Kentucky Fried Chicken or KFC is a division of Yum! Brands, Inc., and is based
in Louisville, Kentucky. Originally founded by Col. Harland Sanders, KFC is
known for its fried chicken, which is prepared by coating fresh-cut pieces of
chicken in a mixture of flour, salt, pepper, and MSG, then cooked in hot oil in
a pressure cooker.
The world's first KFC was established in 1939 in Corbin, Kentucky. The first
franchise was established in 1952 in what is now South Salt Lake, Utah by
Harland Sanders and Pete Harman, but since then has been sold four times, lastly
to Tricon Global Restaurants, now known as Yum! Brands, Inc.
In French-speaking Quebec, Canada, KFC is known as PFK (Poulet Frit Kentucky).
Food
The Colonel's secret recipe of eleven herbs
and spices remains one of the best-kept trade secrets in business. The original,
handwritten recipe is locked securely in a vault in Louisville, with partial
copies stored elsewhere as backup. The two suppliers of the seasonings each only
provide parts of the recipe, and do not know each other's identity. Not even the
company's president knows the ingredient list, and the few people who do are
subject to a strict confidentiality agreement. Several people have contacted
KFC, claiming to have found copies of the recipe, but none have ever been
correct. A couple who purchased the Colonel's original home found another
handwritten recipe in the basement, and, although it was written by Sanders, it
was determined to be nothing like the original.
However, a chemical analysis commissioned by author William Poundstone revealed
some of the primary ingredients: salt, ground black pepper, flour, and
monosodium glutamate. KFC claims that Colonel Sanders' recipe had eleven secret
herbs and spices, although it curiously does not claim that this is the recipe
in current use.
The company adopted the abbreviated form of its name in 1991 to avoid the
unhealthy connotations of the word 'fried'. KFC is currently experimenting with
pot pies and boneless and roasted chicken in addition to its core food offering.
In 2004 the company tried to further rebrand itself, featuring the term "Kitchen
Fresh Chicken" in its advertisements (and noting in the fine print that its
freshness claim does not apply to the chicken wings).
In April 2005, KFC
opened a new restaurant in its hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, under the
original name of Kentucky Fried Chicken and plans to add at least 50 more.
In New Zealand, television advertisements for the chain feature "Kiwi For
Chicken". In 2002 KFC slapped a Strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP)
on a news website which had linked to a spoof KFC site.
Beyond the fried chicken, KFC also serves side-dishes like coleslaw, various
potato-based items (including french fries, potato wedges, and whipped potatoes
with gravy), corn on the cob and biscuits. KFC also offers other entreés such as
chicken nuggets, hamburgers, pork ribs and a variety of desserts – though not
all may be found in all locations, particularly in non-US locations.
Wendy's restaurants founder Dave Thomas operated several Kentucky Fried Chicken
franchises before starting Wendy's restaurants. He also invented the
rotating-bucket-of-chicken sign that at one time was outside every KFC.
Notable KFC Employees (Past and Present)
Dave Thomas (entrepreneur, founder of competing franchise Wendy's)
Slogans
Let's do lunch!
There's fast food, then there's KFC.
Life ain't funny with an empty tummy - Thank goodness for Kentucky Fried!
(1970's - New Zealand)
Today's KFC - I like it like that! (early 1990's - New Zealand)
KFC - Kiwi For Chicken (2005 - New Zealand)
Soul Food (2005 - UK)
Finger lickin' good!
Nobody Does Chicken Like KFC! (Australia)
Can't Beat that Taste! (2005 - Australia)
We do chicken right! (1980's)
Countries with KFC
KFC has opened franchises in Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech
Republic, El Salvador, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia,
Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan,
Philippines, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan,
Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey and United Kingdom in addition to the
initial franchises in the United States.
Trivia
KFC is one of the most popular fast food restaurants in China.
KFC's success in the 1970s influenced the first Muppet Movie where Kermit is
being hunted down by a KFC-parodied franchise: "Doc Hopper's French-Fried Frog
Legs".
KFC originally introduced its "Popcorn Chicken" snack in the early 1990s but
discontinued it after several customers complained of sickness upon eating the
food, which consisted primarily of chicken skin. In the early 2000s, it
reintroduced the snack, now complete with more meat attached.
Some "KFC Express" outlets can be found in suburban strip malls, often combined
with other Yum!-brand franchises such as Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.
Separately-owned stores in Atlantic City, New Jersey and Chester, Pennsylvania
are named "Kennedy Fried Chicken," an obvious reference to its mainstream
competitor.
In the UK numerous restaurants can be found that take the same approach, using
many of the KFC brand elements in a slightly altered form, with names such as
LFC, MFC, PFC, FCKF, and FCUK, moving on to such diverse guises as Tennessee,
Missisippi, or Kennedy Fried Chicken (see above) and then the more unusual
hybrids such as Hentucky, Dixy, Texas, Texa, Tex-Ess and Kenssy Fried Chicken.
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