Are you ready to explore the world of the iconic fast-food chain, KFC? From its secret blend of 11 herbs and spices to its unforgettable slogan “Finger Lickin’ Good,” there’s no denying the impact that KFC has had on the food industry.
But did you know that KFC was not the Colonel’s first venture into the food business?
Or that KFC has a massive following in Japan, with unique menu items not found anywhere else in the world? In this post, we’re going to take a deep dive into KFC and unveil 15 fascinating facts that you may not have known before.
So buckle up, grab some napkins, and get ready to satisfy your hunger for knowledge about KFC!
KFC’s original name was “Sanders Cafe” after its founder, Colonel Harland Sanders.
1 The restaurant was founded by Colonel Harland Sanders in the 1930s in Corbin, Kentucky, and it was initially named “Sanders Cafe”. The restaurant later expanded, and the name was changed to “Kentucky Fried Chicken” in 1952 when the first franchise was opened. The abbreviation “KFC” was adopted in 1991 to reflect the restaurant’s focus on more than just fried chicken.
The recipe for KFC’s Original Recipe chicken is a closely guarded secret, and only a select few executives at KFC know the exact combination of herbs and spices used to make the chicken.
2 The recipe is said to be stored in a secure vault in Louisville, Kentucky, and only a small number of people have access to it. The company has always been very secretive about the recipe, and in fact, Colonel Sanders himself never revealed the exact ingredients.
Instead, he would ship a pre-mixed blend of 11 herbs and spices to KFC restaurants, where the chicken was prepared using the secret recipe. Today, the blend of herbs and spices is made by two different suppliers, who mix the ingredients separately before they are combined to make the final product.
KFC, formerly known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, has been serving up its famous fried chicken for over 90 years.
3 The company was founded by Colonel Harland Sanders in the 1930s in Corbin, Kentucky. The first official KFC franchise opened in South Salt Lake, Utah, in 1952. The franchise was opened by a man named Pete Harman, who convinced Colonel Sanders to franchise his secret recipe for fried chicken.
The success of the South Salt Lake franchise led to the rapid expansion of the KFC brand across the United States and eventually around the world.
The iconic “Finger Lickin’ Good” slogan has been used by KFC since 1956.
4 The slogan was first introduced in a television advertisement that featured people eating KFC’s fried chicken and licking their fingers afterward. The advertisement was a hit, and the slogan quickly became associated with the KFC brand.
Over the years, KFC has used variations of the slogan in its advertising campaigns, but the basic message has remained the same: KFC’s chicken is so good that you’ll want to lick your fingers clean.
KFC has a massive following in Japan, and the company has adapted its menu to suit Japanese tastes and traditions.
5 One example of this is the “Kentucky Fried Christmas” or “Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii” in Japanese, which has become a popular tradition in Japan. The tradition dates back to the 1970s when KFC launched a Christmas-themed advertising campaign in Japan, which included a special Christmas-themed bucket. Since then, KFC has become a popular choice for Christmas dinner in Japan, and the company offers special holiday menus and limited-edition items during the Christmas season.
Other unique menu items that are popular in Japan include KFC’s “Shrimp Tsuisuta” and “Fried Chicken with Soy Sauce and Butter” which are not found on the regular KFC menus in other countries.
The KFC logo prominently features the image of Colonel Harland Sanders, who founded Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in 1952.
6 The logo is designed to pay homage to Colonel Sanders and his legacy, as he was a key figure in the early years of the company and is still widely associated with the brand today. The logo typically depicts a portrait of Colonel Sanders with his distinctive white hair and beard, wearing his iconic white suit and black tie.
Over the years, the KFC logo has undergone some changes and updates, but the image of Colonel Sanders has remained a constant and recognizable symbol of the brand.
The first KFC franchise in the United Kingdom was opened in Preston, Lancashire by a businessman named Raymond Allen.
7 The franchise was a success, and it led to the opening of many more KFC restaurants across the country in the years that followed.
KFC did open its first restaurant in Canada in 1968, which was five years after the first international restaurant in the UK. However, it’s worth noting that KFC had already been expanding rapidly across the United States prior to its international expansion, with over 600 restaurants in the US by the early 1960s.
As of 2021, KFC has over 22,000 locations in more than 135 countries around the world.
8 KFC is one of the largest fast-food chains in the world and has a significant global presence. Its international expansion began in the mid-1960s, and since then, it has continued to grow and expand into new markets.
The company has adapted its menu and operations to suit local tastes and cultures, which has contributed to its success and popularity in many different countries. Despite facing competition from other fast-food chains, KFC remains a popular choice for consumers seeking fast, convenient, and tasty meals around the world.
While KFC is primarily known for its fried chicken, the fast-food chain also offers a variety of other menu items that are popular with customers.
9 These include mashed potatoes and gravy, biscuits, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, and other side dishes. Additionally, KFC has expanded its menu over the years to include other types of chicken dishes, such as chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, and chicken wings. Some KFC locations also offer non-chicken items, such as salads and desserts.
Overall, KFC’s menu has evolved and expanded over time to offer a range of options that cater to different tastes and preferences, while still maintaining its focus on delicious, satisfying fried chicken.
KFC does have a “secret menu” that includes a number of creative and unconventional items that are not listed on the regular menu.
10 Some of the most popular items on the KFC secret menu include the “Triple Down” sandwich, which is a sandwich made with three fried chicken filets, bacon, and cheese, with sauces and toppings of your choice, and the “Famous Bowl,” which is a bowl filled with mashed potatoes, corn, fried chicken, and gravy, all mixed together.
Other items on the KFC secret menu may vary depending on the location and the preferences of the individual restaurant. Some examples of other items that have been rumoured to be on the KFC secret menu include the “Ultimate Zinger” burger, which is a burger made with a Zinger fillet, cheese, and all the fixings, and the “Double Down Dog,” which is a hot dog that is wrapped in a fried chicken filet instead of a traditional bun.
It’s worth noting that while KFC’s secret menu items are not officially listed on the menu, many of them have gained a following among devoted fans of the chain who enjoy trying out new and unusual food combinations. However, not all KFC locations may be willing or able to make secret menu items, so it’s always best to check with your local restaurant before ordering.
In 2006, KFC did launch its own line of sunscreen, which it called “KFC Extra Crispy Sunscreen.”
11 The product was designed as a promotional item to promote KFC’s “extra crispy” fried chicken, and it came in a bottle that was designed to look like a KFC bucket of chicken.
The sunscreen itself was formulated with a fried chicken scent that was meant to be reminiscent of KFC’s famous extra crispy fried chicken. The product was marketed with a tongue-in-cheek tagline that read, “We know you love the chicken…now it’s time to love the sunscreen,” and it was available for a limited time on the KFC website.
The launch of the sunscreen caused some controversy, with some people questioning whether the product was a legitimate sunscreen or just a publicity stunt. KFC defended the product, stating that it was indeed a real sunscreen with an SPF of 30, and that it had been independently tested to ensure its effectiveness. However, the product was ultimately discontinued and is no longer available for purchase.
KFC did suspend its famous slogan “Finger Lickin’ Good” in 2020 due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.
12 The slogan, which had been in use for over 60 years, was temporarily retired in response to public health recommendations to promote good hygiene practices and reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
In a statement released at the time, KFC acknowledged that the slogan was no longer appropriate in the current climate and that it would be suspending its use until further notice. The company stated that it was important to prioritize the safety of its customers and staff, and that it would be exploring new ways to communicate its brand message in the meantime.
While KFC has not yet announced when it plans to bring back the “Finger
KFC has been involved in a number of charitable efforts over the years, both in the United States and around the world.
13 One of the company’s most notable partnerships has been with the World Food Programme (WFP), which is a United Nations agency that works to combat hunger and malnutrition around the world.
KFC has worked with the WFP on a number of initiatives aimed at raising awareness and funds for hunger relief efforts. For example, in 2015, KFC launched a global campaign called “Add Hope,” which aimed to raise money to support the WFP’s school meals program in developing countries. Through the campaign, KFC pledged to donate a portion of the proceeds from every meal sold to the program, with the goal of providing meals to millions of children in need.
In addition to its partnership with the WFP, KFC has also worked with a number of local organizations and charities in the communities where it operates. For example, KFC franchisees in the United States have worked with organizations like Feeding America and the Salvation Army to support hunger relief efforts in their local communities.
Overall, KFC has demonstrated a commitment to giving back through its charitable initiatives, and the company continues to explore new ways to make a positive impact in the world.
The KFC Yum! Center is a multi-purpose arena located in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, and it is named after Yum! Brands, which is the parent company of KFC and several other fast food chains.
14 The arena is home to the University of Louisville men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as numerous concerts and other events.
The naming rights to the arena were secured by Yum! Brands in 2010, and the company paid $13.5 million per year for a 10-year period to have the arena named after its flagship brand, KFC. The agreement was later extended in 2016, and the arena is now set to be named the KFC Yum! Center through 2040.
The KFC Yum! Center is a state-of-the-art facility that can seat up to 22,090 people, and it has hosted a number of high-profile events since its opening in 2010. In addition to basketball games and concerts, the arena has also been used for conventions, trade shows, and other events, and it has become an important cultural and economic center for the city of Louisville.
KFC has made numerous appearances in movies and TV shows over the years, often as a product placement or as part of the background setting.
15 Some of the most notable examples of KFC’s appearances in popular media include:
- “Breaking Bad”: KFC was featured in several episodes of the hit TV series “Breaking Bad,” including a scene where the main character, Walter White, throws a pizza onto the roof of his house in a fit of rage. The pizza had been ordered from KFC’s competitor, Pizza Hut, but the scene helped to boost KFC’s visibility nonetheless.
- “Stranger Things”: In the second season of the popular Netflix series “Stranger Things,” the character Dustin can be seen eating KFC in several scenes. KFC also launched a tie-in promotion with the show, featuring a limited-time menu item called the “Eleven Meal,” named after one of the show’s main characters.
- “Wayne’s World”: In the 1992 comedy “Wayne’s World,” the main characters, Wayne and Garth, visit a KFC restaurant in a scene that has become iconic among fans of the movie.
These are just a few examples of KFC’s many appearances in popular media over the years, and the company’s brand has become synonymous with fast food and American culture as a result.
