The first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise opened in 1952. It was established in South Salt Lake, Utah, when Colonel Harland Sanders franchised his chicken recipe to restaurant operator Pete Harman.
Sanders had been selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky, since the 1930s. He developed his pressure-frying method and “Original Recipe” seasoning before realizing that franchising could spread the concept beyond his own restaurant. Harman's location became the first restaurant to use the Kentucky Fried Chicken name and system.
The year 1930 is often confused with the franchise date because that was when Sanders began operating his original restaurant in North Corbin. The year 1955 is also significant: an interstate bypass threatened Sanders' roadside business, prompting him to sell it and travel around the country promoting franchises.
By 1963, the chain had grown to about 600 restaurants. Sanders sold the company to investors in 1964, but remained an important public face of the brand.