Harland Sanders

Colonel Harland Sanders perfected a proprietary blend of 11 herbs and spices and a revolutionary pressure-frying method, partnering with Pete Harman in 1952 to open the first official Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise, establishing the foundation for the company's most globally recognized brand.

Colonel Harland Sanders, born in 1890, was a multifaceted entrepreneur who operated a service station in Corbin, Kentucky, where he began serving home-cooked meals to travelers. Frustrated by the long wait times of traditional pan-frying, he spent years perfecting a unique pressure-frying method and a secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. In 1952, recognizing the scalability of his recipe, he partnered with Pete Harman in Salt Lake City, Utah, to open the first official 'Kentucky Fried Chicken' franchise. The concept was an immediate success, and by 1964, there were over 600 locations. Sanders sold the company for $2 million in 1964, retaining the role of brand ambassador and traveling the world to promote the brand until his death in 1980, leaving behind a legacy that transformed a regional chicken recipe into a global culinary icon.