KFC, the company so associated with Kentucky that state flags flew at half-staff when its founder Colonel Sanders died, is leaving the state.
The company formerly known as Kentucky Fried Chicken will move its corporate headquarters and about 100 employees to Plano, Texas, from Louisville, Ky., its parent company, Yum Brands, said in a statement on Tuesday. Yum Brands also owns Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and the Habit Burger and Grill.
The move put an end to decades of the brand’s history in the state, and drew condemnation from Kentucky’s governor. While Yum cited “greater collaboration among its brands” as a reason for the move, Texas has also pushed aggressively in recent years to get companies to move there, promoting business-friendly policies like lower taxes and lighter regulation.
Yum Brands and the KFC Foundation, a charitable group, will keep their corporate offices in Louisville, the company said. Pizza Hut is already based in Plano, and Taco Bell and Habit Burger and Grill are based in Irvine, Calif.
The company also said that it wanted its U.S.-based remote employees to return to the office where their work is based, and that it expected the process to take 18 months.
David Gibbs, the chief executive officer of Yum Brands, said in a statement that bringing employees together would improve the company culture and hone talent.
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