The Birth of a Legend: How KFC Came to Be
Harland Sanders was no overnight success. By the time he perfected his secret blend of 11 herbs and spices, he was already in his sixties. After years of working as a gas station owner, a fireman, and even a ferryboat operator, he finally struck gold—figuratively speaking—by serving fried chicken at his roadside restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky. His recipe was a hit, and before long, he started franchising the business, spreading the magic of Kentucky Fried Chicken far and wide.
By the early 1960s, KFC had expanded to over 600 locations, and managing such a rapidly growing empire became overwhelming for Sanders, now in his seventies. So, in 1964, he made a deal: he sold the company for $2 million (equivalent to about $19 million today) to a group of investors, thinking they would carry on his legacy. But oh boy, was he wrong!
The Colonel vs. His Own Creation
Sanders had expected the new owners to honor the quality and traditions of his beloved fried chicken empire. However, to his horror, they started cutting costs—changing ingredients, altering cooking methods, and, in his opinion, ruining the original KFC experience. When he visited a KFC restaurant years later to try his own creation, he was disgusted. According to reports, he angrily spat out the food and declared it tasted like “wallpaper paste”. (That’s not exactly a five-star Yelp review!)
His disdain didn’t stop there. He publicly criticized the brand, calling their gravy “sludge” and their chicken “the worst fried chicken I’ve ever seen.” Now, if your own founder says your food is awful, that’s got to sting.
KFC wasn’t about to let their jolly mascot trash their business without a fight. The company sued him for defamation, but the case didn’t hold up in court. Turns out, even after selling the brand, the Colonel still had some serious influence.
If You Want Something Done Right…
Rather than just complaining, Sanders decided to take matters into his own hands. If KFC wasn’t going to make fried chicken the right way, he would do it himself! In 1968, he and his wife Claudia opened their own restaurant, Claudia Sanders Dinner House, serving his original, unaltered recipe. Naturally, KFC wasn’t thrilled about this. The company sued him again, this time successfully, forcing Sanders to remove any branding that linked his new restaurant to the old KFC empire.
Despite the lawsuit, Claudia Sanders Dinner House continued to thrive, serving fried chicken that die-hard fans insisted was closer to the Colonel’s true vision. To this day, the restaurant remains in operation, managed by Sanders’ descendants and beloved by those who crave a taste of the original Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe.
A Colonel Who Knew How to Throw Shade
Despite being a well-respected businessman and a symbol of southern hospitality, Harland Sanders was known for his colorful language and fiery temper. According to some accounts, he could swear like a sailor, often hurling insults in a way that was both creative and oddly entertaining. Some former employees recalled that he had a sharp tongue and wasn’t afraid to call out bad food when he saw it—especially if that food was supposed to be his own recipe!
KFC might have had his name and face on their branding, but Sanders made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with what they had turned his chicken into. He continued to make public remarks against the company well into his later years, proving that his feud with KFC wasn’t just a passing frustration—it was a full-fledged war.
A Complicated Legacy
Despite his bitter relationship with the fast-food giant, Sanders remained a beloved figure. Even KFC knew that they couldn’t just erase him from their history, considering he was the history. To this day, his image is still plastered across KFC buckets, advertisements, and branding, even though the man himself would probably disapprove of how the chicken is made.
So, what’s the takeaway from this finger-lickin’ feud? Perhaps that even billion-dollar corporations can’t escape the wrath of their passionate founders. Or maybe that food just tastes better when it’s made with care. Either way, the next time you bite into a piece of KFC chicken, remember: the Colonel himself might just be rolling in his grave.
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