good” slogan. KFC’s signature flavors — Original Recipe and Hot & Spicy — have been carefully formulated from natural ingredients into edible nail polish and packaged in a stylish glass bottle and minimal box with over gloss details to appeal to young consumers’ love of food and fashion. Simply apply and dry like regular nail polish and then lick — again and again and again to taste why the world’s favourite chicken is Finger Lickin’ Good.

We have so many questions. The nail polish is flavored? How long does the flavor last? Will the Hot & Spicy let us down ? This can’t be healthy. Is this healthy? When will it make it to the U.S.? Is flavored nail polish the next trend? Can we get behind that?

Adweek spoke with the agency Ogilvy & Mather, who worked directly on the nail polish with food technologists from McCormick. “The recipe for our edible nail polish is unique and was specifically designed to hold the flavor, but to also dry with a glossy coat similar to normal nail polish,” creative director John Koay said. “This campaign is designed to be intriguing and fun to increase excitement around the KFC brand in Hong Kong.”

Right now the polish is more of a social media campaign than anything else, with Hong Kong consumers being encouraged to vote on which flavor they want to go into mass production.

Oh, and there’s also a trippy music video too. Which totally answers all of our questions. Or not. Check out the video below:

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KFC introduces 'Finger Lickin' Good' edible nail polish

KFC thinks you should take its "Finger Lickin' Good" slogan literally.

The fried chicken company, along with marketing giant Ogilvy & Mather, has produced edible nail polish for customers in Hong Kong.

The nail polish comes in two flavors and colors: Original (kind of a beige) and Hot & Spicy (red). To use it, customers can paint the polish on their nails, let it dry, "and then lick -- again and again and again."

KFC says the nail polish is "sourced from natural ingredients," perhaps in an effort to make customers feel safer about licking nail polish.

"The recipe for our edible nail polish is unique and was specifically designed to hold the flavor, but to also dry with a glossy coat similar to normal nail polish," said John Koay, creative director for Ogilvy & Mather. "This campaign is designed to be intriguing and fun to increase excitement around the KFC brand in Hong Kong."

The KFC nail polish is packaged in a "designer bottle and box" (not a bucket). The chicken chain has promoted the nail polish on Facebook and social media over the past two weeks, even releasing a music video on YouTube.

The music video features a beat-boxing woman playing keyboard on a pillar, licking her fingers, while a robot-dancing guy shows off his Hot & Spicy KFC nail polish.

KFC says that it has asked customers to pick their favorite flavor to go into mass production.

Edible nail polish isn't a new thing, though most of them are vegetable-based and marketed towards children.

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The nail polishes come in two flavors — "Original" or "Hot & Spicy."

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HONG KONG  — Kentucky Fried Chicken is getting literal with its familiar slogan “finger-lickin’ good.” The fast food chain debuted two edible nail polishes on Thursday that are engineered to taste just like its chicken.

The nail polishes come in a glittery sand shade for its “Original” flavor and an orange-red hue for its “Hot & Spicy’” recipe. It worked with food technologists at McCormick, the makers of KFC’s 11 secret herbs and spices mix, to re-create the flavors.

“To use, consumers’ simply apply and dry like regular nail polish, and then lick — again and again and again,” KFC said.

The two shades are exclusive to the Hong Kong market and were launched to a select few media and bloggers in the city. But KFC is asking the public to vote on its Facebook page for their favorite flavor and will use that feedback to roll out the product at a later date. There was no word yet on the price of the nail polishes.

John Koay, creative director at Ogilvy & Mather, which helped devise the campaign for the chain, said, “The recipe for our edible nail polish is unique and was specifically designed to hold the flavor, but to also dry with a glossy coat similar to normal nail polish. This campaign is designed to be intriguing and fun to increase excitement around the KFC brand in Hong Kong.”

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China is one of KFC’s largest markets, although the chain has faced challenges there in recent years.

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KFC Edible Nail Polish: Brand Extension = Solutions

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Watch CBS News

Tastes like chicken? KFC debuts edible nail polish

By Kate Gibson

Updated on: May 5, 2016 / 4:02 PM EDT / MoneyWatch

The secret recipe devised by Colonel Harland Sanders more than 70 years ago can now literally be at your fingers tips.

The fast-food chain behind the slogan "Finger Lickin Good" is out with limited editions of "Original Recipe" and "Hot & Spicy" edible nail polish in Hong Kong, where Kentucky Fried Chicken ( YUM ) was looking to increase the relevance of its brand.

"It's been forgotten, especially with the young crowd. But the kids here in Hong Kong love fashion and food, so we thought, wouldn't it be cool, and also to be on the tips of people's fingers," John Koay, creative director at marketing firm Ogilvy & Mather, told CBS MoneyWatch.

Ogilvy & Mather worked with McCormick & Co. ( MKC ), the spice company that provides KFC's mix of 11 herbs and spices, to create the nail polishes for KFC Hong Kong, which debuted the product at a tasting event Tuesday, and then followed up Thursday with a Facebook post where people can weigh in on their favorite flavor.

"We started off with about 300 to 500 bottles," said Koay, "The thing with the nail polish is, there are no artificial preservatives, so you can't keep it for months on end, a fortnight maybe."

Mass production of the edible polish, which hardens when dry, is expected to occur in the third in fourth quarters, said Koay, who left open the possibility of the product coming to the United States. "We got a call from Dallas asking about it, actually, so it could spread."

While unusual, the idea of a food-based beauty product has been tried before. A perfume called Eau de Pizza Hut was sold in limited quantities in the U.S. in 2013. Developed by Pizza Hut Canada, the concept began in jest on the company's Facebook page , with the company responding to consumer interest with the real thing.

And in 2008 , Burger King introduced The Flame by BK, a men's body spray described as "the scent of seduction with a hint of flame-broiled meat."

KFC has been in Hong Kong since 1985, with more than 60 branches throughout the territory with a menu that in addition to the Colonel's "Original Recipe" offers Mushroom Rice and Egg Tarts.

Kate Gibson is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch in New York, where she covers business and consumer finance.

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