Popcorn Chicken

“Popcorn chicken” is a dish of bite-sized pieces of fried chicken, resembling popcorn. Gene Gagliardi developed Popcorn Chicken for the KFC restaurant menu, introduced by August 1992.
 
KFC did not trademark the name “popcorn chicken,” and the dish is also served at Arby’s restaurants. Two now-abandoned trademarks for “popcorn chicken” were filed in 1987 and 1991.
 
 
Wikipedia: Fried chicken
Popcorn chicken — occasionally known as chicken bites or other similar terms, small morsels of boneless chicken, battered and fried, resulting in little nuggets that resemble popcorn.
     
KFC.com
POPCORN CHICKEN
Bite-sized pieces of all-white meat chicken, marinated for a tender inside and breaded for a flavorful, fun crunch on the outside. A great snack for adults, and a fun way to please picky kids.
 
Arby’s
Popcorn Chicken
What’s better than something bite-sized, crispy and tasty beyond belief? Popcorn chicken dipped in your choice of tangy BBQ sauce or sweet Honey Mustard. They’re ready to be eaten by the handful, so try some today!
     
Creativators
Gene Gagliardi, President and CEO af Creativators, has spent over fifty years in the food industry.
(...)
Gagliardi founded Designer Foods, formerly headquartered in Chadds Ford, PA. As CEO of Designer Foods, Gagliardi created another national sensation,  Popcorn Chicken , which was licensed exclusively by Kentucky Fried Chicken and introduced as a promotional menu item in 1992. Popcorn Chicken quickly became the fast food giant’s most successful “in and out” promotion in their fifty two year history.
   
11 August 1992, Santa Fe (NM) New Mexican, pg. A8, col. 2 ad:
Popcorn Chicken
Fries & Coleslaw
(JB’s restaurants—ed.)
 
12 August 1992, Harrisonburg (VA) Daily News-Record, pg. 7, col. 1 ad:
NEW
POPCORN CHICKEN
CRISPY, TENDER AND JUICY BITE SIZE PIECES!
(KFC—ed.)
 
Time magazine
The Great Fast-Food Pig-Out
By Richard Woodbury/Houston Monday, Jun. 28, 1993
(...)
Kentucky Fried Chicken, after a disastrous experience with skin-free chicken, is having far more success with Popcorn Chicken II, a breaded, calorie-packed, dark-meat appetizer.
 
Google Books
Clicking: 16 trends to future fit your life, your work, and your business
By Faith Popcorn
London: Thorsons
1997
Pg. 98:
In the fast food arena, KFC’s Skin-Free Crispy didn’t fly while its newer Popcorn Chicken, dipped in batter and deep-fried, was the winner.
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark POP CORN CHICKEN
Goods and Services (ABANDONED) IC 029. US 046. G & S: FROZEN CHICKEN. FIRST USE: 19870402. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19870402
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 73686422
Filing Date September 25, 1987
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Owner (APPLICANT) FIELDALE CORPORATION DBA FIELDALE FARMS CORPORATION GEORGIA P.O. BOX 559 BALDWIN GEORGIA 30511
Attorney of Record MARTIN J. ELGISON
Disclaimer NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE “CHICKEN” APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Abandonment Date December 14, 1988
   
(Trademark)
Word Mark POPCORN CHICKEN
Goods and Services (ABANDONED) IC 029. US 046. G & S: chicken patties. FIRST USE: 19911015. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19911015
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 74227196
Filing Date December 4, 1991
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Owner (APPLICANT) McCormick & Company, Inc. CORPORATION MARYLAND 18 Loveton Circle P.O. Box 6000 Sparks MARYLAND 211526000
Attorney of Record Susan T. Brown
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Abandonment Date February 25, 1992