A press release from Yum! Brands, the chain's parent company, announced that KFC's headquarters will move from Louisville, Kentucky, to Plano this year.
Why? They say it's so they can foster greater collaboration among its other brands like Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, the latter of which is already headquartered in Plano. Is "foster greater collaboration" code for Texas-sized tax breaks?
Who's to say? Two things can be true.
Naturally, there is speculation about whether KFC will become TFC, Texas Fried Chicken. Gov. Greg Abbott pitched the idea in his welcome to Colonel Sanders and company via X.
Kentucky Fried Chicken is leaving Kentucky & moving to Texas.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 19, 2025
Welcome to Texas, Colonel & company.
Many hungry Texans appreciate your move.
Now, and hear me out, any chance you would consider a name like Texas Fried Chicken or TFC?
It’s a great brand https://t.co/nYKqi9DayO
Despite Abbott's post that "many hungry Texans" appreciate the company's move, Texans have responded to his tweet and used comment sections across various platforms to drag the brand rather than give it a big Texas welcome.
"To be called real TEXAS fried chicken he'll need to find grandma's recipe," IamF3 responded under the tweet.
Another wrote that the colonel will need to up its portion sizes to represent the state better. Everything is bigger in Texas, but not with their pigeon-sized pieces. Looks like there is no more skipping leg day for Colonel Sanders.
Even Kentuckians were fine to see it leave. "Us Kentuckians don't eat KFC. It's garbage. Kentuckians eat Lee's Famous," Phil J. Martin wrote.
Like Kentuckians, we already have our own Texas chicken brands like Raising Cane's, which is headquartered in Plano. Golden Chick is based in Richardson and there's Mike's Chicken and Williams Chicken in Dallas.
Suggestions to rename the franchise are clearly a fun poke at the situation. Kentucky Fried Chicken from Texas? It actually is comparable to seeing Luka play in a Lakers jersey, although significantly less painful for everyone involved.
While the headquarters will now be in Texas, KFC isn't forgetting its roots. The company will keep several offices in Kentucky and has established a $1 million endowment to the College of Business at the University of Louisville to fund scholarships on campus.
Additionally, they will be opening a first-of-its-kind flagship KFC restaurant in Louisville to celebrate its deep-rooted history. Where it seems no Kentuckian will be dining at. They'll all be at Lee's.
Save us a seat, would ya?
