KFC

KFC, originally Kentucky Fried Chicken, traces its roots to a roadside motel and restaurant in North Corbin, Kentucky. It was March 1930 when Colonel Harland Sanders began serving fried chicken to travelers. By 1939 he had perfected a pressure-cooking method and a secret blend of 11 herbs and spices that would become the brand's signature. The first official franchise opened on September 24, 1952, in South Salt Lake, Utah, operated by Pete Harman. Harman also introduced the iconic chicken bucket in 1957.

In 1964, Sanders sold the company for $2 million to investors led by John Y. Brown Jr. and Jack C. Massey. KFC passed through ownership by Heublein, R.J. Reynolds, and PepsiCo before becoming part of Tricon Global Restaurants in 1997, later renamed Yum! Brands. Today KFC operates over 31,980 locations across 150 countries, making it the world's second-largest restaurant chain by sales after McDonald's. It made history in 1987 as the first Western restaurant chain to open in China, which is now its largest market.

The menu centers on pressure-fried chicken pieces made with the original 11 herbs and spices recipe. Since the 1990s, KFC has expanded to include chicken sandwiches, wraps, fillets, popcorn chicken, and the Double Down. Sides include french fries, coleslaw, and desserts. The brand has faced controversies over animal welfare and trans fats, but remains a global fast-food powerhouse. [edit]