COSTA MESA Calif. Continuing to peck away at a rival brand’s grilled chicken promotion, El Pollo Loco on Thursday posted a viral video suggesting that KFC doesn’t honor mothers because a coupon for a free meal is not valid on Mother’s Day this Sunday.
Saying that El Pollo Loco “loves mothers and families,” the 418-unit chain on Mother’s Day will honor the KFC coupon offer of a free two-piece grilled chicken meal with sides, which was promoted Tuesday by television talk show host Oprah Winfrey.
The coupon was available for download on KFC’s website until midnight Wednesday and the giveaway reportedly prompted a run on chicken. KFC stores across the country reportedly had long lines and some ran short on supplies.
The KFC coupon is good through May 19 — excluding Mother’s Day, when El Pollo Loco hopes to pick up some of the 5,200-unit chain’s freebie-seeking customers.
“What does KFC have against moms?” poses the El Pollo Loco video, questioning the coupon’s exclusion date. “Wow, KFC, I hope your moms don’t find out about this.”
Requests for a response from KFC have not been answered.
Costa Mesa, Calif.-based El Pollo Loco has long positioned its citrus-marinated grilled chicken as the more healthful alternative to fried-bird options.
The all-grilled chicken chain earlier this year began accepting coupons from chicken competitors, including KFC, typically offering discounts to customers who bring in competitors’ coupons.
When KFC promoted the rollout of its new grilled product during an UNFry Day event last month, giving away 4 million grilled chicken samples, El Pollo Loco followed the next day with a similar free-sample offer, which the company said brought in 500,000 tasters.
El Pollo Loco then asked customers to call a toll-free number to vote for their favorite grilled chicken.
According to El Pollo Loco, callers included “anonymous” men who claimed to be from Southern California but who apparently dialed from KFC parent Yum! Brands Inc. headquarters in Louisville, Ky. The prank calls were also the subject of a viral video posted by El Pollo Loco last week.
Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].