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