LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – Kentucky Fried Chicken is moving its corporate headquarters out of of the state where it was founded, with Yum! Brands announcing plans to relocate the operation to Texas over the next six months.

The move will consolidate KFC's offices with sister brand Pizza Hut’s headquarters in Plano, Texas. That's a suburb of Dallas.

For some employees, the decision presents a difficult choice.

"It’s really sad," said an employee who has worked remotely for Pizza Hut. "I mean, I'm from Kentucky. [KFC] is a cool thing about Kentucky that makes us kind of known around the world."

About 90 remote employees will be asked to relocate over the next 18 months. Yum! Brands officials said the transition is intended to "foster greater collaboration among brands and employees." However, several Kentucky officials find the move disappointing.

"I think it's an absolute shame," said U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey. "Several years ago, the Kentucky General Assembly passed the right-to-work law. They reduced corporate taxes, and they said 'this is going to bring jobs here.' Since then, we've lost Papa Johns, we've now lost KFC. We know Humana is kind of not the presence it once was here."

Louisville Metro Councilman Anthony Piagentini put it a little more bluntly in a post on X, saying: "This city should do everything in its power to become a business friendly city. However, if KFC doesn’t give a crap about us I don’t know why we should reciprocate. Call it Texas Fried Chicken and make it official. Let's find companies that want to be here and support them."

Despite the move, Yum! Brands says it remains committed to maintaining ties to Kentucky. The company has pledged a $1 million endowment to the University of Louisville’s College of Business to fund scholarships. It will also continue supporting the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence.

Yum! Brands said it's not completely abandoning the commonwealth. Some employees will still be in Louisville. The company also plans to open a "first-of-its-kind flagship restaurant" in the city.

"While I am grateful for the more than 500 Yum! employees in Louisville, I am disappointed by this decision and believe the company’s founder would be too," Governor Andy Beshear said in a statement. "This company’s name starts with Kentucky, and it has marketed our state’s heritage and culture in the sale of its product. My hope is that the company will rethink moving Kentucky Fried Chicken employees out of Kentucky." 

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