Lucas Delgado
Kentucky Fried Chicken, now known as KFC, has had several spokespeople over the years. The founder, Colonel Harland Sanders, was the original brand ambassador and his image remains widely used in advertising. In 2022, KFC partnered with hit rapper and Kentucky native Jack Harlow, who curated a combo meal called The Jack Harlow Meal. KFC has also featured influencers and celebrities in its TikTok and Instagram videos, showcasing the chain's iconic chicken wings and sandwiches.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founder of KFC | Colonel Harland David Sanders |
| Year of founding | 1952 |
| First KFC franchise location | South Salt Lake, Utah |
| KFC's original product | Pressure-fried chicken pieces |
| KFC's famous tagline | "It's Finger Lickin' Good" |
| Colonel Sanders' death year | 1980 |
| Celebrities who played Colonel Sanders | Rob Lowe, Rob Riggle, Vincent Kartheiser, Billy Zane, Darrell Hammond, Dolph Ziggler |
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What You'll Learn
- Harland David Sanders founded KFC and was its first brand ambassador
- Colonel Sanders remained the company's symbol after selling it
- KFC's rapid expansion became overwhelming for Sanders
- After Sanders' death in 1980, celebrities like Rob Lowe, Billy Zane, and Dolph Ziggler played Colonel Sanders
- KFC is known for its slogans like It's Finger Lickin' Good and We do chicken right
Harland David Sanders founded KFC and was its first brand ambassador
Harland David Sanders, born on September 9, 1890, was an American businessman who founded the fast-food chicken restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). He was born in a four-room house located 3 miles (5 km) east of Henryville, Indiana, and was the oldest of three children. Sanders had a tumultuous early life, facing his father's death at the age of six. He was responsible for taking care of his younger brother and sister, learning to cook and forage for food while his mother worked. By the age of ten, he began working as a farmhand, and at twelve, he left home to work in Indianapolis.
In the 1930s, Sanders started selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in North Corbin, Kentucky, during the Great Depression. He developed his "secret recipe" during this time—a blend of 11 herbs and spices—and patented his method of cooking chicken in a pressure fryer. Recognizing the potential of franchising, he opened the first KFC franchise in South Salt Lake, Utah, in 1952. The franchise approach was highly successful, and KFC expanded internationally, opening outlets in Canada, the UK, Australia, Mexico, and Jamaica by the mid-1960s.
As the company's founder, Sanders became its first brand ambassador and symbol. He embodied the image of the typical Southern gentleman, donning a white linen suit and growing a goatee. Even after selling the company in 1964, Sanders remained a key component of KFC advertising and an international symbol of hospitality. He continued to travel extensively, filming TV commercials and making surprise visits to KFC restaurants to ensure quality control. His name and image are still synonymous with the company today, and his recipe is followed in over 20,000 KFC restaurants worldwide.
In addition to being a brand ambassador, Sanders played a significant role in shaping KFC's marketing and advertising. He trademarked the phrase "It's Finger Lickin' Good" in 1963, which became one of the best-known slogans of the 20th century. The first KFC logo, introduced in 1952, featured his likeness, and he was featured in early official slogans such as "North America's Hospitality Dish." Even today, his laughing face is a trademark of the brand, and his influence extends beyond the company to popular culture. In recent years, actors such as Rob Lowe, Reba McEntire, and Jason Alexander have portrayed Colonel Sanders in various advertising campaigns, keeping his legacy alive.
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Colonel Sanders remained the company's symbol after selling it
Colonel Sanders founded the fast-food chicken restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and acted as the company's brand ambassador and symbol. In 1964, Sanders sold the company to a group of investors led by John Y. Brown Jr. and Jack C. Massey for $2 million (approximately $20.3 million today). Despite selling the company, Colonel Sanders remained the company's symbol and travelled 200,000 miles a year on the company's behalf, filming many TV commercials and appearances. He retained influence over executives and franchisees, who respected his culinary expertise and feared his temper when restaurants deviated from his standards.
Sanders had developed his "secret recipe" and patented method of cooking chicken in a pressure fryer during the Great Depression. He recognised the potential of the restaurant franchising concept, and the first KFC franchise opened in South Salt Lake, Utah, in 1952. By the mid-1960s, KFC had expanded internationally, with outlets in Canada, the UK, Australia, Mexico, and Jamaica. The company's rapid expansion, with more than 600 locations, became overwhelming for the ageing Sanders, leading to his decision to sell.
Even after selling the company, Sanders continued to be closely associated with KFC. He travelled extensively and made numerous public appearances on the company's behalf. He also remained actively involved in maintaining the quality of the food served at KFC restaurants. As late as 1979, Sanders made surprise visits to KFC restaurants, and if the food did not meet his standards, he would express his displeasure by denouncing it as "God-damned slop" or even pushing it onto the floor.
The contract for the sale of KFC included a lifetime salary for Sanders and the agreement that he would be the company's quality controller and trademark. This agreement reflects the ongoing importance of Sanders' association with the brand. His name, image, and title of "Colonel" remained symbols of the company, and he played a significant role in shaping KFC's advertising and public image.
Today, Colonel Sanders is still recognised as a key icon of the company, an "international symbol of hospitality". His image continues to be widely used in KFC advertising, and his legacy is celebrated through museums, historical timelines, and expanded restaurant spaces that showcase the early days of Sanders Café and the development of the famous Original Recipe Chicken.
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KFC's rapid expansion became overwhelming for Sanders
KFC, or Kentucky Fried Chicken, was founded by Colonel Harland David Sanders, an entrepreneur who began selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in North Corbin, Kentucky, during the Great Depression. Sanders identified the potential of restaurant franchising, and the first KFC franchise opened in South Salt Lake, Utah, in 1952. KFC popularized chicken in the fast-food industry, challenging the established dominance of the hamburger. Branding himself as "Colonel Sanders", the founder became a prominent figure in American cultural history, and his image remains widely used in KFC advertising.
The company rapidly expanded across the United States and overseas, with outlets in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Mexico, and Jamaica by the mid-1960s. This rapid expansion to more than 600 locations became overwhelming for the aging Sanders. In 1964, at 73 years old, he sold the company to a group of investors led by John Y. Brown Jr. and Jack C. Massey for $2 million (approximately $20.3 million today). Despite selling the company, Sanders retained control of operations in Canada and became a salaried brand ambassador for KFC. He continued to travel extensively, filming many TV commercials and appearances, and remained highly influential over executives and franchisees due to his culinary expertise and strong personality.
Even after selling the company, Sanders remained critical of the food served at KFC, particularly the cost-cutting measures that he believed reduced its quality. He referred to the food as "'God-damned slop'" and criticized the gravy, which he believed had been simplified to reduce time and cost. As late as 1979, Sanders made surprise visits to KFC restaurants, and if the food disappointed him, he would express his displeasure to the franchisee. In 1973, he sued Heublein Inc., the then-parent company of KFC, over the alleged misuse of his image in promoting products he did not approve of.
Sanders' influence extended beyond the company he sold. In 1970, Pat Grace returned to Ireland after a number of years in Canada and opened several Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants. However, following disagreements over cost-cutting measures in the early 1980s, Grace renamed his restaurants "Pat Grace's Famous Fried Chicken," reportedly retaining the original recipe. These stores closed in the late 1980s, and Grace began wholesaling the chicken spice blend under the brand "Grace's Perfect Blend."
Sanders remained dedicated to KFC and his role as its symbol until his death in 1980 at the age of 90. He had continued to travel extensively, promoting the brand, up until his death. Today, KFC has expanded to over 18,875 outlets across 118 countries and territories, with China being its largest market. Despite its global reach, KFC has experienced mixed success domestically, with a decline in the number of outlets in the United States.
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After Sanders' death in 1980, celebrities like Rob Lowe, Billy Zane, and Dolph Ziggler played Colonel Sanders
Colonel Sanders, the founder of KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken), passed away in 1980. He was the company's brand ambassador and symbol, and his name and image continue to be associated with the company. After his death, several celebrities stepped in to portray Colonel Sanders in KFC's advertising campaigns.
Rob Lowe, an acclaimed actor known for his versatile career, portrayed Colonel Sanders with an astronautical twist. He donned the iconic white suit, adding a unique and modern touch to the classic look. Rob's portrayal of the Colonel brought a fresh and innovative element to the beloved character.
Billy Zane, renowned for his role in "Titanic", embodied the "Golden Colonel" to promote KFC's "Georgia Gold" chicken. His interpretation of Colonel Sanders was memorable and captivating, leaving a lasting impression on audiences. Billy's portrayal showcased the versatility of the Colonel's character.
Dolph Ziggler, a WWE wrestler, brought his athletic prowess and dynamic presence to the role of Colonel Sanders. In a WWE-specific commercial, Dolph portrayed the Colonel with a unique twist, showcasing the character's ability to adapt to different contexts. Dolph's interpretation added a layer of physicality and energy to the iconic figure.
These celebrity portrayals of Colonel Sanders contributed to the enduring legacy of the character and played a pivotal role in shaping KFC's advertising strategies. By embracing diverse interpretations, KFC honored the spirit of Colonel Sanders while engaging with modern audiences. The impact of these campaigns extended beyond sales, as they became a part of pop culture and influenced how people perceived the brand.
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KFC is known for its slogans like It's Finger Lickin' Good and We do chicken right
KFC, or Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a fast-food restaurant chain specialising in fried chicken. It was founded by Colonel Harland David Sanders, an entrepreneur who began selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky, during the Great Depression. Colonel Sanders developed his "secret recipe" and patented method of cooking chicken in a pressure fryer.
Sanders recognised the potential of the restaurant franchising concept, and the first KFC franchise opened in South Salt Lake, Utah, in 1952. The franchise approach was highly successful, and KFC was one of the first fast-food chains to expand internationally, opening outlets in Canada, the UK, Australia, Mexico, and Jamaica by the mid-1960s.
KFC is known for its catchy slogans, including "It's Finger Lickin' Good!" and "We Do Chicken Right." The phrase "It's Finger Lickin' Good" was trademarked in 1963 and became one of the best-known slogans of the 20th century. The slogan captures the essence of KFC's delicious, finger-licking good food, especially their signature fried chicken. On the other hand, "We Do Chicken Right" emphasizes KFC's expertise in preparing and serving chicken dishes. It conveys the message that KFC has perfected the art of cooking chicken, ensuring that it is done just right every time.
In addition to these well-known slogans, KFC has also used other effective advertising phrases over the years, such as "Nobody Does Chicken Like KFC," "So Good," and "North America's Hospitality Dish." These slogans have contributed to the brand's recognition and popularity worldwide.
Colonel Sanders himself was a key component of KFC's advertising until his death in 1980, and he remains a symbol of the company as an "international symbol of hospitality."
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Frequently asked questions
Harland David Sanders, popularly known as Colonel Sanders, founded KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken).
KFC has featured a revolving set of actors playing Colonel Sanders in its advertisements, including the late Norm Macdonald and country musician Reba McEntire. In 2025, KFC brought back Colonel Sanders, the chain's legendary founder, for a series of ads also featuring chef and actor Matty Matheson.
KFC is known for its slogan "It's Finger Lickin' Good!".
KFC's signature product is pressure-fried chicken pieces, seasoned with Sanders' secret recipe of "11 herbs and spices".
