Reviving Colonel Sanders: KFC's Iconic Brand Mascot - The Case Centre (2024)

Abstract

Using corporate mascots seemed to be a thing of the past. In the 1950s, mascots such as 'Tony the Tiger', 'Charlie the Tuna', 'the Marlboro Man', and 'the Pillsbury Doughboy' were hugely popular. However, more recently, creating and promoting mascots was proving to be costly. Also, with the fragmentation of media and more discerning customers, this strategy was a difficult one. To counter falling sales in its home market and fading brand relevance, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) had opted to revive its iconic mascot, Colonel Sanders (Colonel), its legendary founder. Through a series of ad campaigns, revamp of its stores and reinforcing the Colonel's 'hard way' of making the chicken, KFC had 'returned to its roots'. In an age when there was a premium on branding innovation, would resurrecting a dated mascot be the right strategy for a brand? It remained to be seen if KFC's efforts to revive the Colonel would succeed in the long-run.

Teaching note

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Reference no. 518-0049-8

Subject category:Marketing

Published by:Amity Research Centers

Published in:2018

Length: 8 pages

Data source: Published sources

Reviving Colonel Sanders: KFC's Iconic Brand Mascot - The Case Centre (2024)

FAQs

Who is the KFC mascot in real life? ›

Colonel Harland David Sanders (September 9, 1890 – December 16, 1980) was an American businessman and founder of fast food chicken restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (also known as KFC). He later acted as the company's brand ambassador and symbol. His name and image are still symbols of the company.

Who is the old KFC mascot? ›

Chicky was the old mascot for Kentucky Fried Chicken aka KFC. he bears the appearance of a chicken who is best friends with Colonel Sanders.

What is the significance of the KFC logo? ›

The image of Colonel Harland Sanders is the most recognizable element of the KFC logo. The Colonel is shown in a white suit and black tie, with his signature goatee and glasses. The image of the Colonel is a nod to the company's founder and his original recipe of 11 herbs and spices that is still used today.

What does Colonel Sanders symbolize? ›

Even today, Sanders remains central in KFC's branding and his face still appears in their logo. His goatee, white suit and western string tie continue to symbolize delicious country fried chicken all over the world. At age 90, Sanders passed away from pneumonia.

Is KFC a mascot logo? ›

Kentucky Fried Chicken's mascot is visible everywhere in cities and small places. It is amongst the most popular food mascot designs. This mascot is the face of the company's founder, Colonel Harland David Sanders. It was during the Great Depression that he started selling fried chicken by the roadside.

What was the old KFC logo? ›

From 1952 to 1978, the KFC logo had a very simplistic and unappealing design that was in black and white. Its logo was very bland looking and not very eye catching. It showed a serious expression of Colonel Sanders that was not friendly and did not emit warmth or welcome customers.

Why did Colonel Sanders sue KFC? ›

The lawsuit claimed that Heublein prevented Sanders from franchising his new restaurant and that it was unlawfully using his image for products he didn't develop. The lawsuit was eventually settled for $1 million and the couple was allowed to keep their eatery.

Does Pepsi own KFC? ›

Yum Brands Inc., is a restaurant company that owns quick-service chains Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC, as well as fast-casual brand The Habit Burger Grill. It is headquartered in Louisville, Ky. Yum Brands was initially part of PepsiCo, which entered the restaurant business in 1977 with the acquisition of Pizza Hut.

What is the KFC slogan? ›

KFC's 'It's Finger Lickin' Good' was created off the cuff by a restaurant manager in the 1950s. Harland Sanders, the founder of KFC, ran a service station in Corbin, Kentucky in the 1930s, making food for hungry travellers.

Why did KFC change their logo? ›

1991 - 1997

The 1991 redesign marked a dramatic turning point in the history of the KFC logo design, mirroring a major shift in the brand's identity. That year, Kentucky Fried Chicken officially changed its name to KFC, and the visual identity underwent a transformation to reflect this new era.

What does KFC stand for? ›

The full form of KFC is Kentucky Fried Chicken. It is a well-known, internationally renowned American fast-food restaurant chain. After McDonald's, KFC is currently the second-largest restaurant chain in the world, with locations in 150 nations, including India. Its headquarters are located in Louisville, Kentucky.

What was Colonel Sanders nickname? ›

In 1935, the governor of Kentucky awarded Sanders the unofficial title of “Colonel of Kentucky”. As part of his unique self-marketing strategy, he began referring to himself as ColonelSanders and wearing white linen to bolster his “typical Southern gentleman” image.

What did Colonel Sanders always say? ›

I've only had two rules: Do all you can and do it the best you can. It's the only way you ever get that feeling of accomplishing something. Colonel Sanders' quote beautifully encapsulates his philosophy on success and achievement.

What is Colonel Sanders best known for? ›

Founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken

At age 65, Colonel Harland Sanders began franchising his chicken business using his $105 monthly Social Security check. Today, Kentucky Fried Chicken operates more than 5,200 restaurants in the United States and more than 15,000 units around the world.

Where is Colonel Sanders buried? ›

Gravesite of Colonel Harland Sanders, founder of the worldwide Kentucky Fried Chicken later renamed KFC restaurant chain, at Cave Hill Cemetery, overlooking Louisville, Kentucky, and the Ohio River .

Who is the biggest KFC fan? ›

A married father of two may be the world's biggest KFC fan after the fast food giant granted him a year's worth of free chicken having visited stores in more than 50 different countries. Kamlesh Mistry, 37, from Watford, first fell in love with the fast-food chain when he was 12 years old.

Why did Colonel Sanders call himself Colonel? ›

Harland Sanders was born in 1890 in the little town of Henryville in southern Indiana. The “colonel” was given to him in 1935 as an honorary title by the governor of Kentucky in recognition of his accomplishments, and ever afterward everyone called him “The Colonel”.

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