---
title: "Fried chicken chains in New Zealand: Which brands are most popular in search?"
description: "Compare the fried chicken chains New Zealanders order from. Share of Search among KFC, Popeyes, Nando's and Lord of the Fries, the fried chicken chains Brandwave compares in New Zealand, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time."
canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-fried-chicken-chains"
publisher: "Brandwave"
---

# Fried chicken chains in New Zealand: Which brands are most popular in search?

Compare the fried chicken chains New Zealanders order from. Share of Search among KFC, Popeyes, Nando's and Lord of the Fries, the fried chicken chains Brandwave compares in New Zealand, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.

## Key facts

- **Competitive set**: Fried chicken chains
- **Market**: New Zealand
- **Brands compared**: 4
- **Month measured**: Aug 2026
- **Highest Share of Search**: KFC, 81%

## Which brand is most popular in search among fried chicken chains in New Zealand?

- In August 2026, KFC was the most searched among fried chicken chains in New Zealand, with an estimated 301K branded searches and 81% estimated Share of Search within this set.
- Popeyes is in 2nd place, 69.9 percentage points behind at 11.1% Share of Search.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, KFC’s estimated Share of Search among fried chicken chains in New Zealand decreased from 85.7% to 81%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Popeyes’ estimated Share of Search among fried chicken chains in New Zealand increased from 8.9% to 11.1%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Nando's’ estimated Share of Search among fried chicken chains in New Zealand increased from 5.4% to 7.8%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, KFC’s estimated Share of Search among fried chicken chains in New Zealand peaked at 85.7% in October 2025 and was lowest at 80% in January 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Popeyes’ estimated Share of Search among fried chicken chains in New Zealand peaked at 12.3% in January 2026 and was lowest at 8.9% in October 2025.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Nando's’ estimated Share of Search among fried chicken chains in New Zealand peaked at 8.4% in May 2026 and was lowest at 5.4% in October 2025.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Lord of the Fries held steady: its estimated Share of Search among fried chicken chains in New Zealand moved less than 0.5 percentage points.

## Compare search popularity between leading brands

- [KFC vs Popeyes: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/kfc-vs-popeyes): 81% against 11.1% Share of Search.
- [KFC vs Nando's: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/kfc-vs-nandos): 81% against 7.8% Share of Search.
- [Popeyes vs Nando's: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/nandos-vs-popeyes): 11.1% against 7.8% Share of Search.

## How did search popularity change for New Zealand fried chicken chains in August 2026?

- In August 2026, Popeyes gained estimated Share of Search among fried chicken chains in New Zealand, from 10.3% to 11.1%.
- Estimated monthly branded searches for KFC in New Zealand fell 34.2% over 11 measured months, from 458K to 301K in August 2026.
- Estimated monthly branded searches for Lord of the Fries in New Zealand fell 25.9% over 11 measured months, from 580 to 430 in August 2026.

## Share of Search ranking

| Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | Change vs prior month | Owned by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | KFC | 81% | 301K | -4.2% | KFC |
| 2 | Popeyes | 11.1% | 41.2K | +4.0% | Popeyes |
| 3 | Nando's | 7.8% | 29.2K | -7.7% | Nando's |
| 4 | Lord of the Fries | 0.12% | 430 | +2.4% | Lord of the Fries |

## Historical estimated branded-search demand

| Month | Brand | Estimated monthly branded searches | Share of Search | Rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Oct 2025 | KFC | 458K | 85.7% | 1 |
| Oct 2025 | Popeyes | 47.4K | 8.9% | 2 |
| Oct 2025 | Nando's | 28.7K | 5.4% | 3 |
| Oct 2025 | Lord of the Fries | 580 | 0.11% | 4 |
| Nov 2025 | KFC | 375K | 83.7% | 1 |
| Nov 2025 | Popeyes | 45.5K | 10.2% | 2 |
| Nov 2025 | Nando's | 27K | 6% | 3 |
| Nov 2025 | Lord of the Fries | 560 | 0.13% | 4 |
| Dec 2025 | KFC | 396K | 83.6% | 1 |
| Dec 2025 | Popeyes | 47.4K | 10% | 2 |
| Dec 2025 | Nando's | 29.3K | 6.2% | 3 |
| Dec 2025 | Lord of the Fries | 700 | 0.15% | 4 |
| Jan 2026 | KFC | 302K | 80% | 1 |
| Jan 2026 | Popeyes | 46.7K | 12.3% | 2 |
| Jan 2026 | Nando's | 28.4K | 7.5% | 3 |
| Jan 2026 | Lord of the Fries | 590 | 0.16% | 4 |
| Feb 2026 | KFC | 297K | 82.1% | 1 |
| Feb 2026 | Popeyes | 39K | 10.8% | 2 |
| Feb 2026 | Nando's | 24.9K | 6.9% | 3 |
| Feb 2026 | Lord of the Fries | 730 | 0.2% | 4 |
| Mar 2026 | KFC | 303K | 81.4% | 1 |
| Mar 2026 | Popeyes | 39.6K | 10.6% | 2 |
| Mar 2026 | Nando's | 29.1K | 7.8% | 3 |
| Mar 2026 | Lord of the Fries | 640 | 0.17% | 4 |
| Apr 2026 | KFC | 303K | 80.5% | 1 |
| Apr 2026 | Popeyes | 42.6K | 11.3% | 2 |
| Apr 2026 | Nando's | 30.1K | 8% | 3 |
| Apr 2026 | Lord of the Fries | 530 | 0.14% | 4 |
| May 2026 | KFC | 317K | 80.7% | 1 |
| May 2026 | Popeyes | 42.4K | 10.8% | 2 |
| May 2026 | Nando's | 33K | 8.4% | 3 |
| May 2026 | Lord of the Fries | 530 | 0.13% | 4 |
| Jun 2026 | KFC | 313K | 81.4% | 1 |
| Jun 2026 | Popeyes | 41.2K | 10.7% | 2 |
| Jun 2026 | Nando's | 29.6K | 7.7% | 3 |
| Jun 2026 | Lord of the Fries | 440 | 0.11% | 4 |
| Jul 2026 | KFC | 314K | 81.4% | 1 |
| Jul 2026 | Popeyes | 39.6K | 10.3% | 2 |
| Jul 2026 | Nando's | 31.6K | 8.2% | 3 |
| Jul 2026 | Lord of the Fries | 420 | 0.11% | 4 |
| Aug 2026 | KFC | 301K | 81% | 1 |
| Aug 2026 | Popeyes | 41.2K | 11.1% | 2 |
| Aug 2026 | Nando's | 29.2K | 7.8% | 3 |
| Aug 2026 | Lord of the Fries | 430 | 0.12% | 4 |
| Sep 2026 | KFC | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Lord of the Fries | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Nando's | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Popeyes | — | — | — |

## What is being compared

- **KFC**: Measured on the search terms “kfc”, “kfc bombay”, “kfc botany”, “kfc bucket”, “kfc c”, “kfc chicken”, “kfc co nz”, “kfc deals”, “kfc deals with prices”, “kfc delivery”, “kfc eastgate”, “kfc henderson”, “kfc lynfield”, “kfc menu”, “kfc near me”, “kfc nz”, “kfc online”, “kfc pakuranga”, “kfc panmure”, “kfc richmond”, “kfc snack box”, “kfc sylvia park” and “kfc trading hours”, summed into one figure.
- **Lord of the Fries**: Measured on the search terms “lord of the fries”, “lord of the fries menu”, “lord of the fries near me”, “lord of the fries nz”, “lordofthefries”, “lordofthefries menu” and “lordofthefries nz”, summed into one figure.
- **Nando's**: Measured on the search terms “botany nandos”, “nando's”, “nando's chicken”, “nando's delivery”, “nando's menu”, “nando's near me”, “nandos”, “nandos centre place”, “nandos chicken”, “nandos courtenay place”, “nandos delivery”, “nandos hamilton”, “nandos lunn ave”, “nandos menj”, “nandos near me”, “nandos new lynn”, “nandos northlands”, “nandos northwest”, “nandos nz”, “nandos online”, “nandos perinaise”, “nandos queen street”, “nandos sauce”, “nandos st lukes”, “nandos sylvia park”, “nandos the base” and “nandos westgate”, summed into one figure.
- **Popeyes**: Measured on the search terms “biscuits popeyes”, “popeyes”, “popeyes burger”, “popeyes chicken”, “popeyes chicken burger”, “popeyes chicken sandwich”, “popeyes classic chicken sandwich”, “popeyes co nz”, “popeyes deals”, “popeyes delivery”, “popeyes food”, “popeyes fried chicken”, “popeyes hours”, “popeyes louisiana kitchen”, “popeyes menu”, “popeyes near me”, “popeyes new zealand”, “popeyes nz”, “popeyes order online”, “popeyes prices”, “popeyes sandwich”, “popeyes takeaway” and “popeyes us”, summed into one figure.

- [KFC](/demand/nz/brands/kfc)
- [Lord of the Fries](/demand/nz/brands/lord-of-the-fries)
- [Nando's](/demand/nz/brands/nandos)
- [Popeyes](/demand/nz/brands/popeyes)

## Methodology

- [How is branded search demand measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which brand is most popular in search among fried chicken chains in New Zealand?

In August 2026, KFC was the most searched among fried chicken chains in New Zealand, with an estimated 301K branded searches and 81% estimated Share of Search within this set.

## Cite this page

Brandwave. "Fried chicken chains in New Zealand: Which brands are most popular in search?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-fried-chicken-chains

This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-fried-chicken-chains. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.