KFC ya later.
The chicken chain formerly known as Kentucky Fried Chicken is leaving its birthplace of Kentucky in favour of a new home in Texas.
KFC’s parent company, Yum! Brands, recently announced that it will be moving its headquarter to the Dallas suburb of Plano, to join the brand’s sister company, Pizza Hut Global.
The planned move is part of Yum! Brands’ larger execution to centralize their U.S. headquarters for their restaurant portfolio, people.com reported. That portfolio includes Taco Bell and Habit Burger & Grill.
Irvine, Calif., is the other centralized location.
“These changes position us for sustainable growth and will help us better serve our customers, employees, franchisees, and shareholders,” Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs said in a news release.
Kentucky’s political leaders were quick to voice their opinions following an announcement they claim is not exactly finger-lickin’ good.
“I am disappointed by this decision and believe the company’s founder (Col. Harland Sanders) would be, too,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a statement to the Associated Press. “This company’s name starts with Kentucky, and it has marketed our state’s heritage and culture in the sale of its product.”
Louisville, Ky. Mayor Craig Greenberg was likewise unhappy with the decision. He said that KFC “was born here and is synonymous with Kentucky.”
Yum! Brands noted that about 100 Louisville-based corporate employees and another 90 remote-based workers are expected to relocate to the Texas campus within the next 18 months and are to receive support for their move.
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The chain’s main headquarters might be shifting to Texas, but KFC isn’t leaving Kentucky entirely. Corporate offices will remain in Louisville in addition to the brand building a “first-of-its-kind flagship restaurant.”
KFC has nearly 30,000 restaurant locations across 145 countries. It started in 1930 as a service station stop in Corbin. Ky.