Newcastle chicken shop ‘warns’ KFC over banh mi double-up

A trendy eatery has issued a warning to fast food giant KFC after they both launched similar dishes in the same week.

A trendy chicken shop in Newcastle has attempted to ruffle the feathers of KFC after accusing the fast food giant of copying its take on a banh mi.

KFC announced it was testing its version of the Vietnamese baguette “only in Newcastle” this week, dubbing it the Zinger Banh Mi.

On Tuesday, the local store Newy Fried Chicken (NFC) also launched its own “bahn mi sando” as a weekly special from its test kitchen.

KFC is testing out a Zinger banh mi in Newcastle. Picture: Supplied

Then on Friday, NFC owner Nicholas Brady called out the similarity in social media posts and purported to have sent legal letters to the chicken behemoth.

In his post the small business owner said, “sometimes you gotta stand up for what’s right”.

“Most of you would have noticed a rather large chicken chain doing the same special as us this week,” his tongue-in-cheek message caption read.

“They are a global company, yet chose to release this special only in Newcastle?

“Coincidence? I don’t think so … Such a blatant act of disrespect cannot be allowed to stand without consequences.”

Newy Fried Chicken owner Nicholas Brady.

And his banh mi sando. Pictures: Instagram

He shared a copy of one letter claimed to have been sent on Friday, marked “infringement of rights”, in which Mr Brady warned his business would consider its legal options.

“We have received no reply to our previous letter dated February 25, 2025. A copy of our previous letter is attached for your reference,” it began.

“Please consider this our final effort to amicably resolve this matter.

“Should we not receive assurances from you within 10 days of your receipt of this letter, Newy Fried Chicken will take whatever legal action it deems appropriate without further notice.”

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Newy Fried Chicken’s post on Friday. Picture: Instagram

The popular eatery has thousands of followers on social media, with some Novocastrians backing the stance while a few offered insight into how rival KFC works.

“I definitely seen (sic) it advertised with KFC before I seen (sic) it with you guys?” one wrote on Facebook.

“Also a large company would have taken at least a week to get ingredients supplied to all stores.”

Another supposed former KFC staffer said, “no decision is made quickly in huge chain stores like this ... it would’ve been in the works for many months”.

Just a week earlier, NFC was offering a spicy miso garlic chicken dish “inspired by the trend from KFC in Japan”.

Both Mr Brady and KFC were approached for comment.

Newcastle has long been a test bed for marketers who believe “if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere”.

Some of the everyday items first offered in Newcastle are Arnott’s Tiny Teddy biscuits, McDonald’s breakfasts, office supplies at Australia Post and even the first polymer bank note.

Nicholas Brady with social media star Big John.

The venue has become a popular place for Novocastrians.

James Docherty wrote in his 1983 book Newcastle: The making of an Australian city that it was“widely regarded as an ideal place for market research because the people are considered statistically representative of ‘typical’ Australians”.

KFC has also commonly used Newcastle to try out new innovations like a drive-through-only restaurant – and its freshly dropped Zinger Nachos were tried out in the Hunter last year.

In a statement to the Daily Mail on Friday, a KFC spokesperson said its banh mi would only be around for a month.

“We’re always looking to blend delicious new flavours and textures with the iconic KFC taste fans love,” they said.

“To help understand our customer’s evolving tastes and preferences, we test new products like Zinger Banh Mì in select restaurants.

“The new menu item will be exclusively available in Newcastle until March 24.”

Originally published as Newcastle chicken shop ‘warns’ KFC over banh mi double-up