Double Down returns at higher price

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The infamous Double Down is set to make a return to KFC stores nationwide.

Restaurant Brands chief executive Russell Creedy says the bun-less chicken burger will return to the menu for six weeks during the middle of this year, but will cost more than it did in 2011.

"[Ingredient] costs have moved up so it's likely to be around $8.50 or $8.90 [compared with $7.90 last year]," he said.

The Double Down proved to be KFC's best-selling new menu item and a promotional coup for the brand, but it also hurt profits because higher-margin menu items went unordered.

More than 16,000 of the bun-less burgers sold in the first three hours after they hit the market in May and over 600,000 were sold during the five-week promotional period.

Creedy said he hoped the Double Down would not prove as popular this year as it did in 2011.

"I think it will be big and it will be interesting but nothing like last year - that was just out of control."

The Double Down returned to KFC stores in Dunedin at the weekend in a fundraising event for the Otago Rugby Union.

The burger, which was widely criticised by nutritionists for its high calorie and fat count, features bacon and cheese sandwiched between two chicken breast fillets.