The same week, KFC announced actor Rob Lowe as its newest Colonel. He was featured in ads for the Zinger sandwich, wearing a spacesuit and talking about sending the sandwich into space. 

For Mother’s Day, KFC released a romance novella starring Colonel Sanders. The book, “Tender Wings of Desire,” was available for free download on Amazon.com and given away to 100 fans on Facebook.

In June, KFC revealed plans to send a sandwich into space. The Zinger was launched via high altitude balloon flight. 

In July, KFC introduced H.A.R.L.A.N.D., a robotic Colonel Sanders, to the world. The Human Assisted Robotic Linguistic Animatronic Networked Device appeared at select drive-thrus. 

In August, KFC launched modern-day ads featuring the original Colonel Sanders selling Original Recipe fried chicken. The company used video from ads from the 1960s and ’70s interspersed with contemporary footage.

In September, KFC introduced yet another new Colonel, actor Ray Liotta. He was brought on to advertise the chain’s Georgia Gold honey mustard barbecue chicken and the Nashville Hot variety. 

Later in September, KFC had a pair of social media influencers drive across the South with the Colonel giving them (bad) directions over a bright red cassette tape. The trip took them from the chain’s hometown of Louisville, Ky., to Marietta, Ga., home of KFC’s “Big Chicken” restaurant.

In October, KFC began offering “Halloween Harland” costumes. The plastic Sanders mask and a vinyl bib made to look like the Colonel’s famous white suit are available for $5 on the KFC Limited website. 

Later in October, KFC revealed that it had planted an Easter egg on its Twitter account on Sept. 18. Paying homage to the brand’s fabled secret recipe, the account now follows a mere 11 Twitter handles: six men named “Herb” and five members of the Spice Girls pop group. The move tips the cap to the brand’s classic 11 herbs and spices recipe. 

In November, KFC added Andrea Zahumensky to its c-suite as chief marketing officer. The role had been left vacant when Kevin Hochman was promoted to president in March.