Yahoo Finance food reporter Brooke DiPalma details her journey to Louisville, Kentucky, to see how chicken-brand KFC is testing out its new nuggets and next-gen restaurant designs.

Video Transcript

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- A new item is coming to KFC's menu, the company adding chicken nuggets for the first time. You heard that right. The fast food chain that specializes in fried chicken has never offered this fan favorite before.

Brooke DiPalma got a sneak peek of this. And, Brooke, I know you're fresh off of a trip that you just took down to Louisville to check this out. Tell us about what you learned.

BROOKE DIPALMA: That's right. Well, they're currently testing these chicken nuggets. They'll essentially replace the popcorn chicken that's currently on the menu. And so we packed our bags and went down to see how the more than 80-year-old brand, Kentucky Fried Chicken, is gearing up for the future with this new menu item and its next-gen restaurant design.

Touchdown in Louisville, Kentucky. And you don't even need to leave the airport to see that it's home to the headquarters of KFC. In 1939, founder Colonel Sanders invented the brand's famous secret recipe with 11 herbs and spices. Now it's featured in more than 27,000 restaurants around the world.

Everything you see on a menu near you is developed and tested in this kitchen right behind me. Let's go.

From French fries to the crispy chicken sandwich, and even Louisville native Jack Harlow's meal, the fast food chain uses this innovation kitchen to try and come up with its next big hit. Now it's looking to target Gen Z with its brand-new chicken nuggets that KFC US head chef Chris Scott helped to develop.

CHRIS SCOTT: So many of younger consumers are not interested in eating chicken on the bone. For whatever reason they choose, they don't want it. That's great. Now we actually have an opportunity for them to fall in love with the company all over again.

BROOKE DIPALMA: The 100% white meat nuggets are set to be tested in Charlotte, North Carolina, on July 18 with potential to roll out nationwide. But customers are hungry for more than just innovation on the menu. Online ordering, mobile pickup, and drive-thru our top priority. Chief development officer Brian Cahoe met us at the company's next-gen restaurant.