Early Life and the Birth of KFC
Colonel Harland Sanders was born in 1890 in Henryville, Indiana, and faced hardship early, losing his father at age six and working many odd jobs. He later operated a service station in Corbin, Kentucky, where he began serving fried chicken to travelers, which eventually led to the creation of the KFC brand according to Forbes.
Sanders developed his signature pressure-fried chicken recipe and the famous 11 herbs and spices blend, building a loyal local following before expanding the concept into a franchise model. The first KFC franchise opened in 1952 in Salt Lake City, Utah, marking the start of rapid national growth.
Sale of the Company and Later Life
In 1964, at age 73, Sanders sold the entire KFC corporation to a group of investors led by John Y. Brown Jr. and Jack C. Massey for $2 million, a decision driven by the stress of managing rapid expansion as noted by Britannica.
After the sale, Sanders remained the face of the brand as its official ambassador and continued to visit restaurants, but he no longer controlled operations, recipe changes, or corporate strategy. He lived until 1980, passing away at age 90, and his legacy became inseparable from the global fried chicken market.
KFC's Global Growth and Modern Status
Under new ownership, KFC expanded internationally at an aggressive pace, becoming one of the largest fast food chains in the world with thousands of locations across dozens of countries on the official KFC site.
Today, Yum! Brands, Inc. owns KFC as part of its portfolio, which also includes Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, and the chain continues to rank among the top fast food brands by global revenue and store count per SEC filings.