The Success Story of KFC

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25 Feb 2022
6 min read

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KFC is the best chicken restaurant in the world. It's been here for more than five decades, serving 20 billion pieces of fried chicken. Here are some valuable takeaways from KFC's success story to help you succeed in your ventures. #TWN

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Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), is an American fast-food restaurant chain that specializes in fried chicken and whose original recipe is well-known in the world. This company has been a part of American culture for nearly five decades. It’s been so successful that it’s estimated to have served over 20 billion pieces of fried chicken! In this article, we will explore the success story of KFC and how it became such a popular brand.

KFC Success Story

KFC was founded by Colonel Harland Sanders, who tried his luck in different professions around 1930. It’s estimated that about 5 billion people have visited a KFC restaurant at some point, and on any given day, 8% of the Earth’s population will visit a KFC. It didn’t happen overnight, though. From humble beginnings as a small restaurant with just $100 in the capital, KFC grew into an international powerhouse through some careful planning and some luck. In 1936, Colonel Sanders had what he called his "eureka moment" when he put together a new fried chicken recipe for his restaurant that made it extra crispy. This discovery was great for his business because people loved the new recipe, and there were no other restaurants nearby that offered anything similar. However, Colonel Sanders lost everything he owned when his home was destroyed after being raided during World War II. He went on to serve as a Kentucky state police officer before eventually getting back into the food industry again.

The next time Colonel Sanders tried to make it big with fried chicken was in 1952 when he started franchising his recipe for restaurants. Additionally, we will share some valuable takeaways from KFC success story to help you succeed in your own ventures.

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What Makes a Successful Company?

After all these years, KFC is still one of the most well-known brands in the world. We can probably thank Colonel Sanders for that.

What made Colonel Sanders so successful?

1) He set up a system to test his recipes and then improved them until they were perfect.

2) He focused on quality ingredients.

3) He was always open to new ideas and innovations in order to keep up with trends.

4) He gave back to the community by sponsoring Little League teams and donating food after natural disasters.

5) He always respectably presented himself. It included dressing in a suit and tie, having his hair neatly combed, and keeping his fingernails clean at all times (he even had special nail clippers for this purpose).

6) His mission was clear: "We cook chicken right!"

Why was KFC so successful?

KFC was founded in 1930 by Harland Sanders, better known as Colonel Sanders. The idea for the restaurant came to Sanders because he wanted to capitalize on his chicken recipe that was originally used for cooking chickens at home. Sanders began franchising his business in 1952 and quickly found success because of the restaurant’s exclusive fried chicken recipe. At one point, KFC had over 600 franchise stores in the United States alone! 

The unique use of spices like pepper and salt makes KFC’s fried chicken stand out among other fast-food brands. Colonel Sanders would often say that there should only be 11 ingredients in the recipe: “11 herbs and spices,” but many would argue that there are 12. Regardless of whether or not there are 12 spices, it is clear that each one has an important role in making KFC’s fried chicken what it is today. KFC was successful because it created an authentic brand with a memorable name and specific recipes so customers could always expect high-quality food when they visit one of their restaurants.

How can we become successful?

KFC has been a staple in the fast food and restaurant industries since 1930 and has successfully become one of the world's most recognized brands. The company has remained successful by maintaining its true to its original recipe, resisting any pressure to change it. The original recipe is not only loved by customers but is what made KFC famous in the first place. So many people love this chicken that as of last year they served over 20 billion pieces! That’s a whole lot of chicken!

KFC has been a staple in the fast food and restaurant industries since 1930 and has successfully become one of the world's most recognized brands. The company has remained successful by maintaining its true to its original recipe, resisting any pressure to change it. The original recipe is not only loved by customers but is what made KFC famous in the first place. So many people love this chicken. As of last year, they served over 20 billion pieces! That’s a whole lot of chicken!

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Conclusion

It has been demonstrated time and time again that the recipe for success is not the same for every person, company, or brand. No matter your age or experience level, many different lessons can be learned from the success story of KFC. One of the most valuable lessons is that it doesn't matter if you are the smartest, wealthiest, best-looking, or most talented person in the room. If you have a good idea, take action on it, and are willing to work hard to see it through, you can achieve your dreams.

“It’s not about being the best. It’s about being the best you.” - Ray Kroc

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