Fried Chicken says goodbye to Kentucky: This state is the new KFC home in the US

TFC is the new KFC. Fast food restaurant Kentucky Fried Chicken is on the move from its home state 94 years after founder Colonel Harland Sanders started selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in North Corbin during the Great Depression.

Parent company Yum! Brands, which also owns Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, have revealed KFC US’ headquarters will be moving from Louisville, Kentucky to Plano, Texas, which is already home to the KFC - and Pizza Hut - Global HQ.

As part of the change, approximately 100 KFC US staff members will be required to relocate in the next six months, as will around 90 US-based remote workers.

Why KFC is leaving Kentucky

The reason for the move is down to Yum! Brands' desire to have only two brand headquarters in the United States, the other being in Irvine, California. CEO David Gibbs claims “bringing more of our people together on a consistent basis will maximize our unrivaled culture and talent as a competitive advantage”.

Yum! Brands and KFC won’t be completely abandoning Kentucky, however.

The parent company and the KFC Foundation will keep their corporate offices in Louisville open. And Yum! has pledged to provide a $1 million endowment to the College of Business at the University of Louisville to fund Yum!-sponsored scholarships for students throughout Kentucky.

The company also says it aims to build a “first-of-its-kind flagship” KFC restaurant in Louisville, ensuring Kentucky Fried Chicken stays true to its roots.

Texas Friend Chicken just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

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