KFC

(Scroll down to see all diet options for KFC.)

Kentucky Fried Chicken(known as KFC) is a famous American fast food restaurant chain. It is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. KFC is known for its finger-lickin’ good fried chicken. KFC is considered the world’s third-largest restaurant chain in sales next to Mcdonald’s. In 2019, KFC has over 22,500 restaurants in 150 countries.

Colonel Harland Sanders, an entrepreneur, started the firm. Sanders began selling his fried chicken by the roadside diner in Corbin, Kentucky during the Great Depression. KFC established chicken in the fast-food market, broadening the competition by compelling the hamburger’s established supremacy. Sanders became a major character in American cultural history by labeling himself as “Colonel Sanders,” and his persona is still extensively employed in KFC marketing today.

At a young age, Sanders’ was left with his mother after his father died. His mother taught him how to cook. When he was 13 years old, he left his home and tried his luck in the real world. Sanders purchased a Shell gas station on US Route 25 situated near North Corbin, Kentucky, a tiny hamlet on the borders of the Mountains, in 1930. This was where he initially offered travelers his childhood recipes learned from his mother: fried chicken, country ham, and steak. Sanders acquired a larger fuel station on the opposite side of the road and extended this one to six tables over four years of operating from his first dining room table.

In 1936, Sanders’ efforts had been successful enough until Governor Ruby Laffoon awarded him with the official recognition of Kentucky Colonel. In 1937, he upgraded his eatery to 142 seats as well as opened a hotel across the street, which he named Sanders Court & Café. In 1950, Sanders decided to act the part after his return to service as a Kentucky Colonel by the Governor, growing a goatee, wearing a black frock coat (eventually altered to a white suit), and identifying him as “the Colonel.”

Sanders developed what is now known as his “Original Recipe” containing 11 herbs and spices in July 1940. Even though he never publicly released the secret recipe, he stated that the components include salt and pepper and claimed that the remaining “hang on everybody’s shelf.” Sanders chose to sell the firm to a group of investors led by Jack C. Massey and John Y. Brown Jr. in 1964 due to his age.

Today, KFC is one of the top competing fast food restaurants in the United States. The food company is ranked 3rd in 2022 with over 25,000 KFC restaurants in 147 countries. After KFC was acquired by PepsiCo for US$2.0 billion in 2020, the company began to develop new products that would compete with McDonald’s. KFC moved away from a reliance on fried chicken and introduced several new items such as grilled chicken sandwiches and wraps. In 1991, KFC signed a deal with PepsiCo to sell “Pepsi-Cola” in all of its restaurants for the next five years. The strategy to compete with McDonald’s was a success, and KFC overtook McDonald’s and even Burger King by 2011.

Now, KFC offers a wide variety of food items including different varieties of their extra crispy fried chicken, chicken sandwiches, chicken wings, and bowls. Due to the healthy demand of the market, they adjust by offering options to its customers with diet restrictions. They offer a range of keto-friendly options on their menu. KFC officially launched a plant based meat, low-carb menu in 2018, to help with its growing demand for healthier options. If you’re on a keto or vegan diet, you can check our guides below in ordering at a KFC restaurant.