Fast food chain Burger King announced Monday that its Chicken Fries will be served year-round after a surge in demand on social media for the product.
The item, which has appeared on and off Burger King’s menu since 2005, consists of nine pieces of breaded and fried chicken strips for $2.89. The chicken product helped participating Burger King stores nab a 3.6% sales increase during a two-month trial period, according to Bloomberg.
“It’s definitely one of those products that has a life of its own,” Eric Hirschhorn, Burger King’s chief marketing officer for North America, told Bloomberg. “The passion has been incredible.”
The move comes as Burger King and rival McDonald’s have been in heated competition to offer the least expensive chicken products. In January, Burger King brought back chicken nuggets for $.15, while a McDonald’s promotion touted 50 Chicken McNuggets for $9.99, or $.20 each.
Burger King, which is owned by Restaurant Brands International, reported in February that comparable sales rose 3.1% in 2014. This year, McDonald’s reported a 4% dip in domestic same-store sales, which the company said was due to “ongoing aggressive competitive activity.”
Earlier in March, Burger King stopped advertising soft drinks on its kids menu in an effort to become a healthier option for concerned parents.
