Claire Thompson
Colonel Sanders, born in 1890, founded the fast-food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in the 1930s. At the age of 40, Sanders began cooking for customers at his gas station in Corbin, Kentucky, marking the start of his journey towards building a global fast-food empire. Over the next nine years, he refined his cooking technique and perfected his blend of eleven herbs and spices, which remains a closely guarded secret to this day. By the time he was 50, he had finalized his famous Secret Recipe for frying chicken in a pressure cooker, reducing the cooking time without compromising on taste. Despite setbacks and challenges, Colonel Sanders' determination and hard work paid off, and he earned his first million at the age of 65.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age when Colonel Sanders started selling chicken | 40 |
| Year of starting the chicken company | 1930 |
| Colonel Sanders's age when he sold the company | 66 |
| Year of selling the company | 1964 |
| Colonel Sanders's age when he earned his first million | 65 |
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What You'll Learn
Colonel Sanders started selling his chicken at age 40
Harland "Colonel" Sanders was born in 1890 and founded the now-legendary fast-food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in the 1930s. However, it was not until he was 40 years old that he started selling his famous fried chicken. Around 1930, Sanders opened Sanders Café, attached to a service station in North Corbin, Kentucky. The Shell Oil Company gave him the service station rent-free in exchange for a percentage of his sales.
Sanders Café served down-home, comforting food and became very popular with the locals. It was here that Sanders began serving his fried chicken. As demand increased, he expanded the gas station into a motel and restaurant with 142 seats. He spent the next nine years refining his cooking technique and perfecting his blend of herbs and spices. The final recipe included eleven herbs and spices, and this blend is still used by the company today.
In 1935, Sanders received an honorary commission as a "Kentucky Colonel" by the governor of Kentucky, Ruby Laffoon. This increased his popularity, and in 1939, food critic Duncan Hines included Sanders Café in his book "Adventures in Eating", a guide to restaurants across the USA. By 1940, at the age of 50, Sanders had perfected his "secret recipe" for frying chicken in a pressure cooker/fryer, which cooked the chicken faster than traditional pan-frying.
In 1952, Sanders franchised his secret recipe for the first time, to Pete Harman of South Salt Lake, Utah. This was also the first year of selling the product, and restaurant sales more than tripled, with 75% of the increase coming from sales of fried chicken. By 1964, there were more than 600 KFC franchises in the USA and Canada. Sanders sold the company that year for $2 million (approximately $19.4 million in 2023 dollars) and became the brand ambassador for KFC.
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He perfected his secret recipe at age 50
Harland "Colonel" Sanders founded the now-legendary fast-food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in the 1930s. However, it wasn't until 1940, when Sanders was 50 years old, that he perfected his "secret recipe" for frying chicken in a pressure cooker/fryer, a method that cooked the chicken faster than traditional pan-frying while sealing in the flavours and keeping the meat moist and tender.
Sanders' journey to perfecting his famous fried chicken recipe began in 1930 when, at the age of 40, he started preparing chicken for customers at his gas station in Corbin, Kentucky. He initially cooked the meals in his apartment next door, but as demand increased, he expanded his gas station into a motel and restaurant with 142 seats. Over the next nine years, Sanders refined his cooking technique and blend of seasonings, eventually landing on a recipe with eleven herbs and spices.
In 1935, Sanders received an honorary commission as a "Kentucky Colonel" by the governor of Kentucky, Ruby Laffoon, in recognition of his contribution to state cuisine. This title, combined with his unique self-marketing strategy of wearing white linen to bolster his "typical Southern gentleman" image, helped establish Sanders and his recipe as icons.
Despite perfecting his recipe at 50, it wasn't until 1952, when he was 62, that Sanders first franchised his "secret recipe" for "Kentucky Fried Chicken". He sold the company in 1964 at the age of 73, but his influence endured, and he remained the brand ambassador for KFC.
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He sold his company at age 66
At the age of 66, Colonel Harland Sanders sold his rapidly growing Kentucky Fried Chicken company to a group of investors led by John Y. Brown Jr. and Jack C. Massey. This was in 1964, and the sale included the company's now-iconic name, its unique recipe of 11 herbs and spices, and the ever-present image of the Colonel, with his white suit, black string tie, and goatee. The sale came about as Sanders sought to focus on his other business ventures and secure his legacy. By this age, he had already established a successful legal career and had run a steamboat business on the Mississippi River. He had also previously sold his shares in a Shell service station and restaurant he owned, which he had started in his 40s.
Sanders always had an entrepreneurial spirit and a strong work ethic, which he demonstrated from an early age. Born in 1890, he had a tumultuous childhood, dropping out of school at the age of 12 to help provide for his family. He held various odd jobs before eventually becoming a lawyer through an apprenticeship route, an unusual feat for someone without a formal education. However, it was his passion for food and hospitality that led him to start his chicken company in his later years.
It was in his 60s that Sanders truly dedicated himself to expanding his fried chicken empire. He franchised his recipe and the "Kentucky Fried Chicken" name, receiving a nickel for every chicken sold. This business model proved incredibly successful, and by the time he was 73, there were over 600 KFC franchises across the United States. Despite selling the company, the Colonel remained an integral part of it, continuing to promote the brand and maintain its quality.
The sale of his company at age 66 marked a turning point in Sanders' life, allowing him to focus on other pursuits. He traveled extensively, visiting KFC franchises around the world and ensuring that his high standards were maintained. The Colonel also dedicated time to philanthropy, particularly supporting educational causes and organizations that helped young people gain employment. His legacy extends far beyond his delicious fried chicken; he is remembered as an icon of perseverance, hard work, and entrepreneurial spirit, proving that age is never a barrier to success.
The story of Colonel Harland Sanders and his chicken company is an inspiring one, showing that success can come at any age. His dedication to quality and hard work laid the foundation for a global empire, and his iconic image remains a powerful symbol of American entrepreneurship. Despite selling his company, the Colonel's influence on the brand and the wider food industry is everlasting, and his story continues to inspire generations of entrepreneurs and food lovers alike.
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He earned his first million at age 65
Harland "Colonel" Sanders founded the fast-food chicken restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in the 1930s. He was born in 1890 and had a series of jobs throughout his early life in several states, including working on a railroad, as a fireman, and practising law. In 1930, at the age of 40, Sanders opened Sanders Café, attached to a service station in North Corbin, Kentucky. He started serving his fried chicken out of this location, and his café became known for its down-home, comfort food.
In 1935, Sanders received the honorary commission as a "Kentucky Colonel" by the governor of Kentucky, Ruby Laffoon. This title was awarded in recognition of his contribution to state cuisine, and Sanders began to refer to himself by this title as part of his unique self-marketing strategy. By 1940, Sanders had perfected his "secret recipe" for frying chicken in a pressure cooker, which reduced the cooking time from 45 minutes to just nine minutes.
In the 1950s, Sanders began to franchise his "secret recipe", recognising that this business model could help him grow his business. He sold his Sanders Café and travelled across the USA, offering to cook his chicken recipe for restaurant owners and negotiating a fee if they agreed to sell it. In 1952, he opened his first franchise restaurant in Salt Lake City, which is still open today. By 1964, there were more than 600 KFC franchises in the USA and Canada, and Sanders sold the company to a group of investors for $2 million (around $19.4 million in 2023 dollars).
Despite selling the company, Sanders remained the brand ambassador for KFC and continued to travel and film TV commercials. He earned his first million at the age of 65 and continued to surprise-visit KFC restaurants, denouncing the food as "God-damned slop" if it did not meet his standards. Sanders died of leukaemia at the age of 90, leaving behind an incredible legacy as the founder of one of the world's largest fast-food chains, with over 21,000 KFC outlets in more than 130 countries.
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He was 73 when he became KFC's brand ambassador
Colonel Harland David Sanders founded the fast-food chicken restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in the 1930s. Sanders was born in 1890 and had a string of failed ventures before finding success with KFC. He launched a ferry boat service over the Ohio River at the age of 30, but this became redundant when a bridge was built nearby. His subsequent oil lamp business also failed with the arrival of electricity in rural America.
In 1927, Sanders took over a Standard Oil gas station in Nicholasville, Kentucky, but it closed during the Great Depression in 1930. However, this service station business laid the foundation for KFC. That same year, Sanders opened a second service station in Corbin, Kentucky, where he began selling his homemade chicken to truck drivers, marking the beginning of his journey with KFC. By 1940, at the age of 50, Sanders had perfected his "secret recipe" for frying chicken in a pressure fryer, which reduced cooking time compared to traditional pan frying.
In 1952, at the age of 65, Sanders franchised his secret recipe for the first time to Pete Harman of South Salt Lake, Utah. This marked the beginning of KFC's expansion into one of the world's largest fast-food chains. Sanders earned his first million at this age, showcasing that success can be achieved at any stage of life. Despite facing challenges and setbacks, Sanders persevered and continued to refine his recipe and business model.
In 1964, at the age of 73, Colonel Sanders sold the company to a group of investors for $2 million (approximately $19.4 million in 2023 dollars). Upon the sale, Sanders became the brand ambassador for KFC, continuing to work as the company's public representative. He remained dedicated to the company, travelling extensively, and ensuring that the food served met his high standards. Even at this advanced age, Sanders embodied the spirit of determination and perseverance, demonstrating that age is no barrier to success.
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Frequently asked questions
Colonel Sanders was 40 years old when he started selling chicken at his gas station in Corbin, Kentucky.
Colonel Sanders franchised his secret recipe for the first time in 1952 at the age of 62.
Colonel Sanders sold his company in 1964 at the age of 73.
