KFC Italian Ski Slopes
Two prestigious Italian ski resorts will host fast-food outlets serving buckets of fried chicken starting December 5, 2026, according to SnowBrains.
The American chain KFC is preparing to open high-altitude restaurants on the slopes of Cortina d’Ampezzo and Madonna di Campiglio in the Dolomites, the first for any fast-food brand on Italian pistes, according to The Guardian.
SnowBrains reported that the new eateries will operate inside existing mountain clubs, partnering with the hospitality brand SUPER G. At Madonna di Campiglio, the restaurant will sit at 1,700 meters in the Piana di Nambino area next to Meraviglioso Campiglio, while the Cortina d’Ampezzo branch will open at 2,123 meters inside the Faloria Mountain Club, Wanted in Milan reported.
KFC offers specific food items and operating hours
Customers can order spicy wings, burgers, sandwiches, sides, and traditional buckets of fried chicken, according to SnowBrains. Wanted in Milan reported that the outlets will operate from midday to 17:00 Monday through Thursday, and extend hours until 19:30 on Fridays through Sundays.
Marzia Farè, chief marketing officer for KFC Italia, told Wanted in Milan that the project targets a broader demographic beyond loyal Gen Z consumers, aiming to reach young families and mountain enthusiasts. She stated that the company wanted to surprise people and reach unexpected locations while maintaining its core product quality.
Business figures and cultural purists resist the expansion
The announcement provoked swift resistance from regional business figures and cultural purists. Alberico Zardini, a majority shareholder in Faloria Spa, called the concept disgraceful and absurd in an interview with Il Messaggero, as noted by The Guardian. Zardini warned company bosses that he would pursue legal action to halt the mountain expansion.
Additional pushback came from prominent figures in Italian food and regional governance. Eataly founder Oscar Farinetti criticized consumers for choosing fried chicken over local traditions, while Luigi Casanova of the NGO Mountain Wilderness declared that the era of traditional polenta and luganega sausage had ended, according to The Guardian. Paola Demagri of the Trentino provincial council similarly lamented that mountain identity was being sold out to Kentucky chicken.
Press commentators weigh cultural impact against economic factors
Opinions across the Italian press remained divided as commentators weighed the cultural impact against economic factors. The Guardian reported that the outlets will likely appeal to visitors seeking affordable dining options amid rising annual ski pass prices in Italy. Corriere della Sera noted that many slope-side establishments already rely on self-service lines or canteen-style setups to manage heavy skier volume.
Other regional groups adopted a more pragmatic stance regarding the commercial addition. Cristian Ferrari, president of the Società Alpinisti Tridentini mountain association, questioned whether fried chicken was truly the most pressing issue facing the region, according to The Guardian.
Meanwhile, international comparisons highlighted that global fast-food integration on ski slopes is not entirely unprecedented, as McDonald’s has operated its ski-thru McSki branch in Lindvallen, Sweden, since 1996, as reported by Wanted in Milan.
Questions about KFC slope-side restaurant openings and locations
When do the KFC slope-side restaurants open?
The two outlets in Cortina d’Ampezzo and Madonna di Campiglio are scheduled to open on December 5, 2026, and remain open through the end of the ski season, according to SnowBrains.
Where exactly will the restaurants be located?
SnowBrains reported that the Madonna di Campiglio branch will sit at 1,700 meters on the Piana di Nambino, while the Cortina d’Ampezzo branch will operate at 2,123 meters inside the Faloria Mountain Club.
Who is partnering with KFC on this project?
Wanted in Milan reported that KFC is launching the mountain eateries in partnership with SUPER G, the hospitality company behind open-air après-ski bars across multiple Italian resorts.
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