Double Down (sandwich) facts for kids
 |
|
| Nutritional value per 248 g | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 2,552.24 kJ (610.00 kcal) |
|
18g
|
|
| Sugars | 1 g |
| Dietary fiber | 1 g |
|
37 g
|
|
| Saturated | 11 g |
| Trans | 1 g |
|
Protein
|
52 g
|
| Minerals | Quantity
%DV†
|
| Sodium |
125%
1880 mg |
| Other constituents | Quantity |
| Cholesterol | 150 mg |
| †Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults. | |
The Double Down is a special kind of sandwich from Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants. But here's the cool part: it doesn't use bread! Instead, it uses two pieces of crispy fried chicken as the "buns." Inside, you'll find tasty bacon, cheese, and a special sauce. Sometimes, KFC has made different versions, like ones with grilled chicken or a spicy "Zinger" coating.
Contents
History of the Double Down
The Double Down has traveled all over the world! It first appeared in the United States, but soon, people in many other countries wanted to try this unique chicken sandwich.
Double Down in Africa
KFC South Africa started selling the Double Down in March 2013. To follow special food rules, the bacon in their version was replaced with a slice of smoked chicken.
Double Down in Asia
The Double Down has been very popular in Asia, with different versions appearing in many countries.
Double Down in India
In October 2017, the Double Down was first a secret item in India. Only certain invited people could buy it for a week as part of a special event. After that, its name was shared, and everyone could buy it for a short time.
Double Down in Japan
The Double Down went on sale in Japan on February 2, 2012. It was called the "Chicken Fillet Double" and was available for a limited time.
Double Down in Singapore
KFC Singapore launched the Zinger Double Down on April 16, 2012. This version used turkey bacon instead of regular bacon to follow special food rules. Later, a Hawaiian version came out, which had a slice of pineapple and BBQ sauce.
Double Down in Malaysia
KFC Malaysia introduced the Double Down on September 25, 2012.
Double Down in the Philippines
In November 2010, the Double Down first arrived in the Philippines, making it the first country in Asia to sell it. About a year later, in October 2011, KFC Philippines changed it to the Zinger Double Down, which had a spicy flavor and crunchy chicken skin.
The Double Down was stopped for a while but came back in January 2014. A smaller version, called the Junior Double Down, was also introduced. It was stopped again in May 2014 but relaunched in January 2015 for a limited time. A new version called the Double Down Dog also appeared. In January 2016, the Double Down G was introduced, which had crispy fried spinach and a "secret green sauce." In March 2019, the original Double Down and Junior Double Down returned, and in April 2019, the Zinger Double Down came back too.
Double Down in Korea
The Zinger Double Down was sold from December 2012 to March 2013. It came back in October 2013, along with a new version called Zinger Double Down MAXX, which had an extra hash brown patty and salsa. Both the Zinger Double Down and the Double Down MAXX became regular menu items in March 2014. In April, the original Double Down also became available. In October 2014, the Zinger Double Down KING was announced. This huge sandwich had a beef patty and barbecue sauce between two Zinger chicken patties.
Double Down in Thailand
In July 2018, the Double Down was launched in some KFC restaurants in Bangkok. It was brought back again in May 2019.
Double Down in Indonesia
KFC Indonesia started selling the Double Down on February 1, 2020. Like in Singapore and Malaysia, the bacon was replaced with hash browns to follow special food rules.
Double Down in Europe
The Double Down has also made its way across Europe.
Double Down in Sweden
The Double Down was introduced when KFC first opened in Sweden.
Double Down in Denmark
It was introduced in Denmark in January 2017.
Double Down in Germany
It was available in Germany until March 2017. The German version had two chicken strips, bacon, Monterey Jack cheese, and a special Double Down Sauce from KFC.
Double Down in France
KFC released the Double Down in France in October 2014 as a special limited-time product. It was then brought back in August 2015 in two flavors: Original Bacon and Spicy Zinger. It returned again with a third flavor, "Black Pepper," in September 2017.
Double Down in Spain
In March 2016, the Double Down was introduced in Spain. The Spanish version had bacon, cheddar cheese, and barbecue sauce between the two chicken fillets. Its advertising slogan was "No apto para cobardes," which means "Not for cowards."
Double Down in the UK and Ireland
The Double Down was released in the UK and Ireland in October 2017. It became their fastest-selling sandwich ever, with one being sold every second! The Double Down was brought back to the UK and Ireland from July 2 to July 22, 2018. After that, the Zinger version was available from July 23 to August 12.
Double Down in North America
Double Down in Canada
On October 18, 2010, KFC restaurants in Canada began selling the fried version of the Double Down for a short time. It was so popular that one KFC in Victoria, British Columbia, sold out by 2 p.m. on its first day! In French Canada, it's known as "Coup Double," which means "Double Punch." The Double Down was stopped in Canada on November 14, 2010, but KFC announced it would return on May 25, 2011, at least for a while. It came back again in 2012 for a limited time. In August 2015, KFC Canada brought the Double Down back after three years. The sandwich returned to Canada in March 2018 as the Waffle Double Down. This version had a Belgian waffle between two seasoned chicken fillets and used maple-flavored aioli.
Double Down in the United States
The KFC Double Down was first tested in Omaha, Nebraska, and Providence, Rhode Island. KFC announced it on April Fools' Day as a joke, but then launched it for real in the United States on April 12, 2010. It was advertised with billboards and TV commercials saying it had "so much 100 percent premium chicken, we didn't have room for a bun."
It was supposed to be a limited-time offer, ending on May 23, 2010. However, KFC decided to keep it available because it was so popular. Many people bought it, and videos of people eating the Double Down became a YouTube sensation. Even Stephen Colbert ate one on his TV show, The Colbert Report, which made it even more famous.
Double Down in Oceania
Double Down in Australia
KFC Australia started selling the Double Down (renamed The Double) with the slogan "make time for mantime" on March 30, 2011, for a limited time. The Double was very successful in Australia, even though some people thought it was unhealthy. KFC Australia announced on their Facebook page that if they reached 500,000 likes, they would bring The Double back for just two days. The page reached 500,000 likes on June 15, 2012, and KFC sold The Double on June 27 and 28. The Double appeared on menus again in December 2012 for a limited time.
On October 28, 2016, KFC announced on Facebook that they would sell the Double Down again for four weeks, starting November 1. They also introduced a new version called the Hawaiian Double, which replaced bacon with pineapple. This was in response to an online campaign started by an Australian Facebook page called 'Yeah the Boys'.
Double Down in New Zealand
From May 10, 2011, the Double Down was available in New Zealand for about five weeks. The Double Down was also brought back for just one day on March 31, 2012, only in Dunedin. This was to help raise money for the Otago Rugby Union, which was having money problems. On July 24, 2012, KFC started selling the Double Down in New Zealand again.
Double Down Sales
The Double Down has been a big seller for KFC in many places.
From its launch in the United States on April 12, 2010, until early July, KFC sold 10 million Double Downs. This brought in about US$50 million in sales.
In Canada, the Double Down became KFC's best-selling new menu item ever. It sold over 350,000 units in less than 10 days! Even though it sold more than one million units, KFC Canada stopped selling it in 2010, but brought it back for short periods in 2011 and again in August 2015. In New Zealand, 600,000 Double Downs were sold during its five-week promotion.
After the Zinger Double Down was launched in Korea, the total sales for KFC Korea went up by 20%.
