From One Motel to Over 90 Restaurants
A lot has changed at KFC over the years. Curious about our story and the one of our founder, Colonel Harland Sanders? Read below to discover our most important milestones!
The Birth of Colonel Sanders
On September 9, 1890, Harland Sanders was born in Henryville, Indiana. He worked as a steamboat captain, train conductor, and farmer, traveling across America before discovering his iconic recipe.
The Start of KFC Chicken in Kentucky
At the age of 40, Sanders bought a motel in Kentucky, where he began selling his famous Southern-style fried chicken. He soon became known as the ‘Kentucky Colonel’.
The Colonel and his iconic White Suit
Colonel Sanders wore his trademark white suit for the first time. It became his signature outfit, whether it was a cotton suit for summer or wool in the winter.
KFC Opens Its First Restaurant in the Netherlands
KFC arrived in the Netherlands with the opening of its first restaurant in Rotterdam. Today, there are over 90 locations nationwide, and the growth continues!
The Loss of Colonel, Our Eternal Icon
Colonel Harland Sanders passed away at the age of 90 but remains the symbol of sharing joy at KFC. Sharing a bucket still brings people together.
50th Restaurant Opened in Rijswijk
A new milestone: we opened our 50th restaurant along the A13 in Rijswijk and continued expanding to make our dishes accessible to even more guests.
Better Animal Welfare Standards
KFC chose to only use chicken meeting EU animal welfare standards and signed the Better Chicken Commitment – an initiative to improve chicken welfare.
First Vegetarian KFC Restaurant
During the National Week Without Meat, KFC Rotterdam Binnenwegplein served only vegetarian dishes – the first fully vegetarian KFC restaurant in the world!
Less Plastic, More Sustainability
KFC Netherlands is working on reducing plastic. By 2025, we aim for fully reusable packaging, replacing plastic with paper alternatives.
Introduction of Vegetarian KFC Classics
Starting in 2022, KFC’s famous buckets, chicken burgers, wraps, and salads are available in vegetarian versions, thanks to the Original Recipe Veggie Tenders with the iconic 11 herbs and spices.
New KFC Burgers
Our burger lineup has been completely revamped! The Fire Zinger Burger, Colonel Burger, and Colonel Stacker were added, along with improved buns and sauces to better meet our guests’ preferences.
Introduction of Reusable Cups
Since June 2023, reusable cups are available for drinks, milkshakes, and ice creams. With PackBack’s simple ‘money-back system,’ we’re promoting sustainability across all our branches.
First Energy-Neutral KFC Restaurant in Steenwijk
A first in Dutch food service: our new restaurant in Steenwijk has an A++++ energy label. We also opened our 90th restaurant, this time in Kampen, continuing our growth!
Opening of five new KFC restaurants and drive-thru's in the Netherlands
On December 9, 2024, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) kicks off the final month of the year by opening five new restaurants and drive-thru’s across the Netherlands. The celebrations began with the grand opening of the new restaurant in Amersfoort, followed by the new stores in Alkmaar, Nieuwegein, Leiden and Almere. In all five cities, both chicken and veggie lovers can now enjoy their favorite comfort food.
Read all the latest KFC news at https://kfc.nl/pers/
