How It All Began
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) was founded in the United States by Harland Sanders, at the age of 62, after trying many different careers. Over the years, he worked as a steamboat captain, insurance salesman, lighting store clerk, lawyer, tire salesman, and even as an amateur obstetrician!
In 1930, Sanders took over a gas station in Corbin, Kentucky, which had a small diner attached. There, he began serving fried chicken to travelers, using a special recipe only he knew — and it quickly gained popularity.
By 1940, Sanders had perfected his famous recipe, made with a secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. According to legend, the original handwritten recipe was pinned behind the kitchen door — and remains one of the most famous food mysteries to this day.
The first official KFC restaurant opened in 1952 in Salt Lake City, Utah. After patenting his recipe in 1955, Sanders hit the road to expand the brand, personally pitching the franchise to more than 1,000 potential partners.
In 1964, at the age of 74, he sold the KFC brand to a group of investors for $2 million, but remained the face of the company, continuing to represent KFC worldwide until his death.
To this day, the full KFC recipe remains a closely guarded trade secret, locked in a vault — and still central to the brand’s global identity.
Today, KFC operates over 24,000 restaurants in more than 145 countries worldwide (as of 2025).
In Ljubljana, Slovenia, the first KFC restaurant opened in 2024 and has since expanded to 3 locations within the city, quickly becoming a popular dining destination.
Across the globe, KFC continues to serve its world-famous chicken — still made with Colonel Sanders’ original golden recipe, a symbol of quality and legacy that lives on nearly a century later.