Chicken has always had a way of bringing people together — whether it's at a family dinner table, a roadside diner, or a drive-thru lane. But now, it’s bringing people somewhere else entirely: Texas. Kentucky Fried Chicken, possibly the most famous chicken concept in the world, is packing up its corporate roots and heading to Plano, according to a release.
Yum! Brands, the powerhouse behind KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut, announced this week that it's shifting its KFC U.S. headquarters from Louisville to Plano, marking a major shake-up for the brand that’s been calling Kentucky home for decades. It’s the kind of move that might make Colonel Sanders tip his white suit hat in curiosity — or, depending on his mood, shake his cane in disapproval.
Why the move? According to Yum! CEO David Gibbs, it’s all about collaboration and growth. The company is consolidating into two major brand headquarters — Plano for KFC and Pizza Hut, and Irvine, California, for Taco Bell and Habit Burger & Grill. About 100 corporate employees from KFC U.S. will be making the move to Texas over the next six months, and an additional 90 remote workers will be asked to settle in near their respective office hubs over the next 18 months.
But before Kentuckians start playing sad bluegrass ballads about losing their most famous export, Yum! wants everyone to know they’re not cutting ties altogether. The company is keeping corporate offices in Louisville, continuing its work with the KFC Foundation, and even dropping a $1 million endowment at the University of Louisville’s College of Business to support future franchise leaders. Plus, there’s talk of a brand-new, first-of-its-kind flagship KFC restaurant setting up shop in the city.
This move isn’t happening in a vacuum. It’s part of a more significant trend of corporations rethinking their headquarters, a shift accelerated by the pandemic and the rise of remote work. Lower taxes, better business climates, and a changing office culture have lured major brands to Texas in recent years. Examples include Ariat relocating its HQ to Fort Worth and the Chicago branch of the New York Stock Exchange moving its HQ to Dallas.
A 2023 CBRE report found that Texas has become the number one relocation destination for corporate headquarters, and Yum! seems to be taking full advantage of the Lone Star State’s business-friendly reputation.
KFC isn’t the only fast-food giant to bid adieu to Louisville. Back in 2020, Papa John’s also relocated its headquarters, opting for Atlanta as its new home base. But in a move that suggests a bit of corporate nostalgia, it later decided to hold onto its Louisville office space for employees who stayed behind.
“These changes position us for sustainable growth and will help us better serve our customers, employees, franchisees and shareholders,” Gibs said in a statement. “Ultimately, bringing more of our people together on a consistent basis will maximize our unrivaled culture and talent as a competitive advantage. I’m confident this is another important step in growing our iconic restaurant brands globally.”
