Why KFC spent $105 million creating this sandwich

KFC has spent nearly $105 million to create a new chicken sandwich in order to drum up sales — but it may come as a surprise to Aussies.

KFC, a unit of Yum! Brands, announced Monday that they have spent nearly $105 million ($US80 million) to create a new chicken sandwich in order to drum up sales.

The “Zinger”, the first fried chicken sandwich to be made by hand, daily in-house, has been in the works for years.

“We have been actually working on this for two years, we spent $80 million upgrading our back house equipment and we spent the last six months retraining all of our staff on how to make a fried chicken sandwich fast because ultimately at lunch, we have to win on speed,” Kevin Hochman, president and chief concept officer for KFC US, told FOX Business’ Stuart Varney.

Mr Hochman also says the sandwich, which is already sold in more than 120 countries around the world — including Australia — will debut in the US on April 24. In addition to that, it will be made with 100 per cent real chicken from US farms without any antibiotics.

KFC recently joined a long-list of other fast-food restaurants in announcing plans last week to stop using antibiotics in its chickens by the end of 2018.

“We share the public’s concern about ... antimicrobial resistance,” Mr Hochman said in a statement.

Chipotle, McDonald’s, Burger King, Panera, and Wendy’s have already made similar pledges in the past. But KFC says they believe they are on the cutting edge in trying to forgo antibiotics when it comes to on-the-bone chicken. The “Zinger” will also be free of added hormones, steroids, and food dyes.

And, even though more Americans are demanding healthier food options, Mr Hochman says he believes people will be interested in this fried sandwich.

“It’s funny. People want real prepared food and the cooks are in back of the house making our chicken on the bone and these new Zinger sandwiches [are] totally different than anything out on the market place today,” he said.

This article originally appeared on Fox News and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Why KFC spent $105 million creating this sandwich