KFCball

KFC (also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken) is an American fast food restaurant chain headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky that specializes in fried chicken. It is the world's second-largest restaurant chain (as measured by sales) after McDonald's, with 22,621 locations globally in 150 countries as of December 2019.[5] The chain is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, a restaurant company that also owns the Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and WingStreet chains.[6]

KFC was founded by Colonel Harland Sanders, an entrepreneur who began selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky during the Great Depression. Sanders identified the potential of the restaurant franchising concept and the first "Kentucky Fried Chicken" franchise opened in Utah in 1952. KFC popularized chicken in the fast-food industry, diversifying the market by challenging the established dominance of the hamburger. By branding himself as "Colonel Sanders", Harland became a prominent figure of American cultural history and his image remains widely used in KFC advertising to this day. However, the company's rapid expansion overwhelmed the aging Sanders and he sold it to a group of investors led by John Y. Brown Jr. and Jack C. Massey in 1964.

KFC was one of the first American fast-food chains to expand internationally, opening outlets in Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico and Jamaica by the mid-1960s. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, it experienced mixed fortunes domestically, as it went through a series of changes in corporate ownership with little or no experience in the restaurant business. In the early 1970s, KFC was sold to the spirits distributor Heublein, which was taken over by the R. J. Reynolds food and tobacco conglomerate; that company sold the chain to PepsiCo. The chain continued to expand overseas, however, and in 1987 it became the first Western restaurant chain to open in China. It has since expanded rapidly in China, which is now the company's single largest market. PepsiCo spun off its restaurants division as Tricon Global Restaurants, which later changed its name to Yum! Brands.

KFC's original product is pressure fried chicken pieces, seasoned with Sanders' recipe of 11 herbs and spices. The constituents of the recipe are a trade secret. Larger portions of fried chicken are served in a cardboard "bucket", which has become a feature of the chain since it was first introduced by franchisee Pete Harman in 1957. Since the early 1990s, KFC has expanded its menu to offer other chicken products such as chicken fillet sandwiches and wraps, as well as salads and side dishes such as French fries and coleslaw, desserts and soft drinks; the latter often supplied by PepsiCo. KFC is known for its slogans "It's Finger Lickin' Good!", "Nobody does chicken like KFC" and "So good". History Main article: History of KFC

The Harland Sanders Café and Museum in Corbin, Kentucky Sanders Court & Café Harland Sanders was born in 1890 and raised on a farm outside Henryville, Indiana (near Louisville, Kentucky).[7] When Sanders was 5 years old, his father died, forcing his mother to work at a canning plant.[8] This left Sanders, as the eldest son, to care for his two younger siblings.[8] After he reached 7 years of age, his mother taught him how to cook.[7] After leaving the family home at the age of 13, Sanders passed through several professions with mixed success.[9]

In 1930, Sanders took over a Shell filling station on US Route 25 just outside North Corbin, Kentucky, a small town on the edge of the Appalachian Mountains.[10] It was here that he first served to travelers the recipes that he had learned as a child: fried chicken and other dishes such as steaks and country ham.[10] After four years of serving from his own dining room table, Sanders purchased the larger filling station on the other side of the road and expanded to six tables.[11] By 1936, this had proven successful enough for Sanders to be given the honorary title of Kentucky Colonel by Governor Ruby Laffoon.[12] In 1937 he expanded his restaurant to 142 seats and added a motel he purchased across the street, naming it Sanders Court & Café.[13]

Sanders was unhappy with the 35 minutes it took to prepare his chicken in an iron frying pan, but he refused to deep fry the chicken, which he believed lowered the quality of the product.[14] If he pre-cooked the chicken in advance of orders, there was sometimes wastage at day's end.[7] In 1939, the first commercial pressure cookers were released onto the market, mostly designed for steaming vegetables.[15] Sanders bought one and modified it into a pressure fryer, which he then used to fry chicken.[16] The new method reduced production time to be comparable with deep frying while, in the opinion of Sanders, retaining the quality of pan-fried chicken.[14]

"Original Recipe" and franchising

Harland Sanders in character as "the Colonel" In July 1940, Sanders finalised what came to be known as his "Original Recipe" of 11 herbs and spices.[17] Although he never publicly revealed the recipe, he said the ingredients included salt and pepper and that the rest "stand on everybody's shelf".[18] After being recommissioned as a Kentucky Colonel in 1950 by Governor Lawrence Wetherby, Sanders began to dress the part, growing a goatee, wearing a black frock coat (later switched to a white suit) and a string tie and referring to himself as "the Colonel".[18] His associates went along with the title change, "jokingly at first and then in earnest", according to biographer Josh Ozersky.[19]

In 1952, Sanders franchised his recipe to his friend Pete Harman of South Salt Lake, Utah, the operator of one of the city's largest restaurants.[20] The Sanders Court & Café generally served travelers, so when the route planned in 1955 for Interstate 75 bypassed Corbin, Sanders sold his properties and traveled the US to franchise his recipe to restaurant owners.[21] Independent restaurants would pay four (later five) cents on each chicken as a franchise fee in exchange for Sanders' recipe and the right to feature it on their menus and use his name and likeness for promotional purposes.[22]

Don Anderson, a sign painter hired by Harman, coined the name "Kentucky Fried Chicken".[23] For Harman, the addition of KFC was a way of differentiating his restaurant from competitors; a product from Kentucky was exotic and evoked imagery of Southern hospitality.[23] Harman trademarked the phrase "It's finger lickin' good", which eventually became the company slogan.[22] He also introduced the "bucket meal" in 1957 (14 pieces of chicken, five bread rolls and a pint of gravy in a cardboard bucket).[24] Serving their signature meal in a paper bucket was to become an iconic feature of the company.[24]

By 1963, there were 600 KFC restaurants, making the company the largest fast food operation in the United States.[21] KFC popularized chicken in the fast food industry, diversifying the market by challenging the dominance of the hamburger.[25]

Sale and global expansion In 1964, Sanders sold KFC to a group of investors led by John Y. Brown Jr. and Jack C. Massey for US$2 million (around US$17 million in 2020).[12] The contract included a lifetime salary for Sanders and the agreement that he would be the company's quality controller and trademark.[26] The chain had reached 3,000 outlets in 48 countries by 1970.[27] In July 1971, Brown sold the company to the Connecticut-based Heublein, a packaged food and drinks corporation, for US$285 million (around US$1.8 billion in 2020).[28] Sanders died in 1980, his promotional work making him a prominent figure in American cultural history.[25] By the time of his death, there were an estimated 6,000 KFC outlets in 48 countries worldwide, with $2 billion worth of sales annually.[29]

In 1982, Heublein was acquired by R. J. Reynolds, the tobacco giant.[24] In July 1986, Reynolds announced the sale of KFC to PepsiCo for $850 million (around US$2.0 billion in 2020).[30] The actual sale took place in early October for $840 million.[31][32] PepsiCo made the chain a part of its restaurants division alongside Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.[33] KFC entered the Chinese market in November 1987, with an outlet in Beijing.[24]

In 1991, the KFC name was officially adopted, although it was already widely known by that initialism.[34] Kyle Craig, president of KFC U.S., admitted the change was an attempt to distance the chain from the unhealthy connotations of "fried".[35] The early 1990s saw a number of successful major product launches, including spicy "Hot Wings" (launched in 1990), popcorn chicken (1992) and, internationally, the "Zinger", a spicy chicken fillet sandwich (1993).[36] By 1994 KFC had 5,149 outlets in the US and 9,407 overall, with over 100,000 employees.[37] In August 1997, PepsiCo spun off its restaurants division as a public company valued at US$4.5 billion (around US$7.3 billion in 2020).[38] The new company was named Tricon Global Restaurants and, at the time, had 30,000 outlets and annual sales of US$10 billion (around US$16 billion in 2020), making it second in the world only to McDonald's.[39] Tricon was renamed Yum! Brands in May 2002.[40]

By 2015 KFC was struggling, having lost business to other retailers and being surpassed by Chick-fil-A as the leading chicken retailer in the US three years previously. The company launched a new initiative with a plan to revamp its packaging, decor and uniforms and expand its menu. Additionally, beginning in May 2015, a new series of US advertisements was launched featuring Darrell Hammond as Colonel Sanders.[41] In a planned rotation of actors,[42] Norm Macdonald, Jim Gaffigan, George Hamilton and Rob Riggle portrayed Sanders in similar ads through the fall of 2016.[43][44][45][46] In January 2018, country music icon Reba McEntire played the first female Colonel Sanders.[47]

Operations Main article: Operations of KFC See also: List of countries with KFC franchises

Map of countries with KFC franchises as of November 2021

A KFC outlet in Quito, Ecuador; the largest market for the chain in the Caribbean and South America KFC is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, one of the largest restaurant companies in the world. KFC had sales of $23 billion in 2013.[48] KFC is incorporated under Delaware General Corporation Law,[49] and has its headquarters at 1441 Gardiner Lane, Louisville, Kentucky, in a three-story colonial style building known colloquially as the "White House" due to its resemblance to the US president's home.[50][51] The headquarters contain executive offices and the company's research and development facilities.[52]

Products

KFC Original Recipe fried chicken KFC's core product offering is pressure fried on-the-bone chicken pieces seasoned with Colonel Harland Sanders' "Original Recipe" of 11 herbs and spices.[53] The product is typically available in either two- or three-piece individual servings or in a family size cardboard bucket typically holding between six and 16 chicken pieces. In territories that follow the system handed down by Colonel Sanders, such as Canada and the UK, each chicken is divided into nine different cuts (two drumsticks, two thighs, two wings, two breast pieces and one keel);[54][55] however, the United States now uses an eight-piece cut.[56] The product is hand-breaded at individual KFC outlets with wheat flour mixed with seasoning in a two- to four-minute process.[57][58] It is then pressure fried for between seven and 10 minutes (the timing differs between countries) in oil at 185 degrees Celsius.[57][59][60] Following this, the chicken is left to stand for 5 minutes in order for it to sufficiently cool before it is placed in the warming oven.[57] It is KFC policy to discard chicken if it has not been sold within 90 minutes in order to ensure freshness.[57] The frying oil varies regionally and versions used include sunflower, soybean, rapeseed and palm oil.[61] A KFC executive stated that the taste of the chicken will vary between regions depending on the oil variety used and whether the chicken has been corn-fed or wheat-fed.[61]

Zinger served with crispy fries and Thai chili sauce in Shah Alam, Malaysia As well as its core chicken on the bone offering, KFC's major products include chicken sandwiches (including the Zinger and the Tower); wraps ("Twisters" and "Boxmasters"); and a variety of finger foods, including crispy chicken strips and hot wings.[62][63] Popcorn chicken, which consists of bite-sized pieces of fried chicken, is one of the most widely available KFC products.[64] In some locations, such as in Australia, Belarus, Malaysia and South Africa, chicken nuggets are also sold.[65]

McCormick & Company is KFC's largest supplier of sauces, seasonings and marinades and is a long-term partner in new product development.[58]

Due to the company's previous relationship with PepsiCo, most territories supply PepsiCo products, but exceptional territories include Barbados, Greece, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Romania, South Africa and Turkey, which stock drinks supplied by The Coca-Cola Company, and Aruba, which stocks RC Cola from the Cott Corporation.[66][67][68][69][70] In Peru, the locally popular Inca Kola is sold.[71]

Launched in 2009, the Krusher/Krushem range of frozen beverages containing "real bits" such as Kit Kat, Oreo and strawberry shortcake is available in over 2,000 outlets.[72] Egg custard tart is a popular dessert worldwide, but other items include ice cream sundaes and tres leches cake in Peru.[73]

In 2012, the "KFC AM" breakfast menu began to be rolled out internationally, including such items as pancakes, waffles and porridge, as well as fried chicken.[74][75]

On August 27, 2019, KFC tested meatless boneless wings and nuggets in Atlanta, Georgia.[76][77]

The 11 herbs and spices Main article: KFC Original Recipe

Original Recipe chicken sold in the iconic bucket Sanders' Original Recipe of "11 herbs and spices" is one of the best known trade secrets in the catering industry.[78][79] The recipe is not patented, because patent law requires public disclosure of an invention and provides protection only for a strictly limited term, whereas trade secrets can remain the intellectual property of their holders in perpetuity.[80]

A copy of the recipe, signed by Sanders, is held inside a safe inside a vault in KFC's Louisville headquarters, along with 11 vials containing the herbs and spices.[81][82] To maintain the secrecy of the recipe, half of it is produced by Griffith Laboratories before it is given to McCormick, who add the second half.[83]

In 1999, a couple who bought the house formerly occupied by Colonel Sanders found scribbled notes purported to be the secret recipe. Initially, KFC wanted to file a lawsuit against the couple to stop an auction of the notes but, by early 2001, it dropped the lawsuit, claiming the scribbled notes are "nowhere close" to the original recipe.[84]

Joe Ledington of Kentucky, a nephew by marriage of Colonel Sanders, claimed to have found a copy of the original KFC fried chicken recipe on a handwritten piece of paper in an envelope in a scrapbook. In August 2016, Chicago Tribune staffers conducted a cooking test of this recipe and claimed after a few attempts that, with the addition of the MSG flavor-enhancer Ac'cent, they produced fried chicken which tasted "indistinguishable" from the chicken they purchased at KFC.[85]

Regionalized menus KFC adapts its menu internationally to suit regional tastes and there are over 300 KFC menu items worldwide.[86] Some locations, such as the UK and the US, sell grilled chicken.[87][88] In predominantly Islamic countries, the chicken served is halal.[57] In Asia,[vague] there is a preference for spicy foods, such as the Zinger chicken sandwich.[89] In many international markets, the seasoning used for the core chicken pieces product is available as a hot and spicy version as an alternative to the classic KFC recipe. The hot and spicy coating, as well as having a spicier flavour, also has a crispy consistency. In Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, a grilled chicken known as "Smoky Red" is available. KFC locations in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and Vietnam offer a roasted option known as Flava Crava. Some locations in the US sell fried chicken livers and gizzards.[90] A small number of US outlets offer an all-you-can-eat buffet option with a limited menu.[91]

A number of territories, such as Japan, Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, Ecuador and Singapore sell fried seafood products under the "Colonel's Catch" banner.[92] In Jamaica, what was originally a seasonal offering for the Lent period was expanded to a year-round offering from 2010.[93] In Japan, KFC is a Christmas tradition.[94]

Value menu items are sold under the "Streetwise" name in locations such as Canada, Nigeria, South Africa and Mauritius.[95] Side dishes often include French fries, coleslaw, barbecue baked beans, corn on the cob, mashed potato, bread rolls and American biscuits.[96][97] Salads include the bean salad, the Caesar salad and the garden salad.[98] In a number of territories, KFC sells onion rings.[99] In most of Asia, several Sub-Saharan Africa and Pacific markets, rice based side dishes are often sold.[100] In the US and Greece, potato wedges are sold instead of French fries.[101]

In a number of Eastern European locations and Portugal, beer is offered in addition to soft drinks.[102][103][104]

Hot wings and fries served in paper buckets

Hot wings menu set sold in Berlin

Two pieces of hot and spicy chicken served with rice, coleslaw, chicken nuggets and Thai chili sauce in Malaysia

KFC shrimp burger sold in Vietnam

KFC Dragon Twister, a chicken and duck sauce wrap sold in China Equipment KFC initially used stove-top covered cooking pots to fry its chicken.[105] In the 1960s, the officially recommended model was the L S Hartzog developed "KFC 20-Head Cooker", a large device that cost $16,000.[106] The Hartzog model had no oil filtration system, meaning that filtering had to be done manually, and the pressure fryers occasionally exploded often harming employees.[105] In 1969, inventor and engineer Winston L. Shelton developed the "Collectramatic" pressurized fryer to overcome the problems KFC faced in quickly frying chicken to meet growing customer demand. The Collectramatic used precision time and temperature controls and self-filtered the cooking oil – all while meeting Colonel Sanders' high standards.[105] Fred Jeffries, then vice president of purchasing at KFC, claimed that the invention helped fuel the company's rapid expansion and success:

There's no way it (KFC) could have grown as it did without the Collectramatic. Stores were doing about $200,000 a year in sales on average with the pots...but they could never have done the $900,000 a year it became without Win's fryer. He (Shelton) helped set the stage for that with true engineering thinking.[105] Although a number of franchisees bought the Collectramatic, which had the support of Colonel Sanders from 1970 onwards, John Y. Brown Jr. had given tacit approval to franchisees to exclusively use the older L S Hartzog fryer, saying "Though those old pots were damn dangerous, at least we knew they worked! I was mostly afraid these new fryers would break down in the middle of business."[105] Brown warned franchisees that they were in violation of their contract if they used the Collectramatic.[105] Brown held his ground on the issue until he learned that his father, John Y. Brown Sr., who owned multiple KFC franchises, was successfully using the Collectramatic in every franchise he owned.[105] The issue was eventually resolved after Heublein purchased KFC, acquired Hartzog and nullified the contract.[106] The Collectramatic has been an approved pressure fryer for KFC from 1972 onwards.[106]

From 2013 onwards, KFC has been transitioning from using Collectramatic cookers to pressure fryers produced by Henny Penny, which supplies KFC with various equipment.[107] The 'Velocity' series of pressure fryers includes increased load capacity, automatic oil filtration and increased oil longevity.

Advertising Main article: KFC advertising Colonel Sanders was a key component of KFC advertising until his death in 1980. Despite his death, Sanders remains a key icon of the company as an "international symbol of hospitality".[108] Early official slogans for the company included "North America's Hospitality Dish" (from 1956) and "We fix Sunday dinner seven nights a week".[109][110] The "finger lickin' good" slogan was used from 1956 and went on to become one of the best-known slogans of the 20th century.[111] The trademark expired in the US in 2006.[112] The first KFC logo was introduced in 1952 and featured a "Kentucky Fried Chicken" typeface and a logo of the Colonel.[113] In 1962, Dave Thomas took Colonel Sanders' bucket and turned it into a sign[114] that revolved in a circular motion in front of almost every American KFC outlet.[115]

Advertising played a key role at KFC after it was sold by Sanders and the company began to advertise on US television with a budget of US$4 million in 1966.[116] In order to fund nationwide advertising campaigns, the Kentucky Fried Chicken Advertising Co-Op was established, giving franchisees 10 votes and the company three when deciding on budgets and campaigns. In 1969, KFC hired its first national advertising agency, Leo Burnett.[24] A notable Burnett campaign in 1972 was the "Get a bucket of chicken, have a barrel of fun" jingle, performed by Barry Manilow.[24] By 1976, KFC was one of the largest advertisers in the US.[117]

In December 2020, KFC revealed the KFConsole, a new gaming console with a "Chicken Chamber" to keep food warm.[118]

Controversies and criticism See also: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals § Campaigns and consumer boycotts

Protesters demonstrating outside a KFC restaurant in Royal Oak, Michigan Since the beginning of the 21st century, fast food has been criticized for its animal welfare record, its links to obesity and its environmental impact.[119] Eric Schlosser's book Fast Food Nation (2002) and Morgan Spurlock's film Super Size Me (2004) reflected these concerns.[23] Since 2003, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has protested KFC's choice of poultry suppliers worldwide.[120] The exception is KFC Canada, which signed an agreement pledging to only use "animal friendly" suppliers.[121] President of KFC's US division Gregg Dedrick said PETA mischaracterized KFC as a poultry producer rather than a purchaser of chickens.[122] In 2008, Yum! stated: "[As] a major purchaser of food products, [Yum!] has the opportunity and responsibility to influence the way animals supplied to us are treated. We take that responsibility very seriously, and we are monitoring our suppliers on an ongoing basis."[123]

In 2006, Greenpeace accused KFC Europe of sourcing the soya bean for its chicken feed from Cargill, which had been accused of clearing large swathes of the Amazon rainforest in order to grow the crop.[124]

In 2010, according to The Guardian, "in the US where fried chicken remains closely associated with age-old racist stereotypes about black people in the once segregated south", KFC Australia aired the 30-second promotion on television named "KFC's cricket survival guide" which shows a cricket fan surrounded by fans from the opposing team. The television announcer asks, "Need a tip when you're stuck in an awkward situation?" The fan passes around his "bucket of KFC", even though the commercial was intended for an Australian audience, which found its way to social media in the United States, prompting sharp disapproval. KFC Australia made a statement to the fact the commercial was "misinterpreted by a segment of people in the US" and it was a "light-hearted reference to the West Indian cricket team" and "The ad was reproduced online in the US without KFC's permission, where we are told a culturally-based stereotype exists, leading to the incorrect assertion of racism...We unequivocally condemn discrimination of any type and have a proud history as one of the world's leading employers for diversity".[125]

In May 2012, Greenpeace accused KFC of sourcing paper pulp for its food packaging from Indonesian rainforest wood.[126] Independent forensic tests showed that some packaging contained more than 50 percent mixed tropical hardwood fiber, sourced from Asia Pulp & Paper (APP).[127][128] APP said such fiber can be found in recycled paper, or: "It can also come from tree residues that are cleared, after a forest area has become degraded, logged-over or burned, as part of a sustainable development plan. APP has strict policies and practices in place to ensure that only residues from legal plantation development on degraded or logged-over forest areas and sustainable wood fiber enters the production supply chain."[127] KFC said: "From a global perspective, 60 percent of the paper products that Yum! (our parent company) sources are from sustainable sources. Our suppliers are working towards making it 100 percent."[126]

In December 2012, the chain was criticized in China when it was discovered that a number of KFC suppliers had been using growth hormones and an excessive amount of antibiotics on its poultry in ways that violated Chinese law.[129] In February 2013, Yum! CEO David Novak admitted that the scandal had been "longer lasting and more impactful than we ever imagined."[129] The issue is of major concern to Yum!, which earns almost half of its profits from China, largely through the KFC brand. In March 2013, Yum! reported that sales had rebounded in February, but that lower sales in December and January would result in a decline in same-store sales of 20 percent in the first quarter.[130]

In 2017, KFC was fined £950,000 after two workers in the UK were scalded by boiling hot gravy. The company admitted to charges of failing in a duty of care to employees and was ordered by Teesside Crown Court (Middlesbrough) to pay fines of £800,000 and £150,000.[131]

In February 2018, logistics mismanagement by DHL, which had been selected by KFC UK as their new delivery partner, caused a chicken shortage in the United Kingdom – KFC's largest market in Europe – forcing the company to temporarily close hundreds of restaurants around the country.[132] KFC apologized by taking out adverts in British newspapers showing the company's initials rearranged to read "FCK", followed by an apology, which was well received.[133]

In November 2021, Finland's first KFC restaurant was opened at the Itis shopping center in Itäkeskus, Helsinki. A few days before the opening day, a tent had appeared in front of the restaurant, where a man who had kept his identity secret for a few days had stayed,[134] and who on the opening day revealed himself to the public as a vegan activist defending animal rights.[135][136] After trying to give his speech to those present, the security company carried him away.[135] Even before the opening of the restaurant, in October, news of a controversy over the procurement of a broiler for food from Poland; the cause is mainly related to the risk of salmonella in broilers, which is a significant problem in Poland, whereas its prevalence in Finland is low.[137]

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, a number of companies have faced growing pressure to halt operations in Russia, but have not yet done so. This includes KFC, which has over 1,000 outlets in Russia, more than any other Western fast food chain.[138][139][140][141][142]

"KFC: restaurants worldwide 2019". Statista. Retrieved April 5, 2021. ^ "Senior Officers & Leadership Team". Yum! Brands. Retrieved May 15, 2019. ^ Luna, Nancy (May 13, 2019). "KFC promotes Monica Rothgery to COO of U.S. division". Nation's Restaurant News. Retrieved May 15, 2019. ^ "KFC". Forbes. Retrieved April 5, 2021. ^ "KFC: restaurants worldwide 2019". Statista. Retrieved May 14, 2020. ^ "YUM! Brands, Form 10-K, Annual Report, Filing Date Feb 22, 2018". secdatabase.com. Retrieved May 3, 2018. ^ Jump up to: a b c Whitworth, William (February 14, 1970). "Kentucky-Fried". The New Yorker. Retrieved February 23, 2013. ^ Jump up to: a b Klotter, James C. (2005). The Human Tradition in the New South. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 129. ISBN 978-0-7425-4476-5. Retrieved June 29, 2013. ^ Sanders, Harland (2012). The Autobiography of the Original Celebrity Chef (PDF). Louisville: KFC. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 21, 2013. ^ Jump up to: a b Ozersky, Josh (April 2012). Colonel Sanders and the American Dream. University of Texas Press. pp. 19–24. ISBN 978-0-292-74285-7. Retrieved September 27, 2013. ^ Aaseng, Nathan (January 2001). Business Builders in Fast Food. Oliver Press. p. 116. ISBN 978-1-881508-58-8. Retrieved March 13, 2013. ^ Jump up to: a b Smith, Andrew F. (December 2, 2011). Fast Food and Junk Food: An Encyclopedia of What We Love to Eat. ABC-CLIO. p. 612. ISBN 978-0-313-39394-5. ^ Hollis, Tim (1999). Dixie Before Disney: 100 Years of Roadside Fun. University Press of Mississippi. pp. 19–20. ISBN 978-1-61703-374-2. ^ Jump up to: a b Sanders, Harland (1974). The Incredible Colonel. Illinois: Creation House. pp. 98–131. ISBN 978-0-88419-053-0. ^ Binney, Ruth (April 1, 2012). Wise Words and Country Ways for Cooks. David & Charles. p. 202. ISBN 978-0-7153-3420-1. ^ Grimes, William (August 26, 2012). "In Kentucky, Fried Chicken History". New York Times. Retrieved September 27, 2013. ^ Schreiner, Bruce (July 23, 2005). "KFC still guards Colonel's secret". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 6, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2013. ^ Jump up to: a b Kleber, John E. (May 18, 1992). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. University Press of Kentucky. p. 796. ISBN 978-0-8131-2883-2. Retrieved March 13, 2013. ^ Ozersky, Josh (2012). Colonel Sanders and the American Dream. University of Texas Press. p. 25. ISBN 978-0-292-74285-7. Retrieved April 7, 2013. ^ Patty Henetz; Jenifer K. Nii (April 21, 2004). "Colonel's landmark KFC is mashed". Deseret Morning News. Retrieved November 13, 2013. ^ Jump up to: a b John A. Jakle; Keith A. Sculle (1999). Fast Food: Roadside Restaurants in the Automobile Age. JHU Press. p. 219. ISBN 978-0-8018-6920-4. Retrieved March 13, 2013. ^ Jump up to: a b Liddle, Alan (October 14, 1996). "Leon W. 'Pete' Harman: the operational father of KFC has many goals — and retiring isn't one of them". Nation's Restaurant News. Archived from the original on May 8, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2012. ^ Jump up to: a b c Liddle, Alan (May 21, 1990). "Pete Harman". Nation's Restaurant News. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Darden, Robert (January 1, 2004). Secret Recipe: Why Kfc Is Still Cooking After 50 Years. Tapestry Press. pp. 12, 57–58, 101, 159, 175, 211. ISBN 978-1-930819-33-7. ^ Jump up to: a b Smith, Andrew F. (May 1, 2007). The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink. Oxford University Press. p. 341. ISBN 978-0-19-530796-2. Retrieved March 11, 2013. ^ Cottreli, Robert (December 17, 1980). "Obituary: Colonel Sanders". Financial Times. ^ Aaseng, Nathan (January 1, 2001). Business Builders in Fast Food. The Oliver Press, Inc. p. 125. ISBN 978-1-881508-58-8. Retrieved March 13, 2013. ^ Barmash, Isadore (July 23, 1971). "Chief Expected to Leave Kentucky Fried Chicken". New York Times. ^ Smith, J. Y. (December 17, 1980). "Col. Sanders, the Fried-Chicken Gentleman, Dies". The Washington Post. ^ Stevenson, Richard W. (July 25, 1986). "Pepsico to Acquire Kentucky Fried: Deal Worth $850 Million". New York Times. ^ Reuters (September 13, 1986). "COMPANY NEWS; Bid by Pepsico". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 18, 2021. ^ Reuters (October 2, 1986). "COMPANY NEWS; Kentucky Chicken". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 18, 2021. ^ Brooks, Nancy Rivera (July 25, 1986). "Pepsico to Buy Kentucky Fried From RJR Nabisco – $850-Million Deal Is Good for Both Firms-Analysts". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 30, 2012. ^ Seth Stevenson (May 3, 2004). "Alphabet Soup". Slate. Retrieved June 28, 2012. ^ "And Now, Finger Lickin' Good For Ya?". Businessweek. February 17, 1991. Retrieved February 5, 2013. ^ "A feast of bargains". Sunday Herald Sun. May 31, 1992. ^ John A. Jakle; Keith A. Sculle (1999). Fast Food: Roadside Restaurants in the Automobile Age. JHU Press. p. 221. ISBN 978-0-8018-6920-4. Retrieved March 11, 2013. ^ "Pepsico To Tricon". Chicago Tribune. October 7, 1997. Retrieved September 27, 2013. ^ "Pepsico Picks Name For Planned Spinoff". New York Times. June 28, 1997. Retrieved September 27, 2013. ^ "Tricon Global Restaurants Shareholders Approve Company Name Change to Yum! Brands, Inc". QSR Magazine. May 16, 2002. Retrieved November 20, 2013. ^ Harwell, Drew (May 25, 2015). "The fried-chicken wars: Inside KFC's weird new fight to dethrone Chick-fil-A". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2015. ^ "CMO Q&A: How KFC's Colonel Sanders reboot 'broke the Internet' - twice". January 27, 2016. Retrieved February 7, 2016. ^ "KFC has 'Last Comic Standing' judge Norm Macdonald as new Colonel - Business Insider". Business Insider. August 17, 2015. ^ Johnson, Lauren (February 6, 2016). "KFC Swaps Out Norm Macdonald for Jim Gaffigan as Its Latest 'Real' Colonel". Adweek. Retrieved August 23, 2016. ^ Moran, Victoria (June 23, 2016). "KFC Brings in an Extra-Bronzed George Hamilton to Play Extra Crispy Colonel". Advertising Age. Retrieved August 23, 2016. ^ "KFC Debuts a New Colonel For Football Season". Fortune. September 8, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2016. ^ "Reba McEntire to play KFC's Colonel Sanders". CBS News. January 26, 2018. ^ Iconic Global Brand (PDF). Louisville: Yum! Brands. 2014. p. 98. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 16, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2016. ^ Thimmesch, Adam B. (2011–2012). "The Fading Bright Line of Physical Presence: Did KFC Corporation v. Iowa Department of Revenue Give States the Secret Recipe for Repudiating Quill?". Kentucky Law Journal. 100: 339–389. ^ Kleber, John E. (December 4, 2000). The Encyclopedia of Louisville. University Press of Kentucky. p. 482. ISBN 978-0-8131-2100-0. Retrieved September 11, 2012. ^ Wolf, Barney (May 2012). "David Novak's Global Vision". QSR Magazine. Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2014. ^ "Yum! Brands 10K 31/12/2011". Yum! Brands. Retrieved March 24, 2013. ^ Tian, X. (2016). Managing International Business in China. Cambridge University Press. p. 218. ISBN 978-1-316-67764-3. Retrieved November 7, 2017. ^ "Nutrition Guide" (PDF). KFC Canada. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2013. ^ KFC UK and Ireland (August 21, 2017). "Which pieces of chicken go into your KFC bucket?". Archived from the original on December 11, 2021 – via YouTube. ^ "Nutrition Calculator". KFC. Retrieved March 28, 2018. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Stephens Balakrishnan, Melodena (2013). East Meets West: the World is Round and Time is Cyclic. Emerald Group Publishing. pp. 126–132. ISBN 978-1-78190-413-8. ^ Jump up to: a b "Serving Up Quality" (PDF). CEO Magazine. July 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2013. ^ "Secret of Kentucky Fried Chicken taste". KFC Japan. Yum!. Archived from the original on July 20, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013. ^ Chan, Casey (October 28, 2014). "This is How KFC Actually Makes its Fried Chicken From Beginning to End". Gizmondo. Retrieved November 25, 2014. ^ Jump up to: a b Steyn, Lisa (June 21, 2013). "KFC's secret recipe for growth". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved September 26, 2013. ^ "Burgers". KFC UK. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2013. ^ "Food". KFC US. Retrieved February 23, 2013. ^ Horovitz, Bruce (July 3, 2002). "What's next: Fast-food giants hunt for new products to tempt consumers". USA Today. ^ "Chicken". KFC Australia. Retrieved January 1, 2014. ^ "KFC Menu: Drinks". KFC South Africa. Retrieved February 12, 2013. ^ "Drinks". Yum!. KFC Romania. Retrieved April 11, 2014. ^ "Drinks 'n' Chills" (in Greek). KFC Hellas. Retrieved February 2, 2013. ^ Shaw, Aimee (November 6, 2015). "KFC ditches Pepsi for Coke". The New Zealand Herald. Auckland. Retrieved February 17, 2016. ^ "Extras – Bebidas". KFC. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. ^ "Piezas, snacks, complementos y bebidas" (in Spanish). KFC Peru. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2013. ^ "Q1 2010 Yum! Brands, Inc. Earnings Conference Call — Final". FD (Fair Disclosure) Wire. April 15, 2010. ^ "Postres (Desserts)" (in Spanish). KFC Peru. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2013. ^ Jargon, Julie (February 21, 2012). "Yum's CEO Serves Up New Taco, Growth Plans". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 27, 2013. ^ "'Chicken AM': KFC launches a breakfast menu". Stuff.co.nz. October 20, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2017. ^ "KFC, Beyond Meat partner to test plant-based nuggets, wings". Las Vegas Review-Journal. August 26, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019. ^ McKibben, Beth (August 27, 2019). "The Fate of KFC's Future Faux Fried 'Chicken' Kingdom Lies With Atlantans [Update]". Eater-Atlanta. Retrieved August 27, 2019. ^ Chartrand, Sandra (February 5, 2001). "Patents; Many companies will forgo patents in an effort to safeguard their trade secrets". The New York Times. Retrieved September 27, 2013. ^ Hovey, C. (2002). The Patent Process: A Guide to Intellectual Property for the Information Age. Wiley. p. 243. ISBN 978-0-471-44217-2. Retrieved November 7, 2017. ^ "It pays to understand law on trade secrets". Business First. February 26, 2001. Retrieved February 22, 2013. ^ Brady, Diane (March 29, 2012). "KFC's Big Game of Chicken". Businessweek. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2012. ^ "Colonel's Secret Recipe Gets Bodyguards". CNBC. Associated Press. September 9, 2008. Archived from the original on September 23, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013. ^ Crossan, Rob (April 26, 2012). "The A to Z of fried chicken". The Times. ^ Sabra Chartrand (February 5, 2001). "Patents; Many companies will forgo patents in an effort to safeguard their trade secrets". The New York Times. Retrieved March 12, 2016. ^ Dodrill, Tara (August 20, 2016). "KFC Secret Recipe Found? Colonel Sanders' Nephew Shares 11 Herbs And Spices Found In Family Scrapbook". Inquisitr. Retrieved August 21, 2016. ^ David E. Bell; Mary L. Shelman (November 2011). "KFC's Radical Approach To China". Harvard Business Review. Retrieved January 31, 2013. ^ Cave, Andrew (February 20, 2011). "KFC's Colonel joins the health kick". Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on January 10, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2013. ^ Clark, Andrew (April 15, 2009). "Kentucky Grilled Chicken". The Guardian. Retrieved November 13, 2013. ^ Chu, Kathy (February 27, 2012). "Yum Brands CEO takes on the world – a bite at a time". USA Today. Retrieved September 27, 2013. ^ "Nutrition Guide" (PDF). KFC US. Retrieved February 23, 2013. ^ Bhasin, Kim (October 25, 2012). "The All-You-Can-Eat KFC Buffet Is The Unicorn Of Fast Food". Business Insider. Retrieved October 25, 2012. ^ R Oldakowski; J McEwen (2010). "The Diffusion of American Fast Food to Ecuador". Material Culture. 42 (2): 28–49. ^ "KFC adds fish to menu permanently". Jamaica Observer. February 18, 2010. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2014. ^ Springer, Kate (December 24, 2020). "How KFC became a Christmas tradition in Japan". CNN. Retrieved December 21, 2021. ^ Mattos, Melinda (August 1, 2010). "Hungry for change". Campaign. Retrieved November 13, 2013. ^ Remland, M.S.; Jones, T.S.; Foeman, A.; Arévalo, D.R. (2014). Intercultural Communication: A Peacebuilding Perspective. Waveland Press. p. 275. ISBN 978-1-4786-2690-9. Retrieved November 7, 2017. ^ "Sides". KFC US. Retrieved February 23, 2013. ^ "Bean Salad". kfc.co.nz. Retrieved September 9, 2015. ^ "Signature Sides". KFC Arabia. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2013. ^ Kaiman, Jonathan (January 4, 2012). "China's fast-food pioneer struggles to keep customers saying 'YUM!'". The Guardian. London. Retrieved January 4, 2012. ^ "Seasoned Potato Wedges". KFC US. Retrieved February 2, 2013. ^ "Drinks". KFC Russia. Yum! Brands. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2014. ^ "Drinks" (in Ukrainian). KFC Ukraine. Retrieved February 12, 2013. ^ "Drinks" (in Portuguese). KFC Portugal. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved September 25, 2013. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Coomes, Steve (July 17, 2012). "Winston Shelton: The Colonel's Corporal". Louisville Magazine. Retrieved October 1, 2013. ^ Jump up to: a b c "History". Winston Industries. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2013. ^ "Henny Penny Wins KFC Equipment Supplier of the Year Award". ^ President and Fellows of Harvard College (1994). PepsioCo's Restaurants. Boston: Harvard Business School. p. 9. ^ "North America's Hospitality Dish". Trademarkia. KFC Corporation. Retrieved March 13, 2013. ^ Dukes, Terry (2000). "KFC: The Animated Colonel Campaign". Institute of Practitioners in Advertising. WARC [World Advertising Center]. ^ Momen Putrym, Goldie (February 21, 2010). "So Good? KFC Drops Famous Catchphrase". Sky News. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2012. ^ Reynolds, John (April 6, 2011). "Profile: Jennelle Tilling, vice-president of marketing, UK and Ireland at KFC". PR Week. Retrieved January 28, 2013. ^ Rogers, Ian. "The Mystery of the Colonel". Grey Not Grey. Retrieved April 3, 2014. ^ Patrick, Colin (July 1, 2012). "Wendy's Founder Dave Thomas Worked for Colonel Sanders". Mental Floss. Retrieved March 20, 2020. ^ Carpenter, B. (2004). Dave Thomas. In W. L. O'Neill & K. T. Jackson (Eds.), The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives (2004 ed.). Charles Scribner's Sons. ^ Rood, George (January 5, 1969). "Accidental Competitor in Chicken Game Is Winner". The New York Times. ^ Georgescu, Peter (July 2005). The Source of Success: Five Enduring Principles at the Heart of Real Leadership. John Wiley & Sons. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-7879-8133-4. Retrieved September 27, 2013. ^ Jack Guy. "KFC launches game console that keeps your chicken warm". CNN. Retrieved December 26, 2020. ^ Barnett, Michael (December 16, 2010). "Colonel Sanders' new modern army of outlets". Marketing Week. Retrieved February 11, 2013. ^ Yaziji, Michael; Doh, Jonathan (2009). "Case illustration: PETA and KFC". NGOs and Corporations: Conflict and Collaboration. Business, Value Creation, and Society. Cambridge University Press. pp. 112–114. ISBN 978-0-521-86684-2. ^ Chuck Williams; Terry Champion; Ike Hall (2011). MGMT. Cengage Learning. p. 78. ISBN 978-0-17-650235-5. ^ Swann, Patricia (April 2010). Cases in Public Relations Management. Routledge. pp. 121–122. ISBN 978-0-203-85136-4. Retrieved September 26, 2013. ^ Annual Report (PDF). Louisville: Yum! Brands. 2008. p. 52. Retrieved September 27, 2013. ^ Lawrence, Felicity; Vidal, John (July 24, 2006). "Food giants to boycott illegal Amazon soya". The Guardian. Retrieved August 27, 2016. ^ Clark, Andrew (January 6, 2010). "KFC accused of racism over Australian advertisement". The Guardian. Retrieved August 27, 2016. ^ Jump up to: a b Jim Efstathiou Jr.; Leslie Patton (June 13, 2012). "KFC Using Rain-Forest Wood in Boxes, Greenpeace Says". Bloomberg News. Retrieved November 12, 2013. ^ Jump up to: a b "KFC Using Rain-Forest Wood in Boxes, Greenpeace Says". Businessweek. June 13, 2012. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2012. ^ Badasha, Kamalpreet (May 24, 2012). "KFC denies Greenpeace sourcing allegations". Supply Management. Retrieved October 27, 2012. ^ Jump up to: a b Hsu, Tiffany (February 5, 2013). "After KFC chicken scare, Yum plans to 'stay the course in China'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 5, 2013. ^ Cai, Debbie (March 11, 2013). "Yum's China Sales Fall 20% as It Tries to Win Back KFC Customers". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 12, 2013. ^ "KFC fined nearly £1m after two workers scalded by boiling hot gravy". ITV News. January 20, 2017. ^ Petroff, Alanna (February 20, 2018). "KFC chicken shortage will hit UK stores all week". CNN. Retrieved February 23, 2018. ^ Petroff, Alanna (February 23, 2018). "KFC apologizes for chicken shortage with a hilarious hidden message". CNN. Retrieved February 23, 2018. ^ "Joku pystytti teltan pian avattavan KFC-ravintolan eteen Itäkeskuksessa ja värjöttelee sateessa varpaat jäässä jo kolmatta päivää: "Kanoista tykkään"". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021. ^ Jump up to: a b "Vegan "chicken lover" protests KFC launch in Finland". Yle News. November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021. ^ "KFC:n telttamies olikin aktivisti: Mielenosoittajat talutettiin ulos – sisällä hurrattiin kanansyönnille". Iltalehti (in Finnish). November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021. ^ Sequeira, Tahira (October 28, 2021). "KFC embroiled in minor controversy for decision to import chicken to Finland". Helsinki Times. Retrieved November 12, 2021. ^ "Ukraine invasion: Attention turns to McDonald's and crypto exchanges, yet to take a stand against Russia". Sky News. Retrieved March 6, 2022. ^ Creswell, Julie (March 5, 2022). "Fast-food chains and food producers stay open in Russia, and mostly quiet about Ukraine". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 6, 2022. ^ "Major companies including McDonald's are under fire for failing to boycott Russia". Happy Mag. March 5, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2022. ^ Winchester, Levi (March 4, 2022). "McDonald's under pressure for opening as 'normal' in Russia despite Ukraine war". mirror. Retrieved March 6, 2022. ^ Seattle, Marler Clark 1012 First Avenue Fifth Floor; Phone: 1-800-884