Yum Brands Concept Reaches Growth Milestone

KFC—a top 3 U.S.-based global chain, according to Technomic—has officially opened its new restaurant in Rome, Italy, to reach 30,000 locations worldwide.

“Opening our 30,000th restaurant is a testament to the support of our local business partners, employees and customers over the past nearly 75 years,” says Sabir Sami, CEO of KFC Global, in a release. “While we are a global brand, we aim to meet the unique needs and expectations of our guests on a local level, with menus that resonate with the local culture and flavors of each community. That also includes serving local communities through our food donation and upskilling programs, which operate in many of our markets, including Italy.”

The new Rome restaurant features double-sided kiosks and digital menu boards. Meanwhile, master franchisee COB S.R.L. and its franchise partners plan to open 25+ KFCs across Italy; collectively, the group will surpass 100 KFC restaurants later this year.

According to a press release, after KFC opened its first restaurant in 1952, a new brand location now opens somewhere in the world every 3.5 hours on average. Last year, KFC opened nearly 2,700 new restaurants across 96 countries, including net-new unit growth throughout India and Latin America. This year, the brand says it plans to enter its 150^th country.

Yum Brands, which comprises KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and the Habit Burger Grill, has over 56,000 restaurants worldwide. KFC’s portfolio accounts for 50% of Yum’s divisional operating profit, says the company.