Who Owns KFC? From Colonel Sanders to Yum! Brands
KFC is owned by Yum! Brands, a public company that also owns Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and The Habit Burger Grill. Most of its restaurants are run by franchisees, which are local business owners who pay to use the brand name and recipe.
Colonel Harland Sanders started the business, but he sold it in 1964. Since then the chain has had several owners.
Owners over the years
| Years | Owner |
|---|---|
| 1930 to 1964 | Harland Sanders |
| 1964 to 1971 | Investors led by John Y. Brown Jr. and Jack Massey |
| 1971 to 1982 | Heublein, a drinks company |
| 1982 to 1986 | R. J. Reynolds (after it bought Heublein) |
| 1986 to 1997 | PepsiCo |
| 1997 to today | Tricon Global Restaurants, renamed Yum! Brands in 2002 |
How did KFC start?
Harland Sanders sold fried chicken at a roadside café and motel in North Corbin, Kentucky, starting in 1930. In 1952, a Utah restaurant owner named Pete Harman became the first to sell “Kentucky Fried Chicken” using Sanders’ recipe, in South Salt Lake. Harman is also credited with the idea of the chicken bucket.
Sanders then drove around the country signing up more restaurants. By the early 1960s there were hundreds of them.
Why did Colonel Sanders sell KFC?
The business grew too big for Sanders to run in his 70s. In 1964 he sold it to a group led by John Y. Brown Jr. and Jack Massey. Sanders stayed on as the face of the brand and kept appearing in ads until he died in 1980. That is why his face is still on every bucket.
How did PepsiCo end up owning KFC?
In 1986, R. J. Reynolds sold KFC to PepsiCo for about $840 million. PepsiCo already owned Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. In 1997, PepsiCo split its restaurants into a separate company called Tricon Global Restaurants. Tricon changed its name to Yum! Brands in 2002.
Who runs KFC in China?
The chain is huge in China, and it was the first Western restaurant chain to open there, in 1987. Today, its restaurants in mainland China are run by Yum China, a separate company that split off from Yum! Brands in 2016. Everywhere else, it is part of Yum! Brands.
Where is KFC based?
The chain started in Kentucky and was based in Louisville for decades. Its main office is now in Plano, Texas. It has about 32,000 restaurants in around 150 countries, which makes it one of the largest restaurant chains in the world.
Is KFC owned by McDonald’s?
No. McDonald’s is a separate company and a rival. Its sister brands are Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, not McDonald’s.
What does the food cost?
An 8 piece bucket is about $22.99 for chicken only. See all prices on our KFC menu with prices, or learn about KFC’s 11 herbs and spices. Its sister brands are on our Taco Bell menu and Pizza Hut menu pages, and you can read who owns Taco Bell.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns KFC?
It is owned by Yum! Brands, which also owns Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and The Habit Burger Grill.
Does Colonel Sanders still own KFC?
No. Harland Sanders sold the business in 1964. He stayed the face of the brand until he died in 1980.
Does PepsiCo own KFC?
Not anymore. PepsiCo owned the chain from 1986 to 1997, then split its restaurants into a new company that became Yum! Brands.
Who owns KFC in China?
Restaurants in mainland China are run by Yum China, a separate company that split from Yum! Brands in 2016.
Where is KFC headquarters?
The main office is in Plano, Texas. It was based in Louisville, Kentucky for many years.
Who was the first KFC franchisee?
Pete Harman of Utah became the first franchisee in 1952, selling Kentucky Fried Chicken in South Salt Lake.
Prices are typical U.S. prices before tax and can vary by location. Menus Info is not affiliated with any restaurant mentioned. See how we check prices.
