KFC Canada is serving up a holiday treat that goes beyond its iconic chicken buckets. This season, they’ve transformed bucket lids into playable vinyl records. Yes, you read that right – Kentucky Fried Carols is a nostalgic, finger-lickin’-good twist on holiday cheer. It’s a limited-edition collectible that marries food, music, and festive fun in a way only KFC can pull off.

The campaign goes beyond the sizzle of frying oil remixed into carols. It serves as a masterclass in how brands can delight customers. They achieve this through storytelling, creativity, and emotional connection.

Here’s what marketers and brand storytellers can learn from KFC Canada’s bold move:

1. Surprise and Delight Your Audience

A vinyl record made from a chicken bucket lid? It’s unexpected, nostalgic, and undeniably cool. KFC merged two unrelated elements: music and food. This fusion created a memorable experience that captures attention and sparks joy.

Takeaway: Think outside the box (or bucket!) to find surprising ways to engage your audience. Delight happens at the intersection of the unexpected and the meaningful.

2. Tap Into Nostalgia

Inspired by Colonel Sanders’ holiday albums from the 1960s, Kentucky Fried Carols brings a retro concept to a modern audience. Nostalgia is a powerful emotional trigger, evoking fond memories while creating a sense of connection.

Takeaway: Explore your brand’s history or cultural moments your audience cherishes. Nostalgia done right can make your campaign instantly relatable and shareable.

3. Make Your Brand a Multi-Sensory Experience

KFC didn’t stop at visuals or taste; they turned their brand into an auditory experience. They incorporated the sounds of their kitchen into holiday classics. This created a sensory extension of their brand which deepens engagement.

Takeaway: Think about how your brand can engage more than one sense. Whether it’s sound, smell, or touch, engaging multiple senses can create an immersive experience.

4. Create Exclusivity and Buzz

These vinyl records aren’t sold in stores – they’re only available through a contest on Instagram. This limited-edition approach fuels FOMO (fear of missing out) and encourages social engagement.

Takeaway: Exclusivity drives demand. Pair it with interactive elements like a contest to amplify excitement and encourage participation.

5. Make Your Product the Hero of the Story

KFC made their product – fried chicken – the centerpiece of the story in this campaign. This was clear from the vinyl’s design to the sounds woven into the carols. This reinforces brand identity while creating a fun, shareable narrative.

Takeaway: Position your product as an integral part of the story you’re telling. When your audience associates your brand with joy, creativity, or celebration, you win their hearts (and wallets).

Why This Matters for Marketers

In an age of content saturation, Kentucky Fried Carols is a lesson in standing out. KFC has a long tradition of tapping limited edition merchandise to launch new products and spark engagement around existing ones. By looking at their product in a new way, KFC Canada turned a simple bucket lid into a special holiday moment.

Whether you are launching a new product, reinvigorating an old favorite, take inspiration from KFC’s creatively.

What is your brand’s equivalent of a bucket-lid-turned-vinyl? Share your ideas in the comments below or tag me on social media – I’d love to hear them!

Jessica Gioglio is the co-author of The Laws of Brand Storytelling and The Power of Visual Storytelling. Professionally, Jessica has led innovative marketing and public relations programs for Dunkin’, TripAdvisor, Sprinklr, and more. Today, Jessica is a keynote speaker (book her here) and founder of With Savvy Media & Marketing, a strategic branding, storytelling, and content strategy consultancy.