Last week, KFC announced it would repair the city’s potholes for free if a temporary “Re-Freshed by KFC” stencil could be spraypainted on top of the filled holes. With an estimated 350 million potholes nationwide, there’s a lot of work left for the Colonel. After beginning their campaign in here in Louisville, KFC Corporation is moving on to fill potholes in other cities, too.
Letters were sent to mayors across the United States describing the offer:
In honor of our “Fresh Tastes Best” campaign, we want to come and Re-“Fresh” your roads!” KFC president Roger Eaton says in the letter. “Every patched pothole comes with the Colonel’s very own stamp of approval.
The Chicago Tribune reported that Chicago is among the cities “in discussion” with KFC even though they don’t allow advertisements on their streets. Â Four cities will be chosen for the program. The road-improvement campaign has already won Mayor Abramson’s seal of approval:
KFC has already tried out its campaign to stamp out potholes in its hometown of Louisville, Ky., earning a testimonial from Louisville’s Mayor Jerry Abramson who noted that “finding funding for needed road repairs is a continuing challenge.” The company will choose four other cities.
While this stencil advertising isn’t new in Louisville (the IdeaFestival used temporary spray paint stencils to market last year’s event), not everyone is happy about the free repairs. The Valley Report suggested the practice should be banned by law or opened up to everyone:
My advice for every small business owner in Louisville would be to get a crew and start filling potholes on your own. Make sure you stamp your business’ logo on the road in bright white.
The Tribune suggested the corporate sponsored repairs and services may be a rising trend. They cited branded public restrooms provided by Charmin in Times Square last December.
