KFC, the fast-food chain previously known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is moving its U.S. corporate headquarters from Louisville, Kentucky, to Plano, Texas. This change, announced by its parent company Yum Brands, will affect approximately 100 corporate employees, with additional remote workers also relocating. Relocation support will be provided to those making the move.
This decision is part of a broader strategy by Yum Brands to establish dual headquarters. Plano will house the corporate offices for KFC and Pizza Hut, while Taco Bell and Habit Burger & Grill will remain based in Irvine, California.
The move comes as many companies have chosen Texas for its low taxes and business-friendly policies in recent years. Yum Brands believes this relocation will help the company grow sustainably and improve its ability to serve customers, employees, franchisees, and shareholders. David Gibbs, CEO of Yum Brands, emphasized that the new structure would foster greater collaboration across the company’s brands.
Despite the benefits seen by Yum, the move has drawn criticism from Kentucky’s governor, Andy Beshear. In a statement to the Associated Press, Beshear expressed disappointment, arguing that KFC’s founder, Colonel Harland Sanders, would not have supported the decision. “This company’s name starts with Kentucky, and it has marketed our state’s heritage and culture in the sale of its product,” Beshear said.
KFC’s ties to Kentucky run deep. The company’s roots trace back to the 1930s when Sanders first began selling fried chicken at a service station in Corbin, Kentucky. Today, Sanders’ face is synonymous with KFC, which operates over 24,000 restaurants in more than 145 countries worldwide.
Since the onset of the pandemic, many U.S. companies have relocated, with Texas cities like Austin emerging as major hubs.
A report by real estate firm CBRE highlights the state’s business-friendly climate as a key factor in this shift.
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