KFC was once a hub for young Chinese people to socialise, meet, and play. In 2022, the continuous zero-Covid policy has changed physical activity among the Chinese youth, resulting in fewer visitors at the KFC store day by day, which led to a 16% decline in KFC's overall business performance.

How could KFC recover the disappearing Gen Z customers?

Using the Unreal Engine 4, KFC blended traditional Chinese styles with technology and launched a brand-new KFC Store where young people can socialise, meet, and play in the cyber world – QQ, the most popular social platform with young Chinese people of all time.

Spending most of their time online, Gen Z considers their virtual identity even more important than who they are in real life. KFC decided to recreate a get-together experience for them at their most familiar place - a KFC store - but virtually.

KFC created a full-service virtual dining experience.

Every player can chat with the virtual Colonel Sanders in the store, create an exclusive avatar with KFC fashion items, or purchase virtual furniture to open their own KFC stores.

Players can host grand food parties online with friends where they can voice chat, share memes, or use gestures. Not only can they enjoy digital fries and burgers or exchange gifts; simultaneously, they can also order real home delivery.

What’s more, players and their friends can meet and play in an exclusive game; take a selfie and video for a solo or couple dance, then share on social media immediately.

850 million chats with Colonel Sanders

2 million KFC influencers

8.28 million digital KFC food buyer

180 million virtual fries/coke consumed

6.69 million people owned KFC costumes

11.32 million people bought virtual KFC furniture to decorate their spaces

6.2 million selfies of virtual store visitors, 40% of whom shared on social media

In three weeks, 19 million people visited the KFC Cyber Store, generating over 4.3 billion interactions. 4 million burgers sold out offline in just one week.