In 1939, Sanders perfected his now-famous secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. That same year, he innovated a method of frying chicken using a pressure cooker, which significantly reduced cooking time while retaining the chicken's flavor and moisture. At the age of 40, Sanders moved to Corbin, Kentucky, where he ran a gas station. Unfortunately, the station burned down after a few years. Undeterred, Sanders rebuilt it and added a motel and a small restaurant.
The turning point came in 1956 when Sanders, facing the construction of a new interstate that would divert traffic away from his establishment, decided to sell his Corbin restaurant. Instead of giving up, he took his secret recipe on the road, enlisting new franchisees. By 1964, Sanders had franchised his chicken to 600 outlets across the United States and Canada, turning his modest venture into a burgeoning enterprise.
In 1964, Sanders sold his business to two Louisville businessmen, Jack Massey and John Young Brown, for $2 million. Although he no longer owned KFC, Sanders remained the brand's spokesman, and his image became a key part of its identity. Under Massey and Brown's leadership, KFC experienced explosive growth. The company went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1966, and by 1970, KFC had expanded to 3,500 company-owned or franchised outlets.
Colonel Sanders passed away in 1980, but his legacy endured. In 1994, KFC responded to changing consumer preferences by adding non-fried chicken to its menus in the US and Australia. Sanders' pioneering efforts not only built a fast-food empire but also significantly increased the popularity of chicken as a mainstream American food. This surge in popularity led to a substantial increase in domestic chicken production and consumption.
Colonel Sanders' story is a testament to resilience and innovation. From a struggling entrepreneur to the face of a global brand, Sanders' journey exemplifies how perseverance and ingenuity can transform failure into monumental success. His legacy lives on in the continued popularity of KFC and the ubiquity of fried chicken in American cuisine.
Colonel Sanders: From Failure to Fast-Food Icon
