KFC, the fast-food restaurant chain formerly known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is relocating its corporate headquarters in the US from Louisville, Kentucky, to Plano, Texas, as announced by its parent company, Yum Brands.
Approximately 100 corporate employees and several remote workers will be expected to move and will be provided with relocation assistance.
Yum Brands’ decision is part of a strategy to establish two headquarters for its primary brands – KFC and Pizza Hut will be based in Plano, while Taco Bell and Habit Burger & Grill will stay in Irvine, California.
In recent years, many companies have opted to move to Texas due to the state’s favorable tax rates and business-friendly regulations.
«These changes position us for sustainable growth and will enable us to better serve our customers, employees, franchisees, and shareholders,» stated David Gibbs, the CEO of Yum Brands.
Yum also anticipates that this plan will enhance collaboration among its employees and brands.
The statement also mentioned that Yum will maintain its corporate offices and the KFC Foundation in Louisville.
Kentucky’s Governor, Andy Beshear, has voiced his disapproval of the decision to relocate KFC’s headquarters, according to a statement provided to the Associated Press.
«I am disappointed by this choice and believe the company’s founder would share the sentiment,» Mr. Beshear reportedly stated.
«This company bears the name Kentucky, and it has leveraged our state’s history and culture in its product offerings.»
KFC has a historical connection to the state, dating back to the 1930s when Colonel Harland Sanders started selling fried chicken at a service station in Corbin.
Today, Sanders’ image adorns the storefronts of over 24,000 KFC restaurants across 145 countries and territories globally.
Since the onset of the pandemic, numerous US companies have transferred their headquarters. According to a report by real estate services firm CBRE, cities like Austin in Texas have been particularly attractive due to the state’s business-friendly atmosphere.