Background of KFC

Colonel Harland Sanders was the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).  He was born on September 9, 1890.  He had to do much of the family cooking when his mother had to go to work and he took care of his three siblings after his father died.  From that he learned how to cook well and master many regional dishes at the age of seven.

In the mid 1930's at the age of forty, Colonel Sanders bought a service station, motel and cafe at Corbin, Kentucky.  He bought them after he had a series of job.  He experimenting with different kind of seasonings to flavour his chicken.  Many travelers loved the flavour of his chicken and this made his chicken became well-known.

During the next nine years, Colonel Sanders developed his secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices and basic cooking which is still used until today.  He became more famous.  He sold his chicken on highway, but then the highway was removed and he sold it up.  After that, he traveled United States by car and cook chicken for restaurant owners and their employees.  If they like the chicken, he then can got a payment to him of a nickel for each chicken the restaurant sold.

By 1964, Colonel Harland Sanders had 600 franchise outlet for his chicken accross United States and Canada.  He sold his interest in the United States operations for $2 million later that year.  He passed away on December 16th, 1980 at the age of 90.  He manged to build worlwide empire and his legacies lives on with KFC Restaurants all over the world that serving up the Colonel's Original Recipe.  It is a $13 billion brand based out of Kentucky. 

Source:  KFC History