KFC Declines... OK, But Why?!

In this short business story, I'm going to explore the reasons that I believe stood behind KFC's downfall. From its humble beginnings in Kentucky to its lawsuit against Colonel Sanders, and up to the present state of the business.

If you're curious about the history of this famous restaurant, or you want to learn about the business principles behind failure, this business story is for you.

Enjoy!

00:00 Introduction
00:44 The Inception
01:14 Colonel Sanders Story
03:03 A Boost in KFC Sales
04:47 KFC’s New Owner
06:56 Ownership Sold once again
07:56 Colonel Sanders Criticism
09:28 A Mild savior
10:06 Post-Sanders Era
11:09 Embarrassing Changes in Brand
12:00 The Food quality
12:40 KFC's Wait Time
13:15 Struggling to Keep up
14:15 Order Delivery

[Wafflepudding]

Prediction before watching: The company went public, investors appointed management focused on growth and/or profit, cost cutting and bad decisions were made by directors who didn't understand the business and just wanted to meet investor priorities, service and thus revenue/market share declined.

[tony]

I remember a KFC close to me that ran a buffet. All you can eat Original recipe chicken with all the fixings! They made fried chicken livers too. That store closed 10 years ago. Man, I miss it.

[Watersart___]

It’s aweful now. Quality has declined. The Colonial would be upset. Corporate America is killing the fast food industry.

[randalphmiller]

Yum brands is all you need to say about KFCs decline. They also destroyed pizza hut and taco bell.

[tonyi]

One time I went during a rain storm and everyone was slipping and sliding through the entrance inside the store. I told the Manager that someone is going to get hurt and sue you. Hospital bills are extremely expensive. I asked if he could put a mat on the inside of the entrance door he said yea. I went back two weeks later and he never did it. He didn't keep his word and goes to show the customers that they don't care about them breaking their neck in their stores. The bathrooms are usually dirty in certain locations so I don't go there.

[tombob]

When bean counters and financial types run the show instead of a product guys you see decline. This is the perfect example.

[Lawomenshoops]

They used beef fat to fry the chicken. Now they use some kind of oil. That made the chicken taste much different!

[DarrylRuiz-sw]

Gravy still tastes like wallpaper paste

[thomasmccollum]

The last time I went to KFC, the pieces of chicken were ridiculously small and the price went up. I had to stop and get a sandwich after a 3 piece with 2 sides and a biscuit. They are dead to me.

[arnezbridges]

I wanna point out this decline is mainly the american markets. Japan, south america, india all have awesome taste still.

[corneliastelzer]

I would get a bucket of chicken twice a month & the tenders once a week about 8 years ago. The tenders were moist with lite golden perfect breading, the best. Now they taste like they are precooked & just nuked with dark hard crust & very dry. What happened? Used to be a line of cars at drive thru, now never anyone.

[GCJACK]

Went to the Lenoir, N.C KFC location last week. 15 minute wait in the drive-thru line. The SUV that was behind me got their order a full 10 minutes before I got mine. Planning on sending KFC corporate a scathing email about that.

[ismaelleonor]

Can’t be because 12pc tenders costs 34.99 these days 🙄

[BELCAN]

They changed how they make their chicken. They made the process faster and much cheaper. I've found supermarket fried chicken that's better.

[peterhogan]

in 1963 we got our fist KFC in Belleville On. the food was so good, but it has gone down hill not only the chicken but the fries salids and gravy as well.

[jasonshults]

Lard is not a trans-fat. It is a saturated fat (solid at room temperature). Processed plant oils are trans-fats.

[tanthokg]

I used to love their original taste/recipe chicken when I was a kid. Now, whenever I try to order them, they always say there are only spicy and non-spicy chicken available, and those two are tasteless at best.

Once, they called back to ask if I could wait 30 minutes for it to be cooked, of course I said yes. The next time I try to convince them that I can wait, just to get an answer that it's only possible when there are at least 9 pieces ordered, and since I ordered 6, they couldn't do. I quickly cancelled the order altogether and went for Jollibee until now.

[gregoryeclifford]

I stopped going to my local KFC. The employees there are lazy and rude. They'll make you wait several minutes before they even take your order, even if you're the only car in line. Once I waited 15 minutes for fries while the kitchen staff goofed off with their friends in the parking lot. And they're always out of chicken breasts. The last time I went there, I ordered a breast and they gave me a thigh, but still charged me for the breast. They knew they were cheating me, too. When I lived in Kingman, I had no issues with the KFC there, but the one close to me in Phoenix is a dive. It's sad because KFC used to be my favorite fast food.

[biotechdanc]

I always wanted original recipe on tenders, never seen it in the wild.

[Mr]

original used to be soft an delicious. they changed the oil and made it krispy. they now have krispy and extra krispy. sucks. i left over ten yrs ago when the changed the oil and replaced the whole thing kfc was about.