KFC is the world's largest chicken restaurant chain and the biggest brand owned by Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM). It ended 2025 with 33,897 restaurants and about $36.4 billion in system sales, and Yum reported $3.54 billion of KFC Division revenue. Scott Mezvinsky has been CEO since March 2025, and the company is based in Plano, Texas.
How Does KFC Make Money?
Franchisees run nearly every KFC. They pay initial fees, ongoing royalties on sales and advertising contributions, and some pay rent on Yum-owned property. Yum China, which runs nearly 13,000 KFC stores in mainland China, pays a 3% license fee. A small number of company-owned restaurants add direct sales.
Where KFC's Sales Come From
- China: about 27% of 2025 system sales
- United States: about 13%
- Europe: about 12%
- Rest of Asia: about 11%
Recent Results
KFC Division revenue grew from $3.10 billion in 2024 to $3.54 billion in 2025, with 6% system sales growth and 10% core operating profit growth. In Q2 2026 revenue reached $924 million, up 9%, with 2% same-store sales growth and 7% unit growth.
Origins
Harland Sanders began serving meals at his Corbin, Kentucky service station in 1930 and licensed his Original Recipe to Pete Harman in Salt Lake City in 1952. He sold the company in 1964 for $2 million. PepsiCo bought KFC in 1986 and spun it off in 1997 into what became Yum! Brands.
Competitors
KFC competes with McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, Popeyes, Raising Cane's, Wingstop and Burger King. It leads internationally but trails Chick-fil-A in the U.S.
