Kentucky Fried Chicken is making a big move, joining a growing list of companies relocating to Texas. The fast-food giant, operated by Yum Brands, announced it will shift its U.S. corporate headquarters from Louisville, Kentucky, to Plano, Texas.
As part of the transition, approximately 100 corporate employees will relocate to Plano within the next six months, with another 90 remote workers given the option to move to either Plano or Irvine, California, over the next year and a half. Yum Brands CEO David Gibbs stated that consolidating teams would help the company better serve its customers, franchisees, employees, and shareholders.
Despite the move, KFC is not severing ties with Kentucky entirely. Yum Brands and the KFC Foundation will retain offices in Louisville, and the company has pledged a $1 million endowment to the University of Louisville’s College of Business to fund scholarships for students across Kentucky. Additionally, KFC plans to open a flagship restaurant in Louisville, marking a tribute to its origins.
Founded by Harland Sanders—better known as “The Colonel”—KFC began in 1930 when Sanders purchased a roadside motel in Corbin, Kentucky, and started selling his signature fried chicken to passing travelers. More than 75 years later, the brand has grown into one of the largest fast-food chains in the world.
KFC’s move mirrors a broader trend of businesses relocating to Texas, particularly in the tech and corporate sectors. SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, transferred its incorporation from Delaware to Texas last year, while Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced his company’s content oversight teams would be shifting from California to Texas.
Meanwhile, Oracle is set to establish its global headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, after previously moving its HQ from Silicon Valley to Austin, Texas.
