KFC is LEAVING Kentucky?!

In a move that left fried chicken fans clutching their buckets, KFC has announced its plans to pack up and leave the state that made it famous. That’s right—Colonel Sanders’ iconic chicken empire is heading out of the Bluegrass State for good.

The Yum! Brand, which Kentucky Fried Chicken is part of, announced they have plans on moving their headquarters to Plano, Texas and Irvine, California. They have been based out of Louisville since 1997.

Taco Bell and Pizza Hut are also part of the Yum! Brand and will be relocating as well.

You can move Taco Bell, you can move Pizza Hut, but you can’t take the “Kentucky” out of KFC. It’s in the name! What would the Colonel say?

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg voiced his own disappointment in the decision to move.

“I am disappointed to learn that Yum! Brands will move its KFC employees to Texas — especially since the brand was born here and is synonymous with Kentucky… I will work tirelessly with Yum!’s leadership to continue growing its presence in Louisville.” 

Hammer makes the point that if KFC moves, it should be up north to the Hoosier state!

“Harland Sanders, who was born in Indiana, got into a dispute with his step-father and that made him leave the state of Indiana to go to Kentucky to follow his dreams.”

While there will be KFC chains still around Kentucky, the mothership is leaving and it’s not feeling very “finger-lickin’ good.”