KFC is leaving its ancestral home as parent company moves its corporate office to Texas

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Yahoo! Finance/AP

Tue, February 18, 2025 at 4:40 PM EST 3 min read


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

The food chain now known as KFC — 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. The relocation of KFC's corporate office from Louisville brought a quick response from political leaders in Kentucky.

“I am disappointed by this decision and believe the company's founder would be, too,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a statement. “This company's name starts with Kentucky, and it has marketed our state's heritage and culture in the sale of its product.” Beshear, a Democrat, said he hopes Yum rethinks moving KFC employees out of Kentucky. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg also expressed disappointment with the corporate reshuffling of workers to Texas, noting that the brand "was born here and is synonymous with Kentucky.”

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, the company said. Yum added that 90 U.S.-based employees who have worked remotely will be asked to eventually relocate to the campus where their work occurs.

Read more: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/kfc-leaving-ancestral-home-parent-214008496.html

[elleng]

1. 'Cause tx so much nicer than KY!

[modrepub]

2. 100 People In Corporate?

That doesn't sound like a lot to me. Either there's a very small corporate staff or a lot of folks decided against moving to TX.

[twodogsbarking]

3. I haven't eaten KFC in twenty years. Maybe in twenty years I will try again.

[Gak73]

38. Gave it up

A while back. The heartburn from their food was awful. Never ever going back!

[twodogsbarking]

39. The not-so-secret ingredient, MSG. Not for me.

[Bengus81]

4. Pizza Hut corporate left Wichita for Texas probably 25-30 years ago

After being founded here and always HQ'ed here they moved but they were bought by Pepsi if I remember right decades before that. There were a lot of people in Wichita who never went with them in that move.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. But then Pizza Hut wasn't called "Kansas Pizza Hut"

and then moved to TX.

It's just like if the company "Omaha Steaks", which was founded and is still headquartered in Omaha, NE, decided to pick up and move to TX (but keep their brand name the same).

Hell, I am from and am still living in Philadelphia and laugh every time I pick up a box (or tub) of "Philadelphia Brand Cream Cheese". It was neither founded nor made here in Philly, let alone in PA (it was a NY thing). But supposedly the name was more a nod to all the dairy farms we have right outside the city.

[Bengus81]

10. I thought it was more about a loss of good paying jobs. KFC won't be renamed TFC

But like Wichita they of course want the Corporate to stay where it was founded and keep all those jobs.

Just like Pizza Hut, KFC sold the farm long ago so most know nothing will stay the same for long.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. Texas has changed its laws to make the state more and more "corporate friendly"

So you have this "exodus" of companies "loudly" picking up roots to move there.

And then a hurricane hits... or some tornadoes take out their corporate office parks... or a blue norther dips down and causes an overuse of power for heat, with summer doing the same with the need for air-conditioning, causing an overload of the grid not properly maintained by the profit-hungry utilities and...

[LeftInTX]

21. Church's Texas Chicken is HQ in Atlanta! Popeye's Louisiana Chicken is HQ in Miami.

It used to just be called Church's, but their overseas locations (which are primarily in Muslim countries) is called Texas Chicken.

They recently changed their name Church's Texas Chicken to honor their Texas tradition

It was acquired by Popeyes in 1989. And then it just bounced around. Have no idea when it moved to Atlanta.


Church's Texas Chicken trades as Texas Chicken or Church's Chicken in many countries
Founded April 17, 1952; 72 years ago in San Antonio, Texas
Founder George W. Church Sr.
Headquarters Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church's_Texas_Chicken


It's shitty chicken anyway...LOL! I hate to call something ghetto, but...the one near me is... It's next door to a card skimming gas station that no long sells gas. I last ate there maybe 15 years ago and you could smell the grease and it was all burnt.

https://texaschicken.com/

We’re the taste of Texas and we can’t be mimicked. We’re real but not boring. Simple but not basic. Familiar but always surprising. That’s why no matter the day, no matter who you’re with, you’re eager to c’mon over, give your chicken a spicy jalapeño squeeze, and share some hearty sides. It’s why our taste always delivers, time and again. Why our food means more than hand-crafted chicken meals that harken back to simpler times. It means wide-open spaces, brought to you by people who value tradition and value what’s real, fresh and full of flavor. Our tradition is Texas. And it’s yours for the excitement. Every day, with every craveable bite.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popeyes

Founded June 12, 1972; 52 years ago (as Chicken on the Run)
Arabi, Louisiana, United States
Founder Al Copeland
Headquarters Miami, Florida, United States

[BumRushDaShow]

24. So far, Church's is still Church's here in Philly

I suppose they might change it (haven't looked closely at the one near me to see if they did). We have this "thing" here about Texas, mostly due to the Eagles - Cowboys rivalry

One of the big auto dealers even registered a website called - https://dallasstillsucks.com that redirects to the dealership webpage!

My local supermarket actually has their own roasted and fried chicken and wings (and has even done some flavors) in the deli and they have "specials", so I have been getting that.

[LeftInTX]

54. Hee, hee. I think they've gone out of business

Google maps from 2023 and 2024 shows that one of the buildings has the signs, but appears vacant. (lovely)
The other location from 2019, was still serving "food"......

The location search for Church's does not include PA.

Church's is just gross.

Oh well I'm glad Church's moved. We're already home of a grungy urban legend known as Fred's Fish Fry.

[Mawspam2]

5. Doesn't matter.

I can get better fried chicken at any craptacular local gas station. My local KFC franchisee doesn't even carry the full menu. Overpriced AND inferior.

[Ursus Rex]

7. I would imagine that their base is mostly overseas at this point.

Particularly Asia, but also UK/Europe. The Japanese are often fanatical about KFC, and it's a big part of Christmas for them. From what I've heard, the quality and variety there are spectacular.

[zorbasd]

29. Oh yeah, the quality of these American corporate

Fast food restaurants located around the world, Europe in my experience, is far, far better than here at home, hands down. Why is that?

[Bengus81]

11. Ridiculously over priced--at least where I live. Unaffordable...........

[Mosby]

17. It's not just them.

Without using the apps and "dollar menus" fast food meal prices are often as high as a fast casual restaurant. I ordered a filet of fish meal at a McDonald's the other day in north Scottsdale and it was almost 12 bucks.

[Oopsie Daisy]

18. Same here. But I always pre-order on the app. It's easier to find the best deals *

* and redeem coupons and other offers. That's always cheaper than the drive-thru or ordering at the register.

I've also noticed that the prices VARY noticeably between locations. There are three KFC locations in a semi-circle radius around me... and the 2nd furthest one has the lowest prices. So I'll drive a little further (maybe a mile) to get a better deal.

[Akoto]

37. Very popular in Japan. It's considered a holiday tradition to eat KFC there.

Like, so much so that you'd best make reservations. To be fair, it does look better on YouTube!

[Henry203]

8. I have been to HQ in Kentucky multiple times

I did a project where I replaced every thermostat in every company store. This was to control the temperture from corporate. It was a pretty big building with a kitchen to the right when you came in and they would test new products there. They are only taking a hundred. Many people are being alid off.

[JCMach1]

9. Corporate shite move. Also came with a return to office notice

So essentially eliminate jobs and combine services with rest of Yum! Brands

[Wonder Why]

13. A whole new meaning to TFC.

[LeftInTX]

23. There is already a Texas Chicken. Church's Chicken rebranded as Church's Texas Chicken in the Americas.

Founded in Texas in 1952. Bought out by Popeyes in 1989

DBA as Texas Chicken overseas.

[tonekat]

14. More reason to buy Popeye's chicken

Fine KFC, go to TX. We have alternatives.

[Oopsie Daisy]

16. Too spicy for me. But popular around here... there's always a line.

[LeftInTX]

22. Popeye's is HQ in Miami..LOL

[Wifes husband]

51. Publix

Publix has damn good fried chicken

[Oopsie Daisy]

15. It will take me a long time to get accustomed to calling it TFC.

[FSogol]

19. They're moving to the Measles State and all their dreams will come true!

[Trust_Reality]

26. The Measles State - Ha

I like it.

[kimbutgar]

20. I am so proud to say I have not spent a dime in KFC for easily 25 years

All these corporations moving to Texas are not going to get the best qualified employees. And it might be the end of kfc is someone gets bird flu from eating a chicken they brought from kfc in a state that doesn’t regulate poultry farms. And with government that is doing away with food safety regulations.

What’s the worst that can go wrong?

[Simeon Salus]

25. Locally broasted chicken is better

KFC has nothing I like, and all fast-food is ridiculously priced.

[FSogol]

33. I'm in Northern VA, the Korean Fried Chicken is 100 times better.

[Prairie Gates]

27. Louisville is in real trouble as a city

The University has been defunded almost to the ground. Cigarettes are gone. With Yum leaving, what's really left there? They can't get by on Churchill Downs year round.

[BumRushDaShow]

32. Kentucky bourbon (there are some distilleries there)

at least until tariffs on Canada start and Canada starts removing it.

[Prairie Gates]

35. Yeah, I was going to add bourbon tours

Still seems slim pickings.

[BumRushDaShow]

40. Well this is there (not far away from Louisville)

https://arkencounter.com/tickets/





There was a lawsuit filed about 7 years ago about the flood damage to the site - Lawsuit after flood damage at Noah's Ark attraction in Kentucky

One of my BIL's is from Dayton and during one of his trips "home" (he has a sister, brother, nieces, nephews, and grandnieces/nephews still in OH) he wanted to go see it, so he dragged my sis and nephew, and they sent pics. NONE Of them are MAGats (the opposite in fact), but he is Catholic so...

[wolfie001]

46. Biggest piece of horsecrap. Ugly, stupid waste of resources

That shit-brain Ken Ham What a jack-ass. Sorry, had to vent

[The Mouth]

28. The garbage they sell now has no relationship to what it originally was.

Kentucky Fried Chicken was delicious and reasonably priced. KFC is some kind of garbage that might or might not contain chicken or something genetically related to it.

[purr-rat beauty]

30. And the repubs bitch of states and cities with lost industry, jobs, and urban decay

Will they blame The repub leadership of Kentucky for this?

Not that I care, I don't eat KFC and have only been to texass and kentucky a handful of times.

[dweller]

31. Because nothing sounds more yummy

than Plano Fried Chicken , Hooeey !

😬



✌🏻

[Basso8vb]

34. Does Texas do anything other than bend over and present to corporate America?

[bluestarone]

36. Heads up to Texas people

KFC has really gotten BAD!! Taste like crap.

[IronLionZion]

41. Texas Fried Chicken

[niyad]

42. Won't miss it. My King Soopers does MUCH better fried chicken for MUCH

less, and it tastes MUCH better.

Have not eaten kfc for years, certainly will not be doing so now.

[live love laugh]

43. Ancestral? I thought that applied to living things ...

[BumRushDaShow]

44. Well if your food starts doing this

then you can see why!

[live love laugh]

47. lol

[ancianita]

45. Good to know. The last 15 years I've always looked at where products are made and refuse to buy anything made in TX

or in Kansas. Both states are Koch oligarch strongholds. I only buy products made in blue states.

[LudwigPastorius]

48. Yum! Brands...

Anything but

They own three of the worst fast food joints in the U.S.

If they could acquire Jack in the Box, they'd have the superfecta.

[Xolodno]

49. Ran into a Church's Chicken not long ago. I'll I could think "they still exist?!"

Parents went there all the time when I was a teen, but then they started disappearing.

KFC is just way too over priced. Only went to a Popye's once, didn't care for it. May have been just a bad location.

Usually I get fried chicken from the supermarket as they cook it up fresh, tastes better and is cheaper. El Pollo Loca is starting to get up there in price. And I went to Taco Bell because we were really hungry and I knew it would be fast. How on earth we could spend $40 for dinner in that place is beyond me. Won't bother with that again.

I usually prefer small chains as they keep the quality. There was one that used to compete with Denny's in Oregon and when heading up by car we would stop for breakfast. But as usual, they got bought out when someone offered and insane amount of money. Quality, service, etc. went all down hill and went BK with them forced to close all locations.

[BigmanPigman]

50. When I grew up in the Philly area it was called Gino's

I didn't know KFC was different from Gino's after I moved fro the area.

[BumRushDaShow]

52. I lived near a Gino's and had a bunch of birthday parties there

This was before there were any McDonald's where I lived. They had a great catchy jingle!

Some history of it and a restart -

A set of their old commercials -

Our Gino's became a Roy Rogers and then closed (and became a series of different diners over the years). I think what is "KFC" came later with the sale to Yum! Brands to be a standalone thing.

[BigmanPigman]

53. Ha! I love the tv commercials

Now I'm going to go and mail Soupy Sales a dollar bill.

[BumRushDaShow]

55. LOL

(some of the comedians back in the day had some wild stage names - Soupy Sales, Red Buttons, Redd Foxx and Flip Wilson)