A surprise to many, the world-famous KFC, formerly known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is leaving the state where it has conducted its business for the past 95 years. The parent company of KFC, Yum Brands, announced on Tuesday that the headquarters of KFC will be shifted from Kentucky to Texas to join its sister brands like Pizza Hut and its offices in the Dallas suburb of Plano, Texas.
It is a notable change for the company, which started 95 years ago at a motel in a small Kentucky Town and now owns more than 30,000 restaurants across 150 countries.
This is a strategic decision by Yum Brands as they plan to have just two US headquarters for its restaurants, including food chains like Irvine, California-based Taco-Bell and Habit Hunger. According to the company, combining the offices of KFC and Pizza Hut in Plano will “foster greater collaboration among brands and employees.”
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However, KFC isn’t completely abandoning its birthplace. In fact, it has plans for a new “first-of-a-kind flagship restaurant” in Louisville, Kentucky. However, this is not enough for the Governor of Kentucky, who said in a statement that he felt “disappointed by the decision” and believes that Col. Sanders would have felt the same way if he were alive.
He said, “This company’s name starts with Kentucky, and it has marketed our state’s heritage and culture in the sale of its product. My hope is that the company will rethink moving Kentucky Fried Chicken employees out of Kentucky.”
