"According to McDonald's, its famous Filet-O-Fish sandwiches were created as a way to bring in more customers during Lent, as franchises weren't selling any burgers on Fridays. That same tradition is what led KFC to add a fried fish sandwich to its menu in 2007."
"In his letter to the Pope, Dedrick wrote, 'This is the first time KFC has ever served fish nationally, and we believe that the new sandwich could make it easier and more affordable for Catholics to observe the tenets of their faith,' (via NBC News). A representative of the Vatican confirmed that the letter was received, but there is no evidence that Pope Benedict XVI (or any other subsequent Holy Father) bestowed his blessing upon the sandwich."
"This wasn't the first time that KFC's parent company, Yum! Brands, pulled a splashy PR stunt. In 2000, it placed a Pizza Hut logo on a Russian space rocket and in 2001 developed a Pizza Hut pizza that could be baked and consumed on board the International Space Station."
During Lent, Catholics abstain from eating meat from warm-blooded animals but can consume fish. McDonald's created the Filet-O-Fish sandwich to attract customers during this period when burger sales declined. KFC followed suit in 2007 by introducing a Fish Snacker Sandwich. To gain competitive advantage, KFC's president Greg Dedrick wrote to Pope Benedict XVI requesting a blessing for the sandwich, arguing it would help Catholics afford to observe their faith. The Vatican confirmed receiving the letter but provided no evidence the Pope blessed it. This marketing effort reflected Yum! Brands' history of attention-grabbing promotional stunts, including placing Pizza Hut logos on space rockets and creating a massive Colonel Sanders image visible from space.
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