In 2024, there are at least 29,000 KFC outlets in 147 countries and territories in the world where 10,000 of those stores are in China alone.[1] The first KFC franchise opened in the United States in 1952.[2] The first overseas franchise was established in the United Kingdom in May 1965. A large number of Caribbean and developed Western markets entered by the early 1970s. This was followed by expansion throughout the Middle East and developed Asian markets from the mid-1970s and into the 1980s. China was entered in 1987. Expansions were made into most of Europe and South America in the early 1990s. The most recent area of expansion is Africa, where the company is targeting the continent's growing middle class.
The global operations are overseen by Yum International, which is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. Yum! typically grant a master franchise to a local operator, or take a stake in a joint venture between such a company and itself. In 11 countries, Yum! International manages KFC directly, including China, Russia and India.[4] Worldwide, major franchise holders range from large local conglomerates such as Jardines and Doosan Group, to companies specifically established to run restaurants franchises, such as AmRest. In Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia, the major franchise holders are publicly listed companies. On the other hand, in smaller markets such as some Caribbean islands, the franchises may be operated by a single individual.
KFC opened in Algeria on April 14, 2024, but it was closed by local authorities two days later, because of Algerians protesting against KFC and supporting Palestine as part of the Israeli boycott.[5] However, it opened again without the company logo,[5] and a new outlet opened in the City Center mall in Algiers.
Divested its holdings from 1987 until 1994 to a holding company after U.S. Congress passed a law forbidding U.S. companies from owning South African assets.[24] KFC sold its assets to Devco, which managed the trademark.[25]
17 outlets,[3] first outlet in Marshall Road, Saturn District, Bandar Seri Begawan.[citation needed] Also the first possible foreign fast food chain in Brunei, hence the possible opening year being 1980. Second outlet opened in Battersea Road, Saturn District in 1982. The first outlet after independence opened on 19 January 1984, at Eltingville Road.
10,000 outlets in over 2,000 cities as of March 2024.[37] KFC's largest market. The first Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet opened on Qianmen Street in downtown Beijing in 1987.[38]
The Royal Group and QSR Brands (M) Holdings Sdn Bhd
13 outlets as of 2024.[39] Established in March 2008. KFC is one of Royal Group of Companies Ltd (The Royal Group) business, a partnership with the Malaysian QSR brands and Rightlink Corporation. The Royal Group is one of the largest conglomerates in Cambodia with substantial investments in media, telecommunications, banking, education, property development and trading.
75 outlets.[3] KFC was the first American fast food chain to enter Hong Kong in 1973, with an outlet in Mei Foo Sun Chuen.[41] There were 11 outlets by mid-1974, but by September 1974 many outlets had closed.[42] The remaining 4 outlets were closed in February 1975. KFC misjudged the local market and failed to develop a suitable business model, with its takeout only stores failing to catch on.[43] Chickens imported from China were fed fishmeal, which ruined the taste.[43] The chain was reintroduced by Swire Group in September 1985, with an outlet opened on Jordan Road, at a cost of $3 million.[44] A second outlet was opened on Causeway Bay in 1986.[44] By 1995 there were 17 outlets.[45] Sold to Birdland in 1997.[44]
19 outlets.[3] Americana Group opened the first restaurant in Kurdistan Region at Family Mall; eight outlets can be found in Erbil, one outlet in Duhok and ten outlets in Baghdad
66 outlets. Americana Group opened the first KFC outlet in Kuwait in 1973 marking the brand's debut in the Middle East. In the years that followed, Americana Group expanded the brand's presence across the Middle East and North Africa region.
770 outlets.[3][60] Kentucky Nuggets was conceived in Malaysia and then found its way to KFC worldwide. Today, Kentucky Nuggets is one of KFC's successes.[61] KFC led the chained fast food market in 2011, with 45 percent of value sales.[62] The first KFC outlet was opened in 1973 on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
12 outlets: eight in Kathmandu, at DurbarMargh, Boudha, Thimi, Maharajgunj, Labim Mall, BlueBird mall, Kalanki, Tripureshwar; one in Itahari, one in Bharatpur, one in Hetauda, and one in Lakeside Pokhara.[69]
332 outlets.[3] In June 1994, Manuel U. Agustines obtained the sole franchise over the sale and distribution of KFC products in the Philippines, under the corporate name of Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) Corporation.
84 outlets. First outlet opened on Somerset Road in 1977.[79] 40 stores by 1992, when it was acquired by KFC International.[81] In 2002, KFC Singapore was acquired by KFC (Malaysia) Holdings Bhd.[81] 86 outlets in 2012.[3][82] All Singaporean KFC locations are certified halal.[83]
190 outlets.[3] KFC Korea had a good startoff in the beginning, but experienced a decline in the mid-2000s. Opening its first store in 1984 in Jongno of the capital Seoul, the outlet number has increased with its 100th store at Mokdong of Seoul (1996), and its 200th store near Seoul University (2000).[86] However, KFC's outlet closed due to failing sales, and dipped to around 120 stores by 2009.[87]
As of June 2014, KFC reopened some of its stores and operates 170 outlets in South Korea.[88]
153 outlets.[3] Taiwan's first KFC outlet was opened in the Ximending district of Taipei.[90] It was initially a joint venture between KFC and Uni-President Enterprises Corporation, Taiwan's largest food company, until President sold its stake in 1997. Jardine's acquired full control of the poorly performing KFC Taiwan from Yum! in 2010.[90][91]
27 outlets overall, including 22 outlets in Tashkent, 1 in Kokand, 2 in Andijan, 2 in Samarkand, and 1 in Fergana.[3][100] First outlet opened in Tashkent.
136 outlets.[3] First outlet opened in Ho Chi Minh City.[102]Jardines acquired a 25% stake in the company in 2011.[103]Euromonitor estimated that KFC has 15% of the fast food market by value in 2011, making it the leading company.[104]
>/ref > || Opens Its First Store In St. John's, Continue To Operate Until 1994 when KFC Closed Its Doors Due To Protests. In 1995, It Reopened. That Continue To Operate Until 2005 When KFC Closed Its Doors Again Due To Violence And Political Issues. In 2006, It Reopened Again With 100 Outlets. |-
The company entered a change in strategy in 1997, when it announced plans to close its 7 urban locations and relocate to 8 shopping centre locations.[119] 44 outlets on States of Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Ceará, São Paulo, Paraná and Distrito Federal.
The first outlet in Albania opened in April 2016 at the Tirana East Gate Mall,[155] with further expansion since. KFC is the first international fast food chain in Albania.
KFC first entered the country in 1970 but withdrew in 1975.[161] Returned in 2005. 11 outlets as of 2022,[162] with plans to expand to up to 50 the coming years.[160]
31 outlets.[3] In October 2012, the world's largest KFC opened in Baku. The 1,600-square-meter outlet, with a seating capacity of 300, is housed in the city's Sabunçu rail station built in 1926. AFK Ltd reportedly invested 3 million euros to restore the nearly destroyed building.[164][165]
The first outlet was the first Central European KFC in a post-communist country.[196] The previous master franchise holder was Hemingway Holding AG.[195]
First outlet opened in September 2016 at Albi Mall, with outlets now in various other cities. KFC is the first international fast food chain in Kosovo.
Present from 1980 until 2004, but since closed. Returned in 2017 with the first store opened at the main railway station in Geneva on December 5, 2017.
Colonel Sanders visited Tehran in the 1970s.[246][247] KFC had stressed that the five outlets that opened in Karaj in 2012 and Mashhad in 2014 with three in Tehran in 2015 under the KFC name are totally unaffiliated franchises under separate management albeit with official-looking signage with other knockoffs operating under marquees such as ZFC, Kabooky Fried Chicken and Kentucky House.[194]
All outlets were shut down in 2013 due to the ongoing Syrian Civil War.[249][250] Following the end of the Civil War, the KFC outlets in Syria are yet to be opened.
Gallery
The following is a gallery of former KFC outlets in Asian countries.
Closed due to the economic crisis and declining sales.[citation needed] KFC has since attempted to reenter the Haitian market, with little success.[citation needed]
KFC tried to open in Frognerstranda in the 1980s, but was closed soon after.[citation needed] KFC has been proposed to reenter the Norwegian market. However, there has been no announcement.[citation needed]
KFC closed and sold its restaurants in Russia along with Pizza Hut in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Restaurants were rebranded as Rostic's starting in late 2023.[256] Some restaurants uses KFC as for logo but the name isn't official anymore.
Gallery
The following is a gallery of former KFC outlets in European countries.
↑ Yang, Bum-soo (April 27, 2023). "KG그룹, 차익 100억 거두며 KFC 매각 완료… "글로벌 본사와 다툼 있었다""[The KG Group completed the sale of KFC with a margin of ₩10 billion. 'There was a conflict with the global headquarters']. Chosun Biz (in Korean). Retrieved May 28, 2023.
↑ Michael Binyon. "Arms and absurdities in the desert on £4m a day". The Times [London, England] January 9, 1975: 14.
↑ "KFC открыла первый ресторан в Узбекистане"[KFC opens its first restaurant in Uzbekistan]. gazeta.uz (in Russian). September 12, 2018. Archived from the original on September 12, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
1 2 Richard Eisenberg (Summer 2007). "Meet KFC CARIBLA"(PDF). AKFCF Quarterly. pp.74–75. Archived from the original(PDF) on September 27, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
↑ "Franchise". kfc.de. KFC - Kentucky Fried Chicken(Great Britain) Ltd., German Branch. January 10, 2017. Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
↑ "KFC Macedonia". kfc-mk.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
↑ Cátia Filipa Ribeiro Lopes (June 2012). Equity Valuation of Ibersol Group(PDF) (Thesis). Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Archived(PDF) from the original on September 30, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
↑ Ross, Harold Wallace; Shawn, William; Brown, Tina; White, Katharine Sergeant Angell; Remnick, David; Irvin, Rea; Angell, Roger (1970). The New Yorker. p.46. Archived from the original on October 9, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
↑ Daily Deal/The Deal February 11, 2011 Friday Restauravia nears sale to Amrest
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