KFC Trades Kentucky For Texas for Corporate Headquarters

Yum Brands has announced that Kentucky Fried Chicken will relocate its U.S. corporate office to Plano, Texas.

Originally founded by "Colonel" Harland Sanders in Kentucky, KFC will move approximately 100 corporate employees over the next six months, according to the company.

Yum Brands, which also owns Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, says the relocation was part of a broader plan to establish two U.S. headquarters.

KFC and Pizza Hut will now be based in Plano, while Taco Bell and Habit Burger & Grill will remain in Irvine, California.

The decision to set up dual headquarters was intended to enhance collaboration among the company's brands, according to Yum.

"These changes position us for sustainable growth and will help us better serve our customers, employees, franchisees and shareholders," said David Gibbs, CEO of Yum! Brands.

Yum also said that 90 remote employees across the U.S. will be required to relocate to the appropriate campus for their respective roles.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear responded to the announcement with hopes that Yum Brands might reconsider moving KFC's corporate employees out of the state, the Associated Press reported.

"I am disappointed by this decision and believe the company's founder would be, too," Beshear said. "This company's name starts with Kentucky, and it has marketed our state's heritage and culture in the sale of its product."

The KFC Foundation will maintain offices in Louisville and KFC also plans to create what it calls a unique flagship restaurant in the city.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg also voiced his dismay, emphasizing that KFC "was born here and is synonymous with Kentucky."

Sarah Davasher-Wisdom, president and CEO of Greater Louisville Inc., the region's chamber of commerce, told USA Today, "KFC is a Greater Louisville homegrown company that has become one of the largest restaurant chains in the world over the last 90 years."

Disheartened consumers

The announcement of the corporate office relocation quickly sparked reaction.

Many have flooded social media platforms with memes and comments, expressing their disbelief and disappointment, while others called out the loss of Kentucky's heritage tied to the iconic fast-food chain.

History spanning a century

KFC's history in Kentucky dates back nearly a century. The chain's origins trace to 1930, when Sanders began cooking for travelers at a service station in Corbin, Kentucky. It was there that he spent the next nine years perfecting his now-famous blend of 11 herbs and spices --transforming KFC into a global brand.

The founder's iconic image is still visible today, gracing everything from restaurant signage to the signature chicken buckets. KFC has 24,000 locations in nearly 150 countries.