The Truth Behind Kfc's Shift From Kentucky Fried Chicken

WHO:

Fox News - The founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken is Harland Sanders.

Fox News - Kyle T. Craig is the president of Kentucky Fried Chicken USA.

WHAT:

Fox News - Kentucky Fried Chicken officially shortened its name to KFC in 1991.

Fox News - KFC has more than 30,000 restaurants worldwide.

Fox News - KFC won a defamation lawsuit in China against three tech firms for spreading false claims that damaged its reputation.

WHERE:

Fox News - The original establishment of KFC was called Sanders Court & Cafe, located in Corbin, Kentucky.

WHEN:

Fox News - KFC's name change occurred in 1991.

Fox News - The defamation lawsuit in China was reported in 2016.

WHY:

Fox News - The name change was partly to distance the brand from unhealthy connotations associated with fried food.

Fox News - KFC was "struggling with declining earnings, higher prices and an evil word in its name — fried" when it changed its name.

Fox News - The company aimed to position KFC to a more contemporary image, as stated by Kyle T. Craig.

HOW:

Fox News - KFC introduced skinless fried chicken, first called "Lite’n Crispy," and later sold as "Skinfree Crispy" around the time of the name change.

Fox News - The brand's name change was part of a broader trend where companies were redesigning logos and branding to attract younger audiences.

(UPDATED July 18, 2026 23:12 UTC)

KFC, originally known as Sanders Court & Cafe in Corbin, Kentucky, officially shortened its name to KFC in 1991 as part of a strategy to distance the brand from unhealthy associations with fried food. The company, which has grown to over 30,000 restaurants worldwide, recently won a defamation lawsuit in China against three tech firms for spreading false claims that harmed its reputation. Kyle T. Craig, the president of KFC USA, noted that the name change was part of a broader effort to modernize the brand and attract younger customers, which included introducing skinless fried chicken options.