Gone are the days when BYOB was only an acronym for ‘bring your own booze’. Today, and particularly to Gen Z, it also refers to ‘bring your own bag’, a trend spearheaded by viral social media where customers bring a bag of crisps to a food truck and ask for it to be loaded with toppings.

While avid TikTok viewers will be well aware of the craze, the idea of eating crisps loaded with chilli con carne, chicken tenders or curry might seem crazy to your average consumer.

However, KFC and Doritos’ latest collaboration is looking to shift that perspective.

From this week, the pair will be offering Doritos corn tortilla chips loaded with KFC’s freshly prepared Crispy Tenders, guacamole, pico de gallo, jalapeños and Mexican-inspired sauces, served in a custom-designed Doritos bag that opens from the side.

The collaboration will launch across 27 European markets in a move KFC CMO Luiz Perl describes on LinkedIn as “the largest co-ordinated product launch in the region’s history”.

Italy, Germany, Cyprus and Belgium will be first to try the concept, with a UK rollout pending. But given the hype around BYOB on social media, the UK looks more than ready for this unique street food-style experience.

The BYOB trend

The bring-your-own-bag trend first blew up on TikTok in late 2024, when US food vendors and creators started inviting customers to bring their own crisps and fill up on as many toppings as they could fit inside the bag.

Flavor Hive, a US rice bowl food truck, was one of the first businesses to go viral for its BYOB-style videos and offerings. It charges a minimum of $10 (£7.39) for its Walking Taco Bag, where customers bring their own crisps to be loaded with more than 12 ounces of protein, alongside other toppings and sauces.

The trend hit the UK soon after, with the likes of the Lancashire-based SpudBros filling customers’ crisp packets with jacket potato toppings, including the classic beans and cheese.

It’s also a trend Doritos has had its eye on for some time. In March 2025, the brand relaunched its Dippers range with new-look packaging that featured a dotted cut line, suggesting customers should open the pack horizontally to load up toppings in the bag at home.

The collaboration with KFC now looks to bring this concept to life in the foodservice sector.

Posting about the launch via LinkedIn, KFC senior marketing manager Andrea Pigatti describes it as “an exciting new street food proposition” for KFC, while it’s all about “extending beyond snacking into a complete meal experience” for Doritos.

Eating a KFC meal out of a Doritos crisp packet might take some time for customers to get used to, but it’s a smart collaboration for both brands.

Doritos has been pushing its ‘Loaded’ proposition for some time through its at-home DIY bags and partnership with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, who previously created eight Doritos Loaded recipes for restaurant and hospitality operators.

Meanwhile, KFC has been hot on social media and Gen Z-driven fads for some time. In January, the food-to-go chain launched ‘Kwench by KFC’, a specialty drinks range designed to tap specifically into the growing Gen Z drinks market.

Two months later, it jumped on the viral pickle trend sweeping TikTok with a limited-edition Pickle Mania menu – a move that certainly paid off, driving KFC UK and Ireland’s highest sales week on record in the second quarter, with 4.2 million gherkin slices sold.

Unique flavours, combinations and concepts are winning right now in food & drink, and it’s not just foodservice reaping the rewards. M&S’s Strawberry & Crème sandwich caused a social media storm last year as shoppers flocked to stores for the sweet and savoury combo.

A UK launch date for the KFC x Doritos tie-up hasn’t yet been confirmed, but there’s every chance this loaded concept will be just as much of a hit here.

If consumers are already willing to bring their own crisp packet to a food truck to get in on the hype, the demand is clearly there.

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