Kentucky Fried Chicken(KFC): A Detailed Discussion

Kentucky Fried Chicken, popularly known as KFC is a food chain that is highly popular among chicken lovers all over the world and Bangalore is no stranger to it. The brand has a very interesting background, it has earned popularity by offering quality and delicious food consistently throughout the world. The popularity of this food chain is so profound, that when merely the name of fried chicken wings is mentioned all we can think of is an outlet of this brand. There is such an interesting story behind the foundation of this brand along with so many fun facts that are not known to many. So without further ado, let us talk about how the brand was built from scratch. We will also talk about some lesser-known fun facts about the brand and we are sure by the end of this blog you will know the brand better and you will be hungry: hungry for chicken! 

The Story Behind

This food chain began in Utah (U.S.A.) by the famous Colonel Harland Sanders. A unique original recipe of fried chicken was crafted by Colonel Sanders in the year 1940 using 11 herbs and some other flavors. He used to serve this dish along with others at the motel and restaurant he owned. Chicken made by him became popular very quickly, and he became very famous. This is what led Kentucky Governor Ruby Laffoon to give him the title of ‘colonel’ for his invaluable contribution to the state’s cuisine. He disclosed his secret recipe to his friend Pete Harman who was operating one of the city’s biggest restaurants at that time. He opened the first official franchise restaurant of the brand in the year 1952. 

After that, a lot of restaurants wanted to buy the franchises of this restaurant. In a matter of time, there were multiple stores all over the country. The restaurants also expanded internationally and Col. Sanders used to visit the restaurants all over the world alone and didn’t have much support in doing it. By the year 1964, more than 600 outlets were a part of this restaurant chain. At this point, Sanders sold his interest in the company for $ 2 million and remained as one of the key spokespersons. His recipe is still a secret and it is used to date to cook chicken, along with his techniques of cooking. Col. Sanders is remembered as a legendary entrepreneur and is a true example of never giving up. Now there are over 50 restaurants of KFC in Bangalore alone, can you imagine that? 

Some Fun Facts: 

We just discussed the story behind the brand, but do you think you know enough about the restaurant chain? With so many outlets around you in Bangalore, we are sure you are more curious. Let us change your mind with these fun facts about the brand: 

• The original recipe of Col. Sanders is still a super secret and is kept under lock and key in the company headquarters. Only a few members of the company have access to this recipe. (Just thinking about the recipe is enough for the hunger to show up! We know you can relate.) 
• The first restaurant by the brand was opened in the year 1952 in North Cabin, Kentucky. 
• It was called Kentucky Fried Chicken until 1991. Kyle Craig who was the president of KFC USA decided that they needed to remove the word ‘Fried’ from the brand name to avoid the unhealthy connotations associated with the word.
• The brand has a presence in over 145 countries making it one of the biggest food chains on a global scale. 
• The brand has both vegetarian and vegan options in select locations. The availability of these variations varies from country to country. 
• Chicken at this restaurant chain is cooked in a pressure cooker to avoid the deep frying of chicken. 
• Buckets of fried chicken by this brand are enjoyed all over Japan during Christmas. It is a tradition over there and there is a huge demand for chicken buckets during the Christmas season all over the country. It is due to a very successful Christmas advertising campaign from 1974 which was all about having ‘Kentucky for Christmas!’.
• In the year 2019, KFC & Pizza Hut joined forces and launched Popcorn Chicken Pizza which was accepted by chicken lovers very well. They made a lot of dreams come true with that collaboration. 
• There is both a video game and a comic about Col. Sanders (Who Knew?) 
• The famous slogan by the brand ‘It’s Finger Lickin’ Good’ was coined in the year 1956 and has been an integral part of the brand identity ever since. 
• The slogan ‘It’s Finger Lickin’ Good’ proved to be a mishap when it was translated into Chinese when the brand opened its first few outlets in China. So In China, the brand started using ‘Eat Your Fingers Off’ as a replacement. 
• There are several social initiatives by the brand including the KFC Foundation, which is focused on education, disaster relief, and community development. This organization has also made notable contributions to fighting hunger on a global scale by partnering with other organizations. 

A Final Word:

In conclusion, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) was once a small restaurant opened by a man with a passion for sharing his unique recipe with the world. That man became one of the most renowned entrepreneurs in the world, and his business became the leading food chain on a global scale. His original recipe is still a secret, and maybe that is the driving force behind the success of this restaurant chain. The journey of this brand is very interesting from one outlet to a presence in 145 countries. The unique identity of this brand is nothing short of legendary. If you are also a chicken lover from Bangalore and like to indulge in delicious chicken meals regularly, you should try ordering KFC’s dishes at home with the help of food delivery brands like Swiggy. You can easily order them from the comfort of your home in Bangalore and enjoy them.