10164
/ 3
Min Read
When you think of “Bucket of Chicken”, the only brand that comes to mind is KFC. Kentucky Fried Chicken aka KFC was started by a budding entrepreneur by the name Harland Sanders 75 years ago. The man started at the age of 65, when most retire, and built a global empire out of fried chicken.
He created finger licking good recipes, with a list of 11 secret herbs and spices scratched out on the back of his kitchen. Today KFC boasts of nearly 18,875 outlets in 120 countries. There are over 350 KFC Restaurants in India across more than 100 cities.
The Story of World’s Most Popular Chicken Restaurant
The story of famous “Fried chicken” started in 1930 in Corbin, Kentucky, where Colonel Harland Sanders was operating a service station when he began cooking for hungry travellers who stopped in for gas.
At the age of 65, where most people believe in the sanctimony of retirement, the Colonel opted to sell the world on his cool new chicken recipe.
In 1936, Kentucky Governor Ruby Laffoon made Harland Sanders an honorary Kentucky Colonel in recognition of his contributions to the State's cuisine. It was in 1939 when Colonel Sanders perfects his top-secret recipe of 11 Herbs and Spices and the basic cooking technique that made both the Colonel and Kentucky Fried Chicken famous.
When the Number of Franchisees Surpassed the Number of Rejections
The formulation of the recipe was just the beginning. With little in terms of means at his disposal, Colonel Sanders travelled door to door at houses and restaurants all over his local area. He wanted to partner with someone to help promote his chicken recipe. Legend has it that Colonel Sanders heard 1009 "NO"s before he heard his first "YES".
He went to many restaurateurs before his recipe was accepted. His recipe was first franchised to Pete Harman in South Salt Lake, Utah, in 1952. To market the recipe the restaurant came up with the name ‘Kentucky Fried Chicken’ and the rest was history. By 1964, Colonel Sanders had 600 franchises selling his trademark chicken. KFC continued to grow globally, but Colonel Sanders has always been the face of KFC.
Today, the chain has expanded to 18,875 outlets across 120 countries and territories.
Franchising the Finger-Licking Experience
There are over 350 KFC Restaurants in India across more than 100 cities and the brand is confident of growing their presence further. The group has been actively franchising since 2002 and has reorganised the KFC business under larger, well-capitalised franchisees since 2015 to boost growth.
Samir Menon, MD, KFC India, said, “We are in play with both equity and well-capitalised franchisees, and these are the twin engines that drive our growth.”
KFC has now become one of the largest restaurant franchisees in the world as well as in India. And, enlistment of KFC into the Top 100 Franchisebrandsin India by India’s no.1 franchising magazine – The Franchising World –further validates this.
Franchise Facts
Year of Establishment (In India): 2002
Total Outlets: 350+
Area: 2,000 sq. feet
Franchise 100
The Franchising World, India’s no.1 franchising magazine, identifies the TOP 100 franchise brands and celebrates their achievements every year in its anniversary issue. The issue highlights the established Indian and big global brands that are increasing their positioning in India along with the new-age brands that are lucrative and profitable; expanding fast, and can act as a reference guide for budding entrepreneurs and investors across India.
Franchise Top 100 is the one-stop destination to know everything about the franchise industry, which establishes authority and strength to evaluate the growth of the franchise industry.
