History of KFC in Timeline

KFC, or Kentucky Fried Chicken, is an American fast-food chain specializing in fried chicken, headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. As the world's second-largest restaurant chain after McDonald's, KFC boasts over 30,000 locations across 150 countries as of April 2024. It is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, which also owns Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. KFC's global presence reflects its significant impact on the fast-food industry and international culinary landscape.

1930: Sanders Takes Over Filling Station

In 1930, Harland Sanders took over a Shell filling station on U.S. Route 25 outside North Corbin, Kentucky. It was here that he first served his fried chicken and other dishes.

1936: Sanders Named Kentucky Colonel

In 1936, Sanders was given the honorary title of Kentucky Colonel by Governor Ruby Laffoon, in recognition of his successful restaurant.

1937: Expansion of Restaurant and Motel

In 1937, Sanders expanded his restaurant to 142 seats and added a motel across the street, naming it Sanders Court & Café.

1939: Sanders Modifies Pressure Cooker

In 1939, Sanders bought one of the first commercial pressure cookers and modified it into a pressure fryer. This reduced cooking time while retaining quality.

July 1940: Finalization of the Original Recipe

In July 1940, Colonel Sanders finalized his "Original Recipe" of 11 herbs and spices for his fried chicken. This recipe became a trade secret.

1950: Sanders Becomes "The Colonel"

In 1950, Sanders was recommissioned as a Kentucky Colonel and began to dress the part, solidifying his image as "the Colonel."

1952: Franchising Begins

In 1952, Sanders franchised his chicken recipe to Pete Harman in South Salt Lake, Utah, starting KFC's franchise model.

1952: First KFC Logo Introduced

In 1952, the first KFC logo was introduced, featuring a "Kentucky Fried Chicken" typeface and a logo of the Colonel.

1952: First Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchise

In 1952, the first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise opened in South Salt Lake, Utah. Sanders identified the potential of the restaurant-franchising concept, opening the door to the expansion of KFC.

1955: Sanders Sells Properties

In 1955, the route planned for Interstate 75 bypassed Sanders' properties, leading him to sell them and travel the U.S. to franchise his recipe.

1956: Official Slogans Introduced

In 1956, KFC introduced early official slogans, including "North America's Hospitality Dish" and the "finger lickin' good" slogan.

1957: Introduction of "It's finger lickin' good" slogan and bucket meal

In 1957, Don Anderson coined the name "Kentucky Fried Chicken", while Harman trademarked the phrase "It's finger lickin' good" and introduced the "bucket meal" (14 pieces of chicken, five bread rolls and a pint of gravy in a cardboard bucket).

1957: Introduction of the Bucket Meal

In 1957, franchisee Pete Harman introduced the "bucket meal", serving larger portions of fried chicken in a cardboard bucket. This became an iconic feature of the chain.

1962: Bucket Sign Revolutionized

In 1962, Dave Thomas turned Colonel Sanders' bucket into a revolving sign in front of almost every American KFC outlet.

1963: KFC Becomes Largest Fast Food Operation

By 1963, KFC had grown to 600 restaurants, making it the largest fast-food operation in the United States.

1964: Franchise opportunities beyond the Atlantic

In 1964 Kentucky Fried Chicken decided to offer franchise opportunities beyond the Atlantic, with the United Kingdom as its entry point into Europe.

1964: Sanders Sells KFC

In 1964, Colonel Sanders sold KFC to a group of investors led by John Y. Brown Jr. and Jack C. Massey for US$2 million.

May 1, 1965: First UK KFC Opens

On May 1, 1965, the first British KFC eatery opened its doors at 92 Fishergate in Preston, Lancashire.

1966: Advertising on US Television Begins

In 1966, after being sold by Sanders, KFC began advertising on US television with a budget of US$4 million.

1969: First National Advertising Agency Hired

In 1969, KFC hired its first national advertising agency, Leo Burnett, to handle advertising campaigns.

1969: Collectramatic Fryer Developed

In 1969, Winston L. Shelton developed the "Collectramatic" pressurized fryer to overcome the problems KFC faced in quickly frying chicken to meet growing customer demand, using precision time and temperature controls and self-filtering cooking oil.

1970: KFC Reaches 3,000 Outlets

By 1970, the KFC chain had reached 3,000 outlets in 48 countries.

1970: Franchisees Given Tacit Approval to Use Older Fryer

From 1970 onwards, despite Colonel Sanders' support for the Collectramatic, John Y. Brown Jr. gave tacit approval to franchisees to exclusively use the older L S Hartzog fryer due to concerns about the new fryer's reliability.

1970: First KFC Restaurants in Ireland

In 1970, Pat Grace opened his first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants in Phibsboro shopping center in Dublin, Ireland.

July 1971: Sale of KFC to Heublein

In July 1971, Brown sold KFC to Heublein, a packaged food and drinks corporation, for US$285 million.

1972: "Get a bucket of chicken, have a barrel of fun" jingle

In 1972, a notable Leo Burnett campaign featured the "Get a bucket of chicken, have a barrel of fun" jingle, performed by Barry Manilow.

1972: Collectramatic Approved After Acquisition

In 1972, after Heublein purchased KFC and acquired Hartzog, the Collectramatic became an approved pressure fryer for KFC.

1976: KFC Becomes Largest Advertiser

By 1976, KFC had become one of the largest advertisers in the US, highlighting its significant presence in the advertising industry.

1980: Colonel Sanders' Death

Colonel Sanders, a key component of KFC advertising, died in 1980 but remains an "international symbol of hospitality" for the company.

1980: Death of Colonel Harland Sanders

In 1980, Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of KFC, passed away. Sanders started selling fried chicken during the Great Depression, and became the face of KFC.

1982: Heublein Acquired by R. J. Reynolds

In 1982, Heublein, then the owner of KFC, was acquired by R. J. Reynolds, the tobacco giant.

July 1986: Reynolds Announces Sale of KFC to PepsiCo

In July 1986, Reynolds announced the sale of KFC to PepsiCo for $850 million.

November 1987: KFC Enters Chinese Market

In November 1987, KFC entered the Chinese market, opening its first outlet in Beijing.

1987: KFC Opens in China

In 1987, KFC became the first Western restaurant chain to open in China, marking a significant step in its international expansion. China is now KFC's single largest market.

1990: Launch of Spicy "Hot Wings"

In 1990, KFC launched the spicy "Hot Wings".

1991: Official Adoption of the KFC Name

In 1991, the KFC name was officially adopted, though it had already been widely known by that initialism.

1992: Launch of Popcorn Chicken

In 1992, KFC launched popcorn chicken.

1993: Launch of Zinger

In 1993, KFC launched the Zinger, a spicy chicken fillet sandwich, internationally.

1994: KFC Outlet and Employee Count

By 1994, KFC had 5,149 outlets in the US and 9,407 overall, with over 100,000 employees.

August 1997: PepsiCo Spins Off Restaurant Division

In August 1997, PepsiCo spun off its restaurants division, including KFC, as a public company named Tricon Global Restaurants.

1999: Secret Recipe Notes Found

In 1999, a couple found scribbled notes purported to be the secret KFC recipe in a house formerly occupied by Colonel Sanders.

2001: Lawsuit Dropped Over Recipe Notes

In early 2001, KFC dropped a lawsuit against a couple who found scribbled notes purported to be the secret recipe, claiming the notes were "nowhere close" to the original.

May 2002: Tricon Renamed Yum! Brands

In May 2002, Tricon Global Restaurants, the parent company of KFC, was renamed Yum! Brands.

2002: Fast Food Nation Publication

In 2002, Eric Schlosser's book Fast Food Nation criticized fast food's animal welfare record, links to obesity, and environmental impact.

Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal

Check it on Amazon

2003: PETA Protests Begin

Since 2003, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has protested KFC's choice of poultry suppliers worldwide, raising concerns about animal welfare.

2004: Super Size Me Film Release

In 2004, Morgan Spurlock's film Super Size Me reflected concerns about fast food's impact on health and animal welfare.

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2006: Greenpeace Accusation of Soya Sourcing

In 2006, Greenpeace accused KFC Europe of sourcing soya bean for chicken feed from Cargill, which was accused of clearing parts of the Amazon rainforest.

2006: "Finger lickin' good" Trademark Expires

The trademark for the KFC slogan "finger lickin' good" expired in the US in 2006.

2008: Yum! Addresses Animal Treatment

In 2008, Yum! stated its responsibility to influence the treatment of animals supplied to them and committed to monitoring suppliers.

2009: Launch of Krusher/Krushem Range

In 2009, the Krusher/Krushem range of frozen beverages containing "real bits" was launched and made available in over 2,000 outlets.

2010: Controversial Commercial Airs in Australia

In 2010, KFC Australia aired a commercial that prompted accusations of racism after being shared in the US, leading to a statement from KFC condemning discrimination.

March 31, 2011: Priszm Bankruptcy

On March 31, 2011, Priszm, the owner of KFC in Canada, filed for bankruptcy protection in Ontario and British Columbia.

May 2012: Greenpeace Accusation on Packaging Pulp

In May 2012, Greenpeace accused KFC of sourcing paper pulp for its food packaging from Indonesian rainforest wood, leading to a statement from KFC about sustainable sourcing.

December 2012: Supplier Scandal in China

In December 2012, KFC faced criticism in China when suppliers were found using growth hormones and excessive antibiotics on poultry in violation of Chinese law.

2012: International Rollout of "KFC AM" Breakfast Menu

In 2012, the "KFC AM" breakfast menu, featuring items like pancakes, waffles, porridge, and fried chicken, was introduced internationally.

February 2013: Yum! CEO Acknowledges Scandal Impact

In February 2013, Yum! CEO David Novak admitted the supplier scandal in China had a significant and lasting impact on the company.

March 2013: Sales Rebound Reported

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 due to the supplier scandal.

2013: Transition to Henny Penny Pressure Fryers

From 2013 onwards, KFC began transitioning from using Collectramatic cookers to pressure fryers produced by Henny Penny, featuring increased load capacity, automatic oil filtration, and increased oil longevity.

2013: KFC Sales

In 2013, KFC had sales of $23 billion.

May 2015: New Ad Campaign

Beginning in May 2015, KFC launched a new series of US advertisements featuring Darrell Hammond as Colonel Sanders.

August 2016: Recipe Cooking Test

In August 2016, Chicago Tribune staffers tested a purported original KFC fried chicken recipe and, with the addition of the MSG flavor-enhancer Ac'cent, claimed they produced fried chicken that tasted "indistinguishable" from KFC's chicken.

2016: Colonel Sanders Ad Campaign

Through the fall of 2016, Norm Macdonald, Jim Gaffigan, George Hamilton and Rob Riggle portrayed Sanders in similar ads through a planned rotation of actors.

2017: KFC Fined for Worker Injuries

In 2017, KFC was fined £950,000 after two workers in the UK were scalded by boiling hot gravy due to failing in a duty of care to employees.

January 2018: First Female Colonel Sanders

In January 2018, country music icon Reba McEntire played the first female Colonel Sanders in KFC advertisements.

February 2018: Chicken Shortage in the UK

In February 2018, logistics mismanagement by DHL caused a chicken shortage in the United Kingdom, forcing KFC to temporarily close hundreds of restaurants, leading to an apology campaign.

August 27, 2019: KFC Tests Meatless Options

On August 27, 2019, KFC began testing meatless boneless wings and nuggets in Atlanta, Georgia to offer vegetarian alternatives.

2019: Australia Rebrands to Kentucky Fried Chicken

In 2019, Australia rebranded KFC back to its original name, "Kentucky Fried Chicken".

2019: Better Chicken Commitment made

In 2019, KFC made the Better Chicken Commitment, an animal welfare pledge which includes adopting slower-growing breeds by 2026.

2019: Indonesia Stocks Coca-Cola

Since 2019, Indonesia has been among the territories that stock drinks supplied by The Coca-Cola Company.

November 2021: First KFC Restaurant in Finland Opens

In November 2021, Finland's first KFC restaurant opened in Helsinki, facing controversy over broiler procurement from Poland due to salmonella risks and a protest by a vegan activist.

2021: KFC brand assets

Before leaving as CEO in 2021, Andrea Zahumensky mentioned that the brand assets that they were lucky to have included the bucket, the three stripes, and the full name Kentucky Fried Chicken.

November 9, 2022: Controversial Kristallnacht Promotion

On November 9, 2022, KFC Germany issued a controversial announcement inviting its German audience to celebrate Kristallnacht with "Cheesy Chicken," followed by an apology blaming a system error.

2022: Pressure to Halt Operations in Russia

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, KFC faced growing pressure to halt operations in Russia, where it had over 1,000 outlets.

2022: Accusations of Misleading Animal Welfare Depiction

In early 2022 a promotional video was shot with influencer Niko Omilana showing a chicken farm in the KFC supply chain with good conditions. Animal rights activists entered the same farm months later and found vastly different conditions, with instances of "severe overcrowding" and "lame and dead birds". KFC's actions were branded "misleading".

2022: Singapore and Malaysia Stock Coca-Cola

Since 2022, Singapore and Malaysia have been among the territories that stock drinks supplied by The Coca-Cola Company.

February 2023: KFC Australia Discontinues Menu Items

In February 2023, Kentucky Fried Chicken in Australia discontinued several items from their menu, including wings, popcorn chicken, Nashville hot sauce, and strawberry lemonade.

2023: New Fries introduced in KFC branches

In 2023 KFC branches in UK and Ireland introduced new 'signature fries' (fries coated in herbs and spice) in an attempt to improve the taste of the fries.

April 2024: KFC Global Presence

As of April 2024, KFC has grown to be the world's second-largest restaurant chain with over 30,000 locations across 150 countries.

September 2024: Announcement of Not Meeting the Better Chicken Commitment

In September 2024, KFC announced that it would not meet the Better Chicken Commitment, an animal welfare pledge made in 2019, which includes adopting slower-growing breeds by 2026.

2024: Closure of outlet in Malaysia

In May of 2024, the closure of the outlet in Malaysia was reported due to the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Attacks on two outlets in Baghdad, Iraq were also reported.