KFC Leaving Ancestral Home: Parent Company Moves Corporate Office to Texas

Yum Brands Announces Relocation of KFC Corporate Office

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Fried Chicken is being uprooted from its ancestral home state in a shake up that will relocate its U.S. corporate office to Texas, the chain’s parent company said Tuesday.

Corporate Office Relocation

The KFC chain — launched by Colonel Harland Sanders and his secret blend of 11 herbs and spices — will be based in Plano, Texas, and about 100 KFC corporate employees will be relocated in the next six months, said Yum Brands, which owns KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut.

Reactions to the Move

Moving the corporate office from Louisville brought a swift response from the city’s mayor.

“I am disappointed to learn that Yum Brands will move its KFC employees to Texas – especially since the brand was born here and is synonymous with Kentucky,” Mayor Craig Greenberg said in a statement.

Broader Plans for Yum Brands

Yum said the move is part of its broader plans to designate two brand headquarters in the U.S. — in Plano and Irvine, California. KFC and Pizza Hut will be headquartered in Plano, while Taco Bell and Habit Burger & Grill will remain based in Irvine, it said. Yum added that 90 U.S.-based employees who have worked remotely will be asked to eventually relocate to the Plano or Irvine campuses, depending on their work.

Employee Support

Yum and the KFC Foundation will maintain corporate offices in Louisville, the company said. Employees being shifted will receive relocation and transition support, the company said.

Fostering Collaboration

Yum said that designating two brand headquarters is meant to foster greater collaboration among its brands and employees.

“These changes position us for sustainable growth and will help us better serve our customers, employees, franchisees, and shareholders,” Yum CEO David Gibbs said in a news release.

University of Louisville Endowment

Yum also announced it will provide a $1 million endowment to the University of Louisville’s College of Business to fund Yum-sponsored scholarships. And the company said KFC will continue its brand presence in Louisville with the goal of building a first-of-its-kind flagship restaurant.

KFC’s Ties to Kentucky

KFC’s ties to Kentucky run nearly a century deep. In 1930, at a service station in Corbin, Kentucky, Sanders began feeding travelers and spent the next nine years perfecting his blend of herbs and spices, as well as the basic cooking technique, KFC’s website says. There are now over 24,000 KFC outlets in more than 145 countries and territories around the world, it said. And the goateed entrepreneur’s likeness is known globally, having been stamped on KFC restaurant signs and chicken buckets.

Conclusion

The move marks a significant shift for KFC, which has been a staple of Louisville’s culinary scene for nearly a century. While some may be disappointed by the news, Yum’s plans are aimed at fostering greater collaboration and growth for its brands.

FAQs

* Q: Why is Yum Brands moving its KFC corporate office to Texas?
A: Yum Brands is moving its KFC corporate office to Plano, Texas, as part of its plans to designate two brand headquarters in the U.S.
* Q: How many KFC corporate employees will be relocated?
A: About 100 KFC corporate employees will be relocated to Plano, Texas, over the next six months.
* Q: What are the plans for Yum Brands’ other brands?
A: Yum Brands will maintain corporate offices in Louisville, with KFC and Pizza Hut headquartered in Plano and Taco Bell and Habit Burger & Grill remaining based in Irvine, California.
* Q: How will employees being shifted be supported?
A: Yum Brands will provide relocation and transition support to employees being shifted.