KFC
KFC, originally known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is one of the largest fast-food restaurant chains in the world specializing in fried chicken. The company was founded by Harland David Sanders, widely known as Colonel Sanders, whose cooking techniques and seasoning recipe became the foundation of the brand. Sanders began serving fried chicken at a roadside restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky during the 1930s while operating a service station. His chicken recipe, which used a blend of herbs and spices combined with pressure frying, helped create a distinctive taste and faster cooking process compared with traditional pan frying. By the early 1950s, Sanders began franchising his fried chicken concept to restaurant operators across the United States. The franchise model allowed independent operators to sell chicken using Sanders' recipe while paying a royalty for the brand and cooking method. This approach enabled rapid expansion across the country. The first KFC franchise opened in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1952, marking the start of the brand's growth as a national chain. In 1964, Sanders sold the company to a group of investors led by John Y. Brown Jr. and Jack C. Massey, who expanded the brand internationally. KFC continued to grow throughout the late twentieth century and eventually became part of larger corporate groups. The brand was acquired by PepsiCo in 1986 and later became part of Yum Brands, a restaurant company formed in 1997 that manages multiple global fast-food brands. Today KFC operates thousands of restaurants across more than 140 countries and territories. The company relies heavily on franchising, with most restaurants operated by franchise partners. Its menu focuses on fried chicken products prepared using proprietary seasoning and pressure-frying techniques. KFC remains one of the most recognizable quick-service restaurant brands globally and continues expanding in emerging markets while adapting menus to local consumer preferences.