There’s a unique kind of silence that falls over the table during holiday dinners - a moment of stillness when everyone is too busy savouring their food to say much. It’s that peaceful pause when the meal takes centre stage, and conversation fades into the background. But this year, KFC Canada is spinning things around and seizing the silence… by offering something no one saw coming into the holiday mix.
Introducing 'Kentucky Fried Carols', a first-ever playable vinyl record made from the legendary bucket lid, allowing you to fill the room with Christmas classics this holiday season. The same lid that keeps your crispy chicken fresh, can now be spun on a record player after all plates are served.
The brand act, in partnership with AOR Courage, draws inspiration from the Colonel’s musical legacy that made waves in the late 1960s with the release of his three holiday records. But, this time, KFC Canada and the Colonel are replaying it with a modern twist. A select amount of bucket lids have been specially pressed and coated with a vinyl layer and custom holiday design, turning them into playable records. Etched in are four remixed versions of classic Christmas songs, brought to life with the unmistakable sounds of KFC’s kitchen. From the rattle of the Colonel’s 11 herbs and spices, mimicking a shaker in We Wish You a Merry Christmas, to the sizzle of fry oil, paralleling the crash of cymbals in Deck the Halls, each track adds a festive, KFC-inspired twist to beloved holiday classics we all know and love. And to make it even more special, each vinyl comes with its own custom sleeve - creating a new collectible keepsake for holiday traditions in years to come.
"With Kentucky Fried Carols, we wanted to surprise our fans with something completely unexpected this holiday season - something familiar but with a bit of a twist," said Jordan Sequeira, marketing manager, brand and partnerships, KFC Canada. "Turning our iconic bucket lid into a vinyl record is a fun way to tap into both the Colonel’s musical history and the season while bringing a fresh take to something uniquely KFC. It’s all about creating moments that tie food, family, and music together, helping Canadians build new traditions and memories around the table during the holidays."
Launching December 5th, the activation builds on KFC Canada’s larger holiday campaign, featuring the Festive Feast and Festive Chicken Sandwich. With the instrumental version of Silent Night setting the tone, the campaign underscores the idea that sometimes, your meal speaks louder than words. The campaign will roll out across socials with both :15s and :30s cutdowns, and for a limited time, Canadian KFC die-hards will have the chance to win and get their hands on the exclusive one-of-a-kind holiday vinyl to enjoy this season.
“Working with KFC Canada on Kentucky Fried Carols was a fun opportunity to push the boundaries of what a holiday campaign could be. Turning a bucket lid into a vinyl record? It’s definitely not something you see every day, but that’s exactly what makes it so KFC,” said Dhaval Bhatt, co-CCO of Courage Inc. “The bucket is one of the most recognisable assets, so using a different part of it gave us a chance to create something truly surprising. It allowed us to take something familiar and make it new, all while staying true to KFC’s fun spirit and ability to stand out.”
This year, KFC Canada is making sure your holiday meal not only speaks for itself - it sings.