KFC relocates US headquarters to Yum! Brands’ global hub in Plano, Texas

USA – Yum Brands, the parent company of KFC, announced on February 18 that the fast-food chain’s U.S. headquarters will shift from Kentucky to its Global Headquarters for KFC and Pizza Hut in Plano, Texas.

Yum Brands announced that roughly 100 U.S. corporate employees would relocate within the next six months, while about 90 remote workers would follow suit over the subsequent 18 months.

The relocation from Kentucky to Texas was characterized by the company’s CEO, David Gibbs, as a strategic move intended to consolidate the workforce and strengthen the company’s competitive advantage.

Gibbs had stated that bringing more employees together consistently would maximize the company’s culture and talent, a factor considered instrumental to the global growth of its iconic restaurant brands.

Amid these changes, KFC has experienced challenges in gaining sales traction in recent quarters.

An earnings release for the fourth quarter of 2024 revealed that the brand’s same-store sales had declined by 5 percent year-over-year, in contrast to Popeyes, whose same-store sales recorded a modest increase of 0.1%.

In recent years, several major brands have restructured their operations or recalled staff to their offices.

In 2023, Starbucks’ corporate workforce staged protests against its return-to-office policies, and later an ultimatum was issued to reluctant employees.

Similarly, Subway inaugurated a second global headquarters in Florida to improve franchisee coordination, while In-N-Out Burger consolidated its California headquarters and initiated plans to expand into the East Coast with a new office in Tennessee.

Despite the relocation of KFC’s U.S. personnel, Yum Brands and the KFC Foundation will maintain a reduced corporate office presence in Louisville, Kentucky, while Taco Bell and The Habit Burger continue to operate from their Irvine, California headquarters.

In recognition of its enduring ties with Kentucky, Yum Brands is endowing one million dollars to the University of Louisville’s College of Business and will preserve its local brand presence by constructing a flagship KFC restaurant.

Relocating employees are set to receive comprehensive relocation and transition assistance. This operational shift coincides with a broader leadership realignment, as Scott Mezvinsky was named KFC’s CEO effective March 1, and Catherine Tan-Gillespie was promoted to U.S. president effective April 1.

This strategic consolidation reflects an industry-wide trend towards optimizing operational efficiency and enhancing collaborative environments, as companies adjust to evolving market conditions.

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