This is a list of countries with KFC franchises.
In 2024, there are at least 29,000 KFC outlets in 147 countries and territories in the world where 10,000 of those stores are in China alone.[1] The first KFC franchise opened in the United States in 1952.[2] The first overseas franchise was established in the United Kingdom in May 1965. A large number of Caribbean and developed Western markets entered by the early 1970s. This was followed by expansion throughout the Middle East and developed Asian markets from the mid-1970s and into the 1980s. China was entered in 1987. Expansions were made into most of Europe and South America in the early 1990s. The most recent area of expansion is Africa, where the company is targeting the continent's growing middle class.
The major markets for KFC include China (10,000 stores), the United States (3,943 stores), Japan (1,140 stores), India (1,000 stores), South Africa (960 stores), the United Kingdom (928 stores), Thailand (853 stores), Malaysia (770 stores), Indonesia (742 stores), Australia (699 stores), and Canada (601 stores).[3]
The global operations are overseen by Yum International, which is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. Yum! typically grant a master franchise to a local operator, or take a stake in a joint venture between such a company and itself. In 11 countries, Yum! International manages KFC directly, including China, Russia and India.[4] Worldwide, major franchise holders range from large local conglomerates such as Jardine Matheson and Doosan Group, to companies specifically established to run restaurants franchises, such as AmRest. In Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia, the major franchise holders are publicly listed companies. On the other hand, in smaller markets such as some Caribbean islands, the franchises may be operated by a single individual.
Country/region | Year entered | Outlets | First outlet | Owner/major operator | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Algeria | 2024 | 2 | Azadea Group | KFC opened in Algeria on April 14, 2024, but it was closed by local authorities two days later, because of Algerian protesting against KFC and supporting Palestine. However, it opened again without a sign and the name "KFC", and a new outlet opened in City Center Mall in Algiers. | ||
Angola | 2012 | 9 | Grupo Ibersol | [5] | ||
Botswana | 1992 | 16 | Baobab Energy Botswana | [6] [7] | ||
Egypt | 1973 | 136 | Americana Group | |||
Eswatini | 1993 | 10 | KFC South Africa | |||
Gabon | 2019 | 5 | Resto Group | [8] | ||
Ghana | 2011 | 28 | Mohinani Group | [9] | ||
Ivory Coast | 2018 | 6 | Vivo Energy | [10] | ||
Kenya | 2011 | 36 | Kuku Foods East Africa | [11] [12] [13] | ||
Lesotho | 2012 | 8 | KFC Baobab Lesotho (Pty) Ltd | [14] | ||
Madagascar | 2019 | 2 | ||||
Malawi | 2012 | 2 | Afribrand Limited | [15] [16] | ||
Mauritius | 1983 | 22 | Food & Allied Group | |||
Morocco | 2001 | 18 | Americana Group | |||
Mozambique | 2007 | 12 | Grupo Ibersol | |||
Namibia | 1992 | 21 | Baobab Energy Namibia | [17] | ||
Nigeria | 2009 | 24 | Devyani International Nigeria Limited | [18] [19] | ||
Rwanda | 2020 | 1 | Kuku Foods East Africa | [20] | ||
Senegal | 2019 | 3 | Sedima Group | [21] | ||
South Africa | 1971 | 955 | Devco | Divested its holdings from 1987 until 1994 to a holding company after U.S. Congress passed a law forbidding U.S. companies from owning South African assets.[22] KFC sold its assets to Devco, which managed the trademark.[23] | ||
Sudan | 2019 | 8 | Araak Group | |||
Tanzania | 2013 | 6 | Kuku Foods East Africa | [24] [25] [26] | ||
Tunisia | 2018 | 11 | HBG group | [27] | ||
Uganda | 2013 | 17 | Kuku Foods East Africa | [28] | ||
Zambia | 2011 | 7 | [29] | |||
Zimbabwe | 1991–2008, 2013 | 10 | Country Bird Holdings | KFC left the country in 2008 after the franchise holder failed to meet Yum!'s standards. Reopened in December 2013. |
Country/region | Yearentered | Owner/major operator | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Armenia | 2007[30] | Derjava[31] | 14 outlets.[32] | ||
Azerbaijan | 2011[33] | GFC Ltd | 11 outlets. In October 2012, the world's largest KFC opened in Baku. The 1,600-square-meter outlet, with a seating capacity of 300, is housed in the city's Sabunçu rail station built in 1926. AFK Ltd reportedly invested 3 million euros to restore the nearly destroyed building.[34] [35] 10 outlets. | ||
Bahrain | 1973 | Americana Group[36] | 22 outlets.[37] | ||
Bangladesh | 2006[38] | First outlet opened at Gulshan in 2006. As of 2024, there are 38 outlets.[39] | |||
Brunei | 1980 | QSR Brands (M) Holdings Sdn Bhd | 17 outlets, first outlet in Marshall Road, Saturn District, Bandar Seri Begawan. Also the first possible foreign fast food chain in Brunei, hence the possible opening year being 1980. Second outlet opened in Battersea Road, Saturn District in 1982. The first outlet after independence opened on 19 January 1984, at Eltingville Road. | ||
China | 1987[40] | Yum China[41] | KFC's largest market. The first Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet opened on Qianmen Street in downtown Beijing in 1987.[42] As of the end of March, 2024, KFC has 10,000 outlets in over 2,000 cities.[43] | ||
Cambodia | 2008 | The Royal Group and QSR Brands (M) Holdings Sdn Bhd | 11 outlets. Ten of these are clustered in the capital Phnom Penh. Established in March 2008. KFC is one of Royal Group of Companies Ltd (The Royal Group) business, a partnership with the Malaysian QSR brands and Rightlink Corporation. The Royal Group is one of the largest conglomerates in Cambodia with substantial investments in media, telecommunications, banking, education, property development and trading. | ||
Georgia | 2010 | ? | 16 outlets. | ||
Hong Kong (British Hong Kong at the time) | 1973–1975, 1985–present[44] | Birdland Ltd | 75 outlets. KFC was the first American fast food chain to enter Hong Kong in 1973, with an outlet in Mei Foo Sun Chuen.[45] There were 11 outlets by mid-1974, but by September 1974 many outlets had closed.[46] The remaining 4 outlets were closed in February 1975. KFC misjudged the local market and failed to develop a suitable business model, with its takeout only stores failing to catch on. | Bangladesh | Transcom Foods Ltd Chickens imported from China were fed fishmeal, which ruined the taste. The chain was reintroduced by Swire Group in September 1985, with an outlet opened on Jordan Road, at a cost of $3 million.[47] A second outlet was opened on Causeway Bay in 1986. By 1995 there were 17 outlets.[48] Sold to Birdland in 1997. |
India | 1995[49] | Sapphire Foods Ltd[50] Devyani International Ltd[51] | KFC's first outlet in India was a two-storey outlet on Brigade Road in Bangalore opened in June 1995. 1,000 outlets.[52] | ||
Indonesia | 1979[53] | PT Fastfood Indonesia | First outlet in Jalan Melawai, Jakarta. Listed on the Jakarta Stock Exchange. 689 outlets. It is currently owned by PT Indoritel Makmur Internasional, which also owns Indomaret. See KFC Indonesia | ||
Iraq | 2015 | Americana Group | |||
Israel | 1993–2014, 2020–present | Mefco Smart Service | First restaurant opened in Nazareth 19 outlets[54] | ||
Japan | 1970[55] | KFC Holdings Japan, Ltd[56] | First outlet opened in Nagoya. 1,131 outlets. | ||
Jordan | 1984 | Americana Group | 27 outlets. | ||
Kazakhstan | 2008 | The first restaurant was opened in Astana on 25 October 2008.70 outlets as of 2022.[57] | |||
Kuwait | 1973[58] | Americana Group | 66 outlets. Americana Group opened the first KFC outlet in Kuwait in 1973 marking the brand's debut in the Middle East. In the years that followed, Americana Group expanded the brand's presence across the Middle East and North Africa region. | ||
Kyrgyzstan | 2017 | ? | 4 outlets. | ||
Lebanon | 1973 | Shaban Brothers Ltd | KFC Master Franchisee's from 1973 to 1993.[59] 23 outlets. | ||
Macau (Portuguese Macau at the time) | 1989 | ? | 5 outlets, first outlet in Rosa Buena Street, Coloane. | ||
Malaysia | 1973–1992, 2004–present[60] | QSR Brands (M) Holdings Sdn Bhd[61] | The first KFC outlet was opened in 1973 on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. 770 outlets.[62] Kentucky Nuggets was conceived in Malaysia and then found its way to KFC worldwide. Today, Kentucky Nuggets is one of KFC's successes.[63] KFC led the chained fast food market in 2011, with 45 percent of value sales.[64] | ||
Maldives | 2018 | Sapphire Foods | 2 outlets. | ||
Mongolia | 2013[65] | Tavan Bogd Group[66] | 12 outlets. The first Western fast food chain to open in the country.[67] | ||
Myanmar | 2015 | Yoma Strategic Holdings | One outlet open in Yangon on June 30.[68] 33 outlets. | ||
Nepal | 2009[69] | Devyani International | 12 outlets: eight in Kathmandu, at DurbarMargh, Boudha, Thimi, Maharajgunj, Labim Mall, BlueBird mall, Kalanki, Tripureshwar; one in Itahari, one in Bharatpur, one in Hetauda, and one in Lakeside Pokhara.[70] | ||
Oman | 1986[71] | 36 outlets.[72] | |||
Pakistan | [73] | Delicious Holdings[74] | First entered Pakistan in the late 1960s to early 1970s but subsequently closed down.[75] Reopened in Gulshan-e-Iqbal in Karachi in 1997. 115 outlets as of January 2023. | ||
Palestine | 2011[76] | ACRFF | 15 outlets, First branch opened September 10, 2011 at Plaza Mall in Ramallah. 9 outlets including 3 in Ramallah.[77] | ||
Philippines | 1966[78] | Wholesome Foods, Inc.[79] | 332 outlets. In June 1994, Manuel U. Agustines obtained the sole franchise over the sale and distribution of KFC products in the Philippines, under the corporate name of Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) Corporation. | ||
Qatar | 1976 | Americana Group | 39 outlets. | ||
Saudi Arabia | 1975 | Americana Group | 220 outlets. | ||
Singapore | 1977[80] | QSR Brands (M) Holdings Sdn Bhd[81] | First outlet opened on Somerset Road in 1977. 40 stores by 1992, when it was acquired by KFC International.[82] In 2002, KFC Singapore was acquired by KFC (Malaysia) Holdings Bhd. 86 outlets in 2012.[83] All Singaporean KFC locations are certified halal.[84] | ||
South Korea | 1984[85] | Orchestra Private Equity[86] | 190 stores. KFC Korea had a good startoff in the beginning, but experienced a decline in the mid-2000s. Opening its first store in 1984 in Jongno of the capital Seoul, the outlet number has increased with its 100th store at Mokdong of Seoul (1996), and its 200th store near Seoul University (2000).[87] However, KFC's outlet closed due to failing sales, and dipped to around 120 stores by 2009.[88] As of June 2014, KFC reopened some of its stores and operates 170 outlets in South Korea.[89] | ||
Sri Lanka | 1995[90] | Currently 62 outlets, with the first outlet opening at Majestic City, Colombo, in 1995. | |||
Taiwan | 1985[91] | Taiwan's first KFC outlet was opened in the Ximending district of Taipei. It was initially a joint venture between KFC and Uni-President Enterprises Corporation, Taiwan's largest food company, until President sold its stake in 1997. Jardine's acquired full control of the poorly performing KFC Taiwan from Yum! in 2010.[92] 153 outlets. | |||
Tajikistan | 2021[93] | ? | First outlet opened in Dushanbe. 8 outlets.[94] | ||
Thailand | 1984[95] | Yum Restaurants International (Thailand) and Central Restaurants Group[96] | 717 outlets. Originally opened in 1970 but closed down after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.[97] KFC reopened in Thailand at CentralPlaza Lardprao in Bangkok. | ||
Turkey[98] | 1989 | KFC Turkey | 278 outlets. | ||
United Arab Emirates | 1975[99] | Americana Group | 151 outlets. | ||
Uzbekistan | 2018[100] | International Food Chain | First outlet opened in Tashkent. Today there are 14 outlets overall, including 11 outlets in Tashkent, 1 in Kokand, 1 in Andijan, and 1 in Samarkand.[101] | ||
Vietnam | 1997[102] | KFC Vietnam | First outlet opened in Ho Chi Minh City.[103] Jardine Matheson acquired a 25% stake in the company in 2011.[104] 136 outlets. Euromonitor estimated that KFC has 15% of the fast food market by value in 2011, making it the leading company.[105] | ||
Yemen | 2002 | Unknown | One outlet in Sanaa.[106] |
Country/region | Year entered | Outlets | First outlet | Owner/major operator | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antigua and Barbuda | N/A | 3 | ? | KFC Antigua[107] | ||
Argentina | 1980–1990, 2010 | 18[108] [109] | Buenos Aires | Desarrollos Gastronomicos S.A. | ||
Aruba | N/A | 4 | ? | Hucor Holding | ||
Bahamas | 1967[110] | 13 | ? | Myers Group[111] | ||
Barbados | 1971[112] | 12 | ? | ? | ||
Bolivia | 2014 | 3 | Santa Cruz de la Sierra[113] | Delosur S.A.[114] | ||
Bonaire | 1992 | 1 | ? | Harborside Foodcourt, NV, Ruth van Tilburg-Obre | ||
Brazil | 1973–1982, 1992–2000, 2008[115] [116] | 60 | ? | Brazil Fast Food Corporation[117] | The company entered a change in strategy in 1997, when it announced plans to close its 7 urban locations and relocate to 8 shopping centre locations.[118] 44 outlets on States of Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Ceará, São Paulo, Paraná and Distrito Federal. | |
Cayman Islands | 1976[119] | 3 | ? | KFC Cayman | Was the first food franchise in the Caymans. | |
Chile | 1992[120] | 97 | Santiago[121] | Desarrollos Gastronomicos S.A. (Degasa) | ||
Colombia | 1993[122] | 79 | ? | INT[123] | ||
Costa Rica | 1970[124] | 43 | Paseo Colon | QSR International | ||
Cuba | 2004 | 1 | Guantanamo Bay Naval Base | AAFES | ||
Curaçao | ? | 7 | ? | Hucor Holding[125] | ||
Dominica | 2010 | 1 | ? | Fine Foods Inc[126] | ||
Dominican Republic | 1997 | 27 | ? | Kentucky Foods Group Ltd[127] | ||
Ecuador | 1975[128] | 144 | Quito | INT Food Services Corp. | KFC is the largest fast food chain in Ecuador, and it is KFC's largest market in the region. | |
El Salvador | 2004 | 7 | ? | Corporacion de Franquicias Americanas (CFA) | ||
French Guiana | ? | 4 | ? | ? | ||
Grenada | ? | 4 | ? | ? | ||
Guadeloupe | ? | 5 | ? | ? | ||
Guatemala | 2009[129] | 7 | ? | ? | ||
Guyana | 1994-2014, 2016[130] [131] [132] | 5 | Georgetown | Didco | Reached four outlets, but the market was abandoned in 2014.[133] Reopened in 2016. | |
Honduras | 2004[134] | 15 | San Pedro Sula | Grupo Comidas | ||
Jamaica | 2010 | 40 | Kingston | Restaurants of Jamaica[135] | ||
Martinique | ? | 1 | ? | ? | ||
Panama | 1969[136] | 44 | ? | Franquicias Panamenas | ||
Paraguay | 2014[137] | 3 | ? | Southfood S.A. | ||
Peru | 1981[138] | 140 | Lima | Delosi[139] | KFC is the oldest and the largest US fast food chain in Peru. | |
Puerto Rico | 1967[140] | 81 | ? | Encanto Restaurants, Inc | ||
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 02 | 1 | ? | ? | ||
Saint Lucia | ? | 4 | ? | ? | ||
Sint Maarten | ? | 4 | ? | ? | ||
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1986 | 2 | Kingstown | Ken Boyea[141] | ||
Suriname | 1996[142] | 6 | ? | Cirkel Group[143] | ||
Trinidad & Tobago | 1973[144] | 60[145] | St James, Port of Spain | Prestige Holdings Limited[146] | ||
United States Virgin Islands | ? | 5 | ? | ? | ||
Venezuela | 1973 | 25 | ? | ? |
Country/region | Yearentered | Outlets | First outlet | Owner/major operator | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albania | 2016 | 10[147] | Tirana | Global Fast Food | The first outlet in Albania opened in April 2016 at the Tirana East Gate Mall,[148] with further expansion since. KFC is the first international fast food chain in Albania. | |
Austria | 1970–1975,[149] 2005 | 14 | Vienna | Queensway Restaurants LtdAmRest[150] | KFC first entered the country in 1970 but withdrew in 1975.[151] Returned in 2005. 11 outlets as of 2022,[152] with plans to expand to up to 50 the coming years. | |
Belarus | 2015 | 82[153] | ? | Bel Food Service LLC, CreativeFood-S-Vostok LLC | ||
Belgium | 2019 | 13 | Brussels North Railway Station | Autogrill | The first Belgian KFC restaurant opened in June 2019.[154] | |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2022 | 4 | Sarajevo[155] | TASTRA | Biggest KFC drive-through in Southeast Europe.[156] [157] 3 outlets in Sarajevo and 1 in Mostar.[158] | |
Bulgaria | 1994[159] | 29 | Sofia | Samex Ltd. and Amrest | KFC is the second international fast food brand in Bulgaria. | |
Croatia | 2011[160] | 8 | Zagreb | AmRest[161] | There are 6 outlets in Zagreb, 1 in Split and 1 in Zadar.[162] | |
Cyprus | 2013/2014 | 25 | ? | CK Restaurant System Franchisers Ltd PHC Franchised Restaurants Ltd[163] | ||
Czech Republic | 1994[164] /1995[165] | 114 | Vodičkova street, Prague | |||
Denmark | 1973[166] | 12[167] | Aarhus | ISKEN ApS.[168] | First location has since closed. | |
Estonia | 2019 | 9 | Ülemiste centre[169] | Apollo Group OÜ | KFC opened its first restaurant in Estonia on October 24, 2019. | |
Finland | 2021 | 6[170] | ? | Apollo Group | KFC's first restaurant was opened on November 11, 2021.[171] [172] | |
France | 1991–1992,[173] 2001 | 248 | ? | KFC France | Opened in 1991, but all seven stores were closed by 1992. Returned in 2001. | |
Germany | 1968[174] | 216[175] | Hansaallee, Frankfurt[176] | KFC GB Ltd[177] | KFC in Germany struggled to reach 12 stores by 1995.[178] There are plans to expand to up to 500 outlets in the next five to seven years.[179] | |
Greece | 1992[180] | 18 | Piraeus | Food Plus | The first outlet opened near Athens. | |
Hungary | 1992[181] | 80 | AmRest | The first outlet was the first Central European KFC in a post-communist country.[182] The previous master franchise holder was Hemingway Holding AG. | ||
Iceland | 1980[183] | 8 | Hafnarfjörður | KFC ehf | The first outlet opened on October 9, 1980. | |
Ireland | 1971 | 38 | Phibsborough | KFC (GB) Ltd | Major franchisees include MBCC Foods and Herbel Restaurants (Ireland) Ltd.[184] | |
Italy | 1975, 2014 | 80[185] | Naples (1975), Rome (2014) | KFC® Italy Srl | First outlet opened in 1975, but since closed. Returned on November 21, 2014. See KFC Italia. | |
Kosovo | 2016[186] | 11 | Pristina | KAN | First outlet opened in September 2016 at Albi Mall, with outlets now in various other cities. KFC is the first international fast food chain in Kosovo. | |
Latvia | 2014[187] | 5[188] | Riga | Apollo Group | First outlet opened in August 2014. | |
Lithuania | 2007[189] | 7[190] | ? | UAB Cibus Restaurants | ||
Luxembourg | 2019 | 1 | ? | Autogrill | ||
Malta | 1997[191] | 3 | ? | The Farsons Group | The outlets are located in Mosta, Malta International Airport and Gzira. | |
Moldova | 2008[192] | 2 | Chișinău | US Food Network[193] | First opened in MallDova mall. 2 outlets.[194] | |
Netherlands | 1972[195] | 82 (+1) | Rotterdam | KFC Netherlands[196] | The Headquarters are in Amsterdam-Zuidoost. 82 (+1 in Bonaire by other operator) outlets by July 2022.[197] | |
North Macedonia | 2018[198] | 5 | ? | KAN International | The outlets are in Skopje and Tetovo. | |
Poland | 1992 | 315 | ? | AmRest | ||
Portugal | 1994[199] | 34[200] | ? | Grupo Ibersol[201] | ||
Romania | 1997[202] | 101 [203] | Bucharest | Sphera Franchise Group | First opened in Magheru Blvd.[204] Opened on April 17, 1997.See KFC Romania | |
Serbia | 2007[205] | 13 | Belgrade | AmRest | There are 9 outlets in Belgrade, 2 in Novi Sad, 1 in Niš and 1 on A1 motorway near Lapovo.[206] | |
Slovakia | 2006[207] | 7 | Trnava[208] | Queensway Restaurants Slovakia[209] | ||
Slovenia | 2006 | 3 | ? | AmRest | ||
Spain | 1970[210] | 143 | ? | AmRest[211] | ||
Sweden | 1981,[212] 2014 | 16 | Lockarp | Nordic Service Partners | First opened in 1981, but soon withdrew. Returned in 2014 with the first outlet opened near Malmö with a drive-through on December 31, 2014.[213] | |
Switzerland | 1980–2004, 2017[214] | 11 | Geneva | Kentucky Fried Chicken(Great Britain) Ltd.[215] | Present from 1980 until 2004, but since closed. Returned in 2017 with the first store opened at the main railway station in Geneva on December 5, 2017. | |
Ukraine | 2012[216] | 60 | Kyiv | Global Restaurant Group[217] | In 1999–2006 the chain was working with Russian ownership under the name Rostic's.The first KFC was opened in Kyiv. The outlets are in the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Lviv, Odesa, Pavlohrad, Vinnytsia, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr Kryvyi Rih and Sumy. | |
United Kingdom | 1965 | 909 | Preston, Lancashire | KFC GB Ltd | First KFC market in Europe. The largest KFC in Europe and the fifth largest worldwide.[218] |
Country/region | Yearentered | Outlets | First outlet | Owner/major operator | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bermuda | 1975[219] | 1[220] | Queen Street, Hamilton[221] | KFC Bermuda[222] | ||
Canada | 1953[223] | 639 | Calgary | Yum Restaurants International (Canada)[224] | Branded PFK in the majorly French-speaking province of Quebec, the only such alteration of the trademark in the world.[225] | |
Mexico | 1965[226] | 393 | Monterrey | Premium Restaurant Brands | ||
United States | 1930 | 4062 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Yum! Brands | The franchise first opened in 1952. |
Country/region | Yearentered | Outlets | First Outlet | Owner/major operator | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Samoa | 1984 | 1 | ? | ? | Had two outlets. Now there is one with a Pizza Hut outlet. | |
Australia | 1968 | 653 | Guildford, Sydney | |||
Guam | 1975[227] | 8 | Tamuning | ? | ||
New Zealand | 1971[228] | 100 | Royal Oak, Auckland | |||
Northern Mariana Islands | 1986 | 1 | Saipan | ? |
Country/region | Yearentered | Owner/major operator | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Andorra | 1979–2014 | KFC closed its doors in Andorra in 2014. Probably closed caused of nearby French and Spanish outlets, which were reducing sales. | ||
Norway | Mid 1980s–Late 1980s | KFC tried to open in Frognerstranda in the 1980s, but was closed soon after. KFC has been proposed to reenter the Norwegian market in coming years. However, there has been no announcement. | ||
Russia | 1993–2022[233] [234] | Yum! International[235] | KFC closed and sold its restaurants in Russia along with Pizza Hut in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Restaurants were rebranded as Rostic's starting in late 2022.[236] |