KFC creates "unhinged" Pickle Puffer stuffed with gherkins

Fast-food chain KFC has joined the novelty outerwear arms race with a gherkin-filled puffer jacket, hooked up to a built-in straw for picklebacks on the go.

Following hot on the heels of Aldi's Jacket Potato Jacket, the Pickle Puffer features a clear plastic outer that reveals the slicked pickles and acid-green brine that were used to stuff the jacket.

A pickle-shaped zipper pull and KFC logo round off the design, while a long plastic hose, like the kind used by runners, allowing the wearer to take sips of pickle juice throughout the day.

"It's a bit unhinged, but that’s the point," said KFC UK & Ireland brand manager James Channon.

"Only KFC would wrap a jacket in real pickle juice and sliced pickles, giving fans a wearable, drinkable tribute to their obsession."

The one-off piece, which KFC is giving away via social media, was reportedly inspired by an AI-generated video of a man feeding people sliced gherkins from his pickle-filled puffer jacket.

According to KFC, the video "quickly spiralled into a collective 'wait… why isn't this real?' moment online" – although at the time of writing, the video has only just over 100 likes and eight comments.

The puffer was created to advertise a special pickle menu that KFC is launching in the UK, with novelty items including Pickle Loaded Fries and Pickle Pepsi.

The campaign forms part of a growing trend of using outrageous limited-edition fashion designs as a marketing ploy, as seen in Aldi's potato puffer and Lidl's trolley bag.

The post KFC creates "unhinged" Pickle Puffer stuffed with gherkins appeared first on Dezeen.