KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) as a franchise was founded in 1952 when the first KFC franchise opened near Salt Lake City, Utah. The founder, Colonel Harland Sanders, had been selling fried chicken since the 1930s, but the franchising that formed the recognizable KFC brand began in 1952. Thus, as of 2025, KFC as a franchise is 73 years old.
Key Dates in KFC History:
- Colonel Sanders started selling chicken in the 1930s.
- The first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise opened in 1952 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Colonel Sanders sold his original restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky, and focused on franchising starting mid-1950s.
- KFC became internationally recognized and expanded in the 1960s.
This means KFC as a formal franchised fast-food chain is over seven decades old as of 2025.
