The Southern Chicken brand doesn’t even have locations in Philadelphia, but hired Philly’s biggest antihero Dolph Lundgren as a spokesperson, is taunting the city with saucy billboards, and may even park a food truck in front of its most famous cheesesteak spots so locals can try the sandwich for themselves
Saucy Southern chicken restaurant Zaxby’s is putting its own spin on an all-time classic: the Philly cheesesteak. For their Philly, Zaxby’s is ditching the beef and instead featuring Zaxby’s signature fried or grilled chicken, savory garlic aioli, and a combination of melted American cheese, grilled peppers and onions served on a toasted hoagie roll.
“Philadelphia and I have a decades long history,” said Dolph Lundgren, star of the new advertisements. “So when Zaxby’s came to me ready to take on the city’s iconic sandwich with a Philly of their own, I knew it would be fun to be part of this campaign.”
After all, the mere existence of the saucy new Fried Chicken Philly is fuel for some spirited debate about the reign of the Philly cheesesteak. To spur the conversation, the brand decided to go all in, daring to show off its mouthwatering sandwich in Philadelphia itself.
While Zaxby’s has over 900 locations throughout the U.S., the closest restaurant is 169 miles away from Philadelphia in Virginia. Undeterred, Zaxby’s has brought the Fried Chicken Philly to the City of Brotherly Love via a series of boastful billboards, only in Philadelphia. With lines like “Just like the Philly you know and love, but good,” and “Finally, the Philly done right,” the campaign has gotten Philadelphians talking.
“This sandwich and campaign poses a provocative question: could we as Zaxby’s take an iconic sandwich and make it better?” said Patrick Schwing, chief marketing and strategy officer at Zaxby’s. “When you take on a beloved, iconic sandwich like the Philly, you better be sure it can stand up to even the most discerning critic. After a year of development and testing, we knew we had a sandwich worthy of the name ‘Philly’. And what better place to debut this sandwich than Philadelphia. For those who don’t believe, we invite you to come to your closest Zaxby’s and come try it.”
And so far, the campaign is working. In the first three weeks, the Fried Chicken Philly has beat sales expectations, selling at almost three times the forecasted rate.
Putting its money where its mouth is, the company is even considering setting up a pop-up food truck in the coming weeks in Philadelphia itself, so local residents will be able to judge for themselves which sandwich is the true champion.
Elements of the campaign include the following:
- TV Commercials: In a series of spots featuring Dolph Lundgren, the action star is shown on the iconic steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum touting the deliciousness of Zaxby’s newest sandwich.
- Billboards: Outdoor billboards will run in key locations in Philadelphia unveiling the launch of this disrespectfully delicious sandwich. You can take a look at the OOH here.
- Food Truck Pop-up: With the nearest Zaxby’s being more than one hundred miles away, Zaxby’s is considering setting up a Philly Food Truck right in the heart of the city, offering a free sandwich to any brave soul willing to declare, “The best Philly is the Zaxby’s Fried Chicken Philly.”
Finally, the Philly done right.
Founded in 1990, Zaxby’s is committed to serving delicious chicken fingers, wings, sandwiches and salads with Southern hospitality and a modern twist. Zaxby’s iconic Fried Pickles were selected to USA Today’s 2023 10Best Fast Food Sides List. Zaxby’s has grown to more than 900 locations in 17 states and is headquartered in Athens, Georgia. For more information, visit zaxbys.com or zaxbysfranchising.com.
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