Jake Harper
Harland David Sanders, better known as Colonel Sanders, was the founder of the fast-food chicken restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). Sanders began selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in North Corbin, Kentucky, in the 1930s, during the Great Depression. He soon became embroiled in a bitter rivalry with another gas station owner in the area, Matt Stewart, as they competed for customers. This feud escalated to the point where Sanders shot and injured Stewart. Despite this incident, Sanders went on to build a $5 billion chicken empire, selling the company in 1964 for $2 million. He remained a brand ambassador for KFC until his death in 1980, and his name and image continue to be symbols of the company to this day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colonel's name | Harland David Sanders |
| Colonel's company | Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) |
| Colonel's role | Founder, brand ambassador, and symbol |
| Colonel's rival | Matt Stewart |
| Incident location | Corbin, Kentucky |
| Incident details | Stewart defaced Sanders' promotional signs, leading to a confrontation where Stewart was shot and injured |
| Sale of KFC | 1964 for $2 million |
| Colonel's net worth at death | Estimated at $10 million |
| Colonel's suit | Sold at auction for $21,510 |
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What You'll Learn
Colonel Sanders' early life
Colonel Harland David Sanders, the founder of the fast-food chicken restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), had a challenging early life marked by hard work and determination. Born on September 9, 1890, Sanders had to quit school in the seventh grade to earn money for his widowed mother and siblings. He took on various jobs in his youth, including working as a steam engine stoker, insurance salesman, and filling station operator. Sanders even tried his hand at several careers, working on a railroad, becoming a fireman, and practising law after obtaining a law degree through night school.
Sanders' life was not without setbacks and failures. He was fired from multiple jobs and faced setbacks due to the Great Depression, fires, and World War II. However, he persevered and continued to pursue his ambitions. In 1935, he adopted the moniker "Colonel Sanders," an honorific title bestowed upon him by the governor of Kentucky, and began to cultivate his distinctive image, including his famous white beard and suit.
It was during the Great Depression that Sanders' entrepreneurial spirit truly took off. He started selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in North Corbin, Kentucky, and developed his famous secret recipe. He perfected his "finger-lickin' good" chicken recipe in 1939, claiming it was made with "a secret blend of 11 herbs and spices." Sanders understood the potential of franchising his recipe, and in 1952, the first KFC franchise opened in South Salt Lake, Utah.
As Sanders' business expanded, he faced new challenges. By the early 1960s, he started using a modified pressure cooker to fry the chicken, sealing in the flavours and keeping the meat moist and tender. He applied for a patent for the pressure fryer in 1962 and received it in 1966. However, the rapid expansion of his business across the United States and overseas became overwhelming. In 1964, Sanders sold the company to a group of investors for $2 million (approximately $19.4 million in 2023 dollars). Despite selling his company, Sanders remained dedicated to KFC, becoming its brand ambassador.
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The birth of Kentucky Fried Chicken
The world's most popular chicken restaurant chain, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), was born out of the entrepreneurial spirit of Colonel Harland Sanders during the Great Depression. Sanders, born in 1890 and raised on a farm in Indiana, began selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky.
Sanders initially served travellers from a Shell filling station on U.S. Route 25, offering them recipes he had learned as a child, including fried chicken, steaks, and country ham. By 1936, his business had become so successful that he was given the honorary title of Kentucky Colonel by Governor Ruby Laffoon. The following year, Sanders expanded his restaurant to include a motel across the street, naming it Sanders Court & Café.
However, Sanders was dissatisfied with the time it took to prepare his chicken in an iron frying pan, and he refused to deep fry it as he believed it lowered the quality. In 1939, he found a solution when the first commercial pressure cookers were released onto the market. Sanders bought one and modified it into a pressure fryer, reducing production time while retaining the quality he desired.
In July 1940, Sanders finalized his "'Original Recipe' of 11 herbs and spices, which remains a closely guarded trade secret to this day. After being recommissioned as a Kentucky Colonel in 1950, Sanders embraced the title and began to dress the part, growing a goatee and wearing a distinctive suit and tie.
Recognizing the potential of franchising, Sanders began to franchise his recipe in 1952, starting with his friend Pete Harman in South Salt Lake, Utah. Independent restaurant owners paid a franchise fee per chicken sold in exchange for Sanders' recipe, the right to use his name and likeness for promotion, and the ability to advertise their unique offering from Kentucky. This marked the birth of Kentucky Fried Chicken as a franchise-led operation, with Harman described as the "'virtual co-founder' of the chain.
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The Colonel's rivalry with Matt Stewart
The rivalry between Colonel Sanders and Matt Stewart was a business rivalry that ended in a shootout. The Colonel was a local businessman who operated a Shell gas station in Corbin, Kentucky, which he took over in 1930. He had a fierce rivalry with Matt Stewart, who owned a nearby Standard Oil station. The rivalry escalated when Stewart painted over a sign on a cement wall that directed drivers to the Colonel's station, using a tough-to-remove, tar-like substance called creosote.
The Colonel confronted Stewart, and the two men exchanged threats. On May 7, 1931, the Colonel learned that Stewart was painting over his sign again. He, along with Robert Gibson and H.D. Shelburne, employees of the Shell corporation, drove to confront Stewart. They found him in the act of painting over the sign and a shootout ensued. It is unclear who drew their guns first, but in the end, Gibson was killed, and Stewart was shot twice—once in the shoulder and once in the hip.
Stewart was convicted of murder and sentenced to 18 years in prison, while charges against the Colonel and Shelburne were dropped. Despite the incident, the Colonel's reputation remained intact, and he would go on to found Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). The rivalry between the two men was so intense that it ultimately ended in a hail of bullets. The Colonel's connection with Stewart, however, did not end with the shootout. Stewart's daughter, Ona May, married the brother of Claudia Price, who became the Colonel's second wife in 1949. Ona May worked for the Colonel as a waitress and later managed his original Sanders Court in Corbin.
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Selling the KFC corporation
The story of KFC's founder, Colonel Harland Sanders, is a remarkable one. From selling fried chicken out of a gas station in North Corbin, Kentucky, in the 1930s, to building a $5 billion chicken empire, the Colonel's business acumen and determination are undeniable. However, the journey was not without its challenges and controversies, including a brutal feud with a rival gas station owner, Matt Stewart, which led to a shooting.
In 1964, at the age of 73, Colonel Sanders sold Kentucky Fried Chicken for just $2 million. Despite stepping down as owner, he retained a significant influence over the company, continuing as its beloved brand ambassador. The Colonel's signature smile remained on the packaging, and his image and name became enduring symbols of KFC. Even after selling the company, the Colonel maintained a close relationship with KFC, fine-tuning his famous recipe and ensuring the quality of the food.
However, this relationship soured over time. The Colonel criticized KFC for cutting costs and allowing food quality to deteriorate. Despite this, the company continued to capitalize on his likeness, with a fictionalized Colonel Sanders appearing as a mascot in advertising campaigns, voiced and portrayed by various comedians and impressionists. The Colonel's enduring legacy is evident in the continued association between his persona and the KFC brand, even decades after his death in 1980.
The Colonel's influence extended beyond the business realm. He was known for his charitable donations, particularly to children's hospitals, and his foundation has disbursed significant sums to Canadian charities. The wing of the Mississauga Hospital for women's and children's care is named after him in recognition of his substantial contributions. Additionally, his trademark white suit, which he wore for the last 20 years of his life, was auctioned off for over $20,000, with the proceeds going to charity.
In conclusion, the sale of the KFC corporation by its founder, Colonel Harland Sanders, marked a turning point in the company's history. The Colonel's business savvy and dedication to quality propelled KFC to international success, and his enduring legacy continues to shape the brand's identity even today. His story serves as a testament to the power of entrepreneurial spirit, marketing prowess, and a strong personal brand in building a global fast-food empire.
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The Colonel's legacy
The Colonels' legacy is a tale of rags to riches, entrepreneurial spirit, and a good dose of controversy. Harland David Sanders, the founder of the fast-food chicken empire Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), began his journey selling fried chicken from a roadside restaurant in North Corbin, Kentucky, during the Great Depression. He developed his "secret recipe" and patented method of cooking chicken in a pressure fryer, which became the foundation of his future success.
Sanders was an astute businessman, and his chicken soon gained popularity among truck drivers and passersby. He expanded his business ventures and opened his flagship restaurant in the 1930s, fine-tuning his recipe for finger-lickin' chicken. However, his success also attracted competition, and he became embroiled in a bitter feud with another gas station owner, Matt Stewart. The rivalry escalated, and Sanders resorted to ambitious advertising campaigns to stay ahead. Despite his efforts, Stewart resorted to defacing Sanders' signs, leading to a heated confrontation that ended with Sanders shooting and injuring his rival.
This incident, though controversial, did not deter Sanders' determination. He continued to expand his chicken empire, franchising his concept across the United States. He sold his Kentucky Fried Chicken corporation in 1964 for $2 million but remained a brand ambassador, with his signature smile and image becoming synonymous with the company. However, he later became a vocal critic of KFC, accusing them of compromising quality for cost-cutting.
The Colonel's influence extended beyond the business realm. He was known for his distinctive style, always donning a trademark white suit and black clip-on bow tie. One of these iconic suits was auctioned off in 2013 for $21,510, a testament to the enduring fascination with his persona. Additionally, Sanders made substantial donations to charities, with his foundation supporting children's hospitals and other charitable organizations in Canada.
Despite the controversies and challenges, Colonel Sanders' legacy remains an inspiring story of perseverance and success. His name and image continue to be associated with KFC, and his influence on the fast-food industry is undeniable. The Colonel's journey from a small roadside restaurant to a global chicken empire has left an indelible mark on the culinary landscape, and his story continues to captivate and inspire entrepreneurs and chicken lovers worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
Colonel Harland David Sanders.
He was known for his finger-licking good food and his trigger finger.
He wore a trademark white suit with a black clip-on bow tie.
Colonel Sanders developed a "secret recipe" and a patented method of cooking chicken in a pressure fryer.
The harmless back and forth feud escalated when Colonel Sanders, along with two of his managers, confronted Matt Stewart, who had been defacing his signs. Stewart fired a gun at the Colonel and his colleagues, and the Colonel shot back, injuring Stewart.
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