For just over two weeks, it was all anyone could talk about: Popeyes’ chicken sandwich.
People lined up around the block for it. Writers wrote think piece after think piece about it. Social media lit up with memes featuring it.
And just like that, it was gone. The company announced Tuesday that it had “sold out” of the sandwiches “for now”.
Y’all. We love that you love The Sandwich. Unfortunately we’re sold out (for now). pic.twitter.com/Askp7aH5Rr
— Popeyes Chicken (@PopeyesChicken) August 27, 2019
“You ate ‘em ALL,” the company wrote in a video. “Legit proud of you.” It added that fans can sign up for the Popeyes app to know when it’s available again.
In a statement, the fried chicken chain said it “aggressively” forecasted demand through the end of September, but has sold out of that inventory since officially launching on 12 August. Restaurants across the country are expected to sell out by the end of the week.
People had questions.
HOW DOES A CHICKEN PLACE RUN OUT OF CHICKEN
— Patrick Simpson (@_PatrickSimpson) August 27, 2019
So wait... are y’all really gonna download the Popeyes App to track when the chicken sandwich is available? Like using the NBA App to track scores and game results? This is who you are & what you’re about? Hahahaha I’m not downloading a chicken app to my phone man y’all crazy😂
— Rosalyn Gold-Onwude (@ROSGO21) August 27, 2019
Does this mean all your employees get a raise and a bonus since you got over $40M in free PR?
— Mari Copeny (@LittleMissFlint) August 27, 2019
what if the real lesson is we've never needed popeyes.....we've all had the sandwich inside of us and all this time all we needed to do was believe
— Desus Nice (@desusnice) August 27, 2019
Others mourned.
Me putting Popeyes chicken tenders in between two biscuits to fill the void.pic.twitter.com/iDTlKDhoAg
— The big chillin’ (@Kofie) August 27, 2019
“Can I have a chicken sammich?”
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) August 27, 2019
Popeyes: pic.twitter.com/ajVSQN5ZHT
More took the end of the chicken sandwich as a time to reignite the feud with Chick-fil-A.
Chick Fil A would never. https://t.co/fzXUVaO70g
— 100T Nadeshot (@Nadeshot) August 27, 2019
WAYMENT! So we give y’all over 23 million dollars in free advertising and y’all sell out of the chicken sandwich?? Naw, we back to @ChickfilA
— Emmanuel Acho (@thEMANacho) August 27, 2019
It was fun while it lasted.
Can’t wait to tell my grandkids I had the first run limited edition OG Popeyes Spicy Chicken Sandwich https://t.co/lsgpXU6vxj
— Lauren Chanel Allen (@MichelleHux) August 27, 2019
As of Tuesday it remained unclear when the chicken sandwich would return. Popeyes’ Twitter video states that “they’ll be back soon”.
