The Popeyes Chicken Sandwich has been named the fast food item of the year for 2019, and we would have to agree with this assessment.
There have been a lot of new additions to menus in the fast food world in 2019, but none stand out quite as much as the infamous Chicken Sandwich from Popeyes. Not only did this sandwich sell out in record time when it was first released, but it has led to multiple campaigns (including a bring your own bun option), and even ridiculous news stories.
So with all of this having happened around a single menu item, it makes sense that Business Insider has named the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich as the fast food item of 2019. What this means, is that this is the item that defined the year in terms of fast food. And we would have to agree.
Not only did the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich shine a spotlight on the power of social media (much of the hype around this menu item stemmed from the reactions on social media), but it also acted as a way to highlight some of the less positive aspects of not only our society, but also the fast food industry as well.
From people pulling guns on each other over a sandwich to a child in the kitchen making the food, there were a lot of mind-blowing stories that arose thanks to this menu item. And perhaps what makes this all so shocking is the fact that the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich was not even rolled out in restaurants until August. That means more than half the year was already done before this sandwich became a phenomenon.
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Chicken has long been a hot food item in the world of fast food. It is seen as a healthy alternative to beef, and it is also something that multiple restaurants revolve their entire menu around. Chick-fil-A has made a name for themselves simply by offering chicken products (no beef for them). So it probably came as no surprise that people were excited for a new chicken sandwich to hit the market.
The fact that the arrival of Popeyes own Chicken Sandwich led to what many have referred to as the Chicken Sandwich Wars, is a clear indication that this is a menu item with a lot of power. And while that might seem ridiculous, it’s hard to deny it when you look at the fact that at the end of October the company announced they were hiring 400 new employees just to make Chicken Sandwiches when it returned to the menu.
Just because 2019 is coming to an end that doesn’t mean the war for top Chicken Sandwich is over. And perhaps that is another reason that this is the fast food item of 2019, because it proves that there are things that take on a life of their own, even when we least expect it to happen.
What do you think of Popeyes Chicken Sandwich being named the fast food item of the year? Do you agree? If not, what else would you call the food of the year? Tell us what you think in the comments.