KFC keeps eye on home delivery trial by rival

Russel Creedy, chief executive of Restaurant Brands, which owns KFC, says customers seemed to prefer the chain's drive-through service. Photo / File

KFC won't rule out becoming the next fast food chain to offer home deliveries.

It comes after McDonald's New Zealand today announced Auckland customers could have meals delivered to their door from its New Lynn and Glenfield stores.

Restaurant Brands, which already has home delivery experience through its Pizza Hut restaurants, is among the rivals keeping an eye on the latest salvo in the war for Kiwis' stomachs.

Chief executive Russel Creedy said he wasn't ruling out a KFC delivery service.

However, the restaurant had done so in the past, and people preferred to drive-through rather than wait for their chicken to be delivered to their front door, he said.

Burger Fuel chief executive Josef Roberts said the homegrown burger outlet had no plans to offer a delivery service.

"We have a lot of people coming into the stores to eat so we don't have plans to offer it."

Maccas in New Lynn launched its delivery service today. The Glenfield restaurant will join the McDelivery trial from next week.

Delivery will be available within a limited radius from each restaurant between 5pm and 10.30pm seven days a week.

The New Lynn restaurant will require a minimum order of $25 and charge a $7.50 delivery fee.

McDonald's spokeswoman Joanne Mitchell said the company was responding to public demand.

"McDelivery is about offering our customers choice and convenience," Mitchell said.

"Since the launch of McDelivery in other markets, Kiwis have been asking for McDonald's delivery in New Zealand. All of our innovations - from McCafe in Drive-Thru to All Day Breakfast, and now McDelivery, have been driven by the changing needs of our customers."

Customers will be able to order from menulog.co.nz and choose from a range of the core menu items, including burgers, fries, desserts and All Day Breakfast.

McDonald's said it would be closely monitoring the trial.

New Zealand's first McDonald's restaurant opened in Porirua in 1976 with 166 restaurants across the country today.