KFC: Michelin Impossible
Michelin Impossible by KFC, a quest started by Sam Edelman for a Michelin star for his Alice springs KFC store, Australia gained huge popularity as he knocked on the doors of Michelin, Paris
“We gave KFC’s most remote store owner a Facebook account, ghostwriter, media training, production crew, pan-agency support team, and a mission to get Kentucky Fried Chicken the ultimate symbol of food quality: a Michelin Star.”
There’s no higher accolade of quality in the food world than getting a Michelin Star. But Michelin hasn’t placed Australia on its culinary map yet, let alone any mainstream fast-food chain.
“Our idea wasn’t about actually getting KFC a Michelin Star, but getting credit for making quality fried chicken – by associating ourselves with the well-known culinary prestige and status of the Michelin Guide.”
“But we needed to do this credibly. So we developed a believable narrative and carefully cast Sam, an incredibly charismatic KFC store owner that Australia would want to get behind because every Aussie loves an underdog story. You’ve seen Crocodile Dundee.”
“Independent research identified that simply reminding people that the letters KFC stood for ‘Kentucky Fried Chicken’ immediately improved perceptions of food quality. By referring to KFC’s chicken as Kentucky Fried Chicken, it conjured up notions of “care,” “authenticity,” and “expertise”. So the team needed to find a credible way to get this new (but old) brand name out there. Yet a traditional campaign that just told people that KFC is short for Kentucky Fried Chicken would be a bit banal, and potentially KFC just talking to itself. We needed to do something crazy enough that Aussies would take notice of.”
So the Michelin Impossible campaign’s bold strategy was to ditch traditional advertising and instead associate KFC with an independent symbol of food quality – the Micheline Guide – leveraging its credibility and influence to get Kentucky Fried Chicken the quality kudos it deserved.
Idea: “We devised a carefully crafted, social-first narrative to ensure our mission would be accepted and embraced by the Australian public. Authenticity was crucial. So even though the initial content was scripted and shot weeks before launch, the mission played out in real-time via a Facebook Group that appeared to be set up by Sam. The Facebook Group and all content were produced to look as if Sam was championing the mission alone. But it was a highly considered and professionally built content hub that also acted as a goldmine for journalists. We had a million ideas on where the mission would take Sam, planning multiple ways the story could play out. After a global swell of social (and earned media) support, we scored Sam in an improbable meeting with the International Director of Michelin Guides. We had a crew ready to capture the moment in Paris.”
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Michelin Impossible campaign Recognitions
1 x Global Grand Effie
1 x Cannes Lion (Bronze)
2 x APAC Effies (Gold)
2 x IPA Effectiveness Awards (Best Small Budget, Bronze)
4 x Spikes Asia Awards (1 Grand Prix, 2 Gold, 1 Silver)
2 x London International Awards (Bronze)
4 x Caples Awards (1 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze)
2 x Webby Awards
2 x Clio Awards (1 Silver, 1 Bronze)
5 x Ad Stars Awards (3 Bronze, 2 Crystal)
1 x AWARD Award (Bronze)
1 x WARC Award for Effectiveness (Gold)
3 x Australian Effies Awards (Bronze)
5 x APAC SABRE Awards (incl. Best In Show)
1 x APAC Marketing Magazine PR Award (Gold)
Ranked #3 in Global SABRE Awards
CommsCon Awards Highly Commended
AC&E Awards Finalist
AdNews Awards Finalist
Featured in The One Show AsiaCreative Showcase
Featured in Directory Magazine
Credits
Client: KFC
Advertising Agency: Ogilvy
Product: Fast Food
Advertising Campaign: Michelin Impossible
Media: Key Media Channel – Social
Country: Australia
