LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Spurred into action by consumer demand, Kentucky Fried Chicken(®) announced today that Nashville Hot Chicken is back on KFC menus. And, for the first time, Nashville Hot Chicken will be available as a Chicken Little(®) Sandwich in addition to chicken on-the-bone and tenders at restaurants in the U.S.

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The authentic spicy, smoky, crispy fried chicken is back on television screens and menus this week with a new heartthrob Nashville Hot Colonel, played by actor Vincent Kartheiser, best known for his roles as Pete on AMC's Mad Men and Jordan on Hulu's original series Casual. For the specialty role of the Nashville Hot Colonel, KFC sought out a young actor with lots of hair and flair. Vincent's vintage good looks and piercing blue eyes made him perfect for the role.

"Like KFC's Nashville Hot Chicken, I'm a bit of a rebel decked out in authentic Nashville flavor--a perfect combination of classic and cool," said Vincent Kartheiser, the Nashville Hot Colonel.

Hot Chicken was born in Nashville, Tennessee and is the newest food phenomenon in restaurants and food trucks across the country. KFC was the first national quick service restaurant to offer the trendy regional flavor when it successfully launched its own version of Nashville Hot Chicken in January of 2016. In a nod to the flavor's authenticity, the bestselling city for KFC's Nashville Hot was Nashville, Tenn.

By making Nashville Hot available nationwide at an affordable price, America was introduced to this one-of-a-kind recipe. Even Google searches for "Nashville Hot" increased over 700% when KFC introduced Nashville Hot this past January.

Since April, when KFC Nashville Hot's limited time run ended, fans have been taking to social media demanding its return:

"Matt Scary tweeted at us that if we brought Nashville Hot Back on October 10(th), it would be the best birthday gift ever," said Kevin Hochman, Chief Marketing Officer for KFC U.S. "So if Matt brings just $5.49 plus tax to a KFC on October 10(th), that birthday gift is his. I'm kidding! We'll send him a gift card!"

In addition to bringing back Nashville Hot Tenders and Fried Chicken, it will be available for the first time ever in a Nashville Hot Chicken Little sandwich ($1.69 plus tax) that features a freshly breaded Nashville Hot chicken tender with pickles and mayo on an all-new sesame seed bun. And most KFCs will also offer Nashville Hot Grilled Chicken and Nashville Hot Wings. Individual Nashville Hot Baskets will be $5.49 and include cole slaw and a biscuit.

Add Hope
To coincide with the return of KFC's overwhelmingly popular Nashville Hot Chicken, the brand also kicked off today its annual hunger relief campaign, Add Hope(®). KFC's Add Hope campaign helps feed the world through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger.

Through October 30(th), customers can visit participating KFC restaurants for Nashville Hot Chicken or any KFC favorite and make a donation to fight world hunger. Donations can also be made online at http://addhope.kfc.com or by texting "KFCWHR" to 90999 in the U.S. The default donation for text message is $5 USD (message and data charges may apply).

Every dollar raised goes directly toward WFP's operations to fight hunger worldwide, mostly to disaster relief and school meals programs. Just $1 provides meals to four hungry children at school.

According to WFP, there are 795 million people around the world who suffer from chronic hunger, which equates to one in nine people that go to bed hungry each night. This is the tenth year KFC has partnered with WFP to help solve world hunger.

About KFC
KFC Corporation, based in Louisville, Ky., is the world's most popular chicken restaurant chain. KFC specializes in Original Recipe(®), Extra Crispy(TM), Kentucky Grilled Chicken(®) and Extra Crispy(TM) Tenders, Hot Wings(TM), Go Cups, KFC Famous Bowls(®), Pot Pies, freshly hand prepared chicken sandwiches, biscuits and homestyle side items. There are nearly 20,000 KFC outlets in more than 125 countries and territories around the world. KFC Corporation is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., Louisville, Ky. (NYSE: YUM). For more information, visit www.kfc.com. Follow KFC on Facebook (www.facebook.com/kfc), Twitter (www.twitter.com/kfc) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/KFC).

About WFP
WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries.

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SOURCE KFC