• by Tanya Gazdik , February 24, 2025

What’s in a name? KFC, previously known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, has long been identified with its longtime home state since its founding in 1932.

Now, the fast food chain is moving its HQ to Texas.

“Stephen Colbert is already exhausted by the onslaught of ‘news of yet another inexplicable, chaotic move seemingly bent on undermining everything we as Americans hold dear,’” according to The Wrap. “But on Wednesday night, he was talking, of course, about fried chicken."

Colbert did not mince words. 

“That is finger-licking f–ked,” he said. “What is going on? What is happening? What’s next? Jersey Mike’s becomes Maine’s Mickey’s? Will Papa John step down as Pizza Pope? Burger King abdicates his throne to marry a common nugget?”

The chain’s parent company, Yum! Brands, told investors it would move about 100 employees from its office in Louisville, Kentucky, more than 800 miles south-west to the city of Plano in Texas, where the group’s Pizza Hut chain is headquartered. 

“The employees are expected to move in the next six months and will receive relocation support,” according to The Guardian. “An extra 90 remote workers will be expected to move to Texas or other Yum! Brands’ corporate offices during the coming 18 months.”

Yum! Brands said its “strategic decision” would allow it to “foster greater collaboration among brands and employees.”

“Yet, another possible consideration could be lower taxes and a business-friendly environment, said Paul Miller, accountant and founder of CPA firm Miller & Company, LLP,” according to Fortune. “While Kentucky levies a 5% corporate tax rate on businesses’ profits, Texas does not have a corporate tax rate and instead imposes a lower gross receipts tax of between 0.331% to 0.75% that is applied to a company’s gross sales.”

Understandably, Kentucky officials are not happy, according to Salon. 

"I am disappointed by this decision and believe the company’s founder would be, too,” said Kentucky governor Andy Beshear. “This company’s name starts with Kentucky, and it has marketed our state’s heritage and culture in the sale of its product.”

One thing isn’t changing: the original KFC location, which has been turned into a museum and cafe, remains in Corbin, Kentucky.