Agencies all fried up for KFC

Singapore - Three Singapore creative agencies have been thrown into the ring to fight it out for the KFC account behind closed doors, with the pitch date set for 10 October, sources close to the pitch told Marketing this evening.

McCann Erickson, JWT and incumbent BBDO are the agencies involved and industry speculation suggests the account could be shaken loose from the incumbent and follow two lead creatives to McCanns. The creatives are ECD Farrokh Madon who joined the agency in July, and associate creative director Goh Wee Kim who joined this month.

McCann Erickson previously held the KFC account, being appointed to it back in 1981.

“The fact is that KFC has some big plans for next year and they are looking to ensure they have the right agency partner, we believe that would be us. We have a great relationship, they have handled this very professionally and I am personally committed to do our best to retain them as a client. I really like the clients and I am sure that with the talent we have brought in we can do even greater things for them - things that are both creative and move sales,” Jean-Paul Burge, Managing Director, BBDO Singapore said.

KFC is part of Yum Brands, which also manages Pizza Hut, Long John Silver's and Taco Bell in Singapore. The client would not comment.