No more popcorn chicken? KFC is trimming its menu and dropping a few notable items

Kentucky Fried Chicken's menu has a little less meat on the bone.KFC diners may be noticing that the fast-food chain's menu is getting a bit smaller. That is by design.

It's dropping a few items including fried chicken wings and its popcorn chicken combo, the company says, to streamline its menu and make room for new items.

"We’ve narrowed down options for customers, making it easier for them to decide what to order and focusing on menu items that we do best," Brittany Wilson, director at KFC U.S. told USA TODAY.

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KFC began rolling out new menu boards "reflecting our updated strategy," nationally in November, Wilson said. By removing some items, she said, "we’re not only simplifying the menu, but we’re also making room for some new and exciting menu additions this spring and beyond."

The restaurant's menu "will continue to evolve as restaurants’ product supply shifts and we roll out new product," Wilson said.

Most recent example of a new product: Kentucky Fried Chicken Wraps, which debuted last week and will be available at least through March 19.

What menu items is KFC dropping?

• Kentucky Fried Chicken Wings

• Popcorn Chicken Combo

• Nashville Hot Sauce

• Strawberry Lemonade

• Chocolate Chip Cookies

Wait, isn't Popcorn Chicken used in KFC's bowls?

Yes, but KFC will not be getting rid of its Famous Bowls, Wilson said, "and Popcorn Chicken is still being used on them."

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What about the new KFC Chicken Wraps?

The new wraps, tested in Atlanta last year, became available at participating locations nationwide on Feb. 6. They are available in a two for $5 deal.

You can choose between the Classic Chicken Wrap, with an extra crispy chicken tender, pickles and mayo in a warm tortilla, or the Spicy Slaw Chicken Wrap, with an extra crispy tender, spicy sauce, coleslaw and pickles.

Also available: A KFC Wraps combo ($7.99) with your choice of two wraps, medium drink and Secret Recipe Fries.

Why would KFC drop menu items?

►Consistency. Some items being dropped weren't available nationwide and weren't catching on with consumers, Wilson told Yahoo Finance.

►Customer service. A more unified national menu, that's slightly smaller, gets drive-through customers served and on their way faster, Yahoo Finance reported.

►Room for new items. Just as there's now room for the Chicken Wraps, a menu spot could eventually come to a dish that "which makes perfect sense," such as chicken nuggets, currently being tested in Charlotte, North Carolina, wrote TheStreet.com's Sarah Jean Callahan.

How many KFC restaurants are in Louisville?

There are 16 KFC locations in Louisville, according to the restaurant's website. They range from locations such as the Muhammad Ali International Airport to the Outer Loop, Cane Run Road and downtown. Across Kentucky there are 100 restaurants.

There are more than 24,000 locations worldwide in more than 145 countries.

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What is KFC's connection to Kentucky?

Harlan Sanders started serving his food to travelers out of a service station in Corbin, Kentucky, in 1930. Better known as "Colonel Sanders," the entrepreneur lost it all and then re-invented the recipe fans know today to include the famous 11 herbs and spices. The first franchise location of KFC was opened in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1952.

KFC is also owned by Yum! Brands, which is headquartered in Louisville. The company's name is on the University of Louisville's basketball arena, the KFC Yum! Center.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KFC menu changes: Chicken wraps in; wings, popcorn chicken combo out